The East End public beach is a place “teeming with turtle grass”, frequented by juvenile fish and other sea life, according to the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism website.
That turtle grass could soon become less abundant.
East End MP Isaac Rankine, who serves as minister of youth, sports and heritage, has requested that turtle grass be removed and a 12,000-square-foot swim hole dug out in the waters off Colliers Beach in East End.
A coastal works application has been submitted on behalf of Rankine by the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing & Infrastructure to the Ministry of Sustainability & Climate Resiliency.
The public notice for the application directs persons who wish to comment to do so in writing to the chief officer in the Ministry of Sustainability & Climate Resiliency within 21 days of publication of the notice, posted 11 Oct.
In a written response to questions from the Cayman Compass, the head of communications for the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing & Infrastructure said the proposed area of the swim hole “is approximately 200 feet by 60 feet with a depth ranging between 0 and 4 feet”.
The ministry spokesperson added that the location, Colliers Beach, has historically been used by the East End community as a swimming area, “but turtle grass has overtaken the original swim zone. As a result, Minister Rankine has requested that we apply to restore the area for public use.”
The ministry spokesperson explained that the Ministry of Planning subsequently met with the Department of Environment, and DoE advised the size of the swimming hole be reduced, “both in width and depth, to prevent potential sand erosion”.
As a result, the ministry will now “submit a revised plan … based on [DoE’s] recommendations.”
Cayman Compass sent a message and called Minister Rankine seeking comment about the proposed dredging application and removal of turtle grass, and is awaiting response.
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This is insane. Not only do the East Enders continue to poach conchs and lobsters all year round , now they want to destroy a precious part of their habitat. The turtle grass is a major part of the marine habitat at this location. All kinds of fish, shrimp, lobster and crabs use it as juveniles which in turn provides feeding grounds for bonefish, seabirds and tarpon. This is a stupid idea and probably a political stunt for the MLA to say he did something.
Remember the decimation of ol’ 7-mile beach started with just one property building too close to the beach.
Leave the beach and the turtle grass alone.
The past National Conservation Council chairman and Older Persons Council member McFarlane Conolly will be rolling over in his grave.
Simon,
Who in the Ministry should we email to object to this?
Here we go again messing with Mother Nature! Why cant you just leave it alone or use a less evasive way of removing the grass. We are really destroying everything that is connected to the environment. We may not pay for it today but will do so very soon.
http://myfwc.com/research/habitat/seagrasses/information/importance/
If that is done can the sand be sent to SNB