Topic: coral reef
Spread of coral disease around Little Cayman ‘inevitable’
The spread of the deadly stony coral tissue loss disease around the entire coast of Little Cayman is "inevitable", but efforts should continue to slow it down, says the Department of Environment.
Potential previously unidentified sponge species spotted in Cayman
A dive instructor and a student of marine biology are currently waiting to find out if a sponge they've photographed on Cayman reefs is a previously undocumented species.
Little Cayman coral report: Bleached but not broken
New research has shown that 95% of corals in Little Cayman bleached during last summer's marine heatwave and over 50% subsequently died. Most of those that died were 'weedy' coral, rather than the reef-building boulder-like structures.
‘Too close’ cruise ships stir up environmental concerns
The looming presence of a 1,000-foot cruise ship just off the reefs of Eden Rock has stirred up a fresh debate over the environmental impact of the resurgent industry.
DoE urges Easter travellers to help protect Sister Islands from coral disease
With the Easter holidays around the corner, many divers, snorkellers and boaters will be heading to the Cayman Brac and Little Cayman for a break, prompting the Department of Environment to advise travellers to help prevent the deadly Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease from spreading to the Sister Islands.
Divers fighting clock as coral rescue continues
Hundreds of divers joined a two-day volunteer effort this week to help save the coral reef at Eden Rock that had been smothered by sand.
Divers come to aid of imperiled coral
About 100 divers gathered at Eden Rock Dive Centre Wednesday afternoon to help the Department of Environment clear sand that had swamped a section of reef off the George Town coastline.
Clean-up planned after ship dumps sand on Eden Rock coral
The Cayman Islands Department of Environment is calling on divers to help save coral at Eden Rock after a ship left large amounts on sand on the reef.
Corals come to life in annual spawning
This is how a coral reef reproduces...
Interactive map: How the port will impact life in the harbour
Much of the debate around the cruise berthing facility has centered on the potential impact on the wrecks and reefs in the harbour. Amid conflicting reports about the health of the marine life in the impacted area, we enlisted the help of underwater photographer Courtney Platt and produced an interactive graphic to demonstrate exactly what lies beneath the glassy surface.
Study: Coral reefs shifting away from warming tropics
Coral species are migrating away from equatorial waters and towards the Earth’s poles, a likely effect of warming ocean temperatures and climate change, according to research published this month in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series.
Public challenged to help local reefs
The Central Caribbean Marine Institute is introducing the Healthy Reefs Challenge to involve community members in helping protect and preserve coral reefs.
EDITORIAL — Getting serious about resource preservation
More than a third of all marine mammals around the world; more than 40% of amphibian species. The prospect is — or ought to be — unthinkable.
Beck: Calculating the value of coral reefs
According to a report compiled by hundreds of scientists from 50 countries, Earth is losing species faster than at any other time in human history.
Cayman may be spot of hope in coral survival
Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley, a scientist with the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences who visited the Central Caribbean Marine Institute in Little Cayman for several days recently, said the islands’ reefs have fared better than some other places in the Caribbean and around the world when it comes to coral health.
‘Reefs Go Live’ ready to go live soon
Year 5 and 6 students will get direct insight into what’s under the water off the shores of the Cayman Islands as a second year of “Reefs Go Live” is presented by the Central Caribbean Marine Institute.
CCMI: Cayman reefs in fair health
The Cayman Islands’ coral reefs are in fair condition according to a recent survey by the Central Caribbean Marine Institute. They actually earned a “fair-plus,” which is a middle-of-the-road rating on a scale that runs from very good to critical.
Coral salvage effort could have international impact
A project to transplant and relocate pillar coral impacted by disease appears to have contained an outbreak, according to the Department of Environment.
Rare coral threatened by disease
Scientists are attempting to save a rare species of “pillar coral” blighted by disease.
Coral reefs to hit big screen
The Netflix documentary “Chasing Coral,” will be screened at 7 p.m. Thursday at the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands. It will be followed by a discussion on coral reefs by experts from several local organizations.
Pulsing nightlife of Cayman’s reefs
“As it gets dark, the reef begins to change,” explains naturalist Ryan DeNoyer. “Just like any other city, when the sun goes down, the normal people go to sleep and the weirdos come out.”
Cayman photographers explore the beauty of the deep
Courtney Platt’s detail photo of an orange ball anemone, part of a Cayman Islands National Gallery exhibit opening Friday, May 4, looks otherworldly.
Underwater photographers wanted for reef exhibit
The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands is inviting underwater photographers to submit their work for consideration to be part of an exhibit to highlight the International Year of the Coral Reef.
Ship owner accepts liability for Eden Rock damage
The owner of the cargo ship that ran into Eden Rock reef two weeks ago has accepted liability for damage at the site, according...
Eden Rock reef crash: DOE says Port in charge of replacing channel markers
When a cargo ship crashed into the Eden Rock reef on Friday, causing substantial damage, Cayman’s Department of Environment says it faced “considerable scrutiny and criticism” for the lack of channel markers around the reef.
Cargo ship slams coral reef in George Town harbor
Significant damage was done to a coral reef in George Town harbor early Friday after a 328-foot cargo vessel struck the shallow area with its hull, Department of Environment officials said.
War veterans to be Cayman eco-warriors
U.S. war veterans will be retrained as eco-warriors in the Cayman Islands in a new nonprofit venture.
Coral ‘trees’ planted to build up Cayman’s reefs
Conservationists are planting several coral “trees” in Grand Cayman’s waters this week to help build up the reefs, thanks to a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the ocean environment.
DoE, Paul Allen settle differences to salvage coral reef
Work will resume Tuesday on repairing an area of coral reef that was damaged when the mega-yacht Tatoosh, owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, dropped anchor off West Bay in January.
DoE, Allen reach agreement on coral restoration
The Department of Environment and Paul Allen’s company Vulcan Inc. have agreed to an “emergency restoration plan” to repair coral damaged when Mr. Allen’s boat, the M/Y Tatoosh, dropped anchor on a reef off West Bay last month.
