The sale of turtle meat has quietly returned at the Cayman Turtle Centre after an apparent interruption of almost two months, ending a shortage that affected restaurants, and consumers across the Cayman Islands.
The resumption of sales comes despite there having been no public announcement that supplies had stopped, and no explanation has yet been provided by the Cayman Turtle Centre as to why turtle meat became unavailable.
Compass Media first contacted the centre’s marketing department on 23 June seeking information on the status of turtle meat sales but received no response. A follow-up email was sent directly to CEO Christopher Jackson on 30 June.
Jackson replied that he needed to consult with the centre’s chairman before providing a response.
By Wednesday, 1 July, however, several regular purchasers confirmed that turtle meat had once again become available.
Phillip Wilson, owner of Alfresco restaurant in George Town, said he had been able to buy turtle meat from the centre that day.
“We will be offering turtle stew again soon,” he said.
Lucille Bustillo, who traditionally sells turtle stew from her George Town yard every Friday, said she had finally been able to obtain meat on Monday, 29 June, after going without supplies for about two months.
The shortage had also affected other restaurants that feature Caymanian cuisine.
Tony Powell, owner of South Coast Bar and Grill, said turtle is one of the restaurant’s signature dishes.
“We are known for our local food at the South Coast Bar and Grill, and turtle is one of our anchor products. We normally sell it once per week and people come looking for it. It is the national dish of the Cayman Islands and many of our regulars are missing it,” Powell said.
While harvesting wild green turtles formed an important part of Caymanian life for centuries, wild turtles have been legally protected in Cayman waters for many years. Today, the Cayman Turtle Centre is the only legal source of turtle meat, supplying animals bred in captivity.
Conservation success story
The centre’s breeding programme has also become one of Cayman’s most significant conservation success stories.
A collaborative DNA study involving the Department of Environment, the Cayman Turtle Centre, the University of Exeter and the University of Barcelona found that approximately 90% of the wild green turtles nesting around the Cayman Islands are genetically linked to turtles released through the centre’s captive breeding programme.
Since release programmes began in 1980, more than 36,000 green turtles have been released into the wild, helping rebuild local populations alongside decades of legal protection and beach monitoring.
Earlier this year, the International Union for Conservation of Nature downgraded the global conservation status of green turtles from Endangered to Least Concern, citing long-term population recoveries in many parts of the world.
Despite that conservation success, demand for turtle meat has remained strong in the Cayman Islands.
Appearing before Finance Committee last year, Jackson said the centre sells turtle meat for $9 per pound despite production costs of approximately $31 per pound. He warned that demand had exceeded sustainable production levels, forcing the centre to reduce processing over recent years in order to rebuild its breeding stock and ensure future supplies.
The recent interruption in sales also coincided with the start of the annual turtle nesting season, when female turtles come ashore to lay eggs. Although the Department of Environment confirmed it continues seasonal nesting patrols, it did not indicate that the temporary shortage had resulted in increased concerns about illegal harvesting of wild turtles.
The interruption in sales followed a period of significant upheaval at the Cayman Turtle Centre. In May, employee Drayson Watson, who court documents identified as being responsible for turtle meat distribution quotas, was charged following the fatal stabbing of 78-year-old Kenneth Christian outside the West Bay facility. Watson has not yet entered a plea to the charges and remains on bail pending further court proceedings.
The Cayman Turtle Centre has not indicated whether the criminal case had any impact on the temporary suspension of turtle meat sales, and questions remain over why customers were left without any public explanation while sales were suspended.
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