Topic: Department of Environment
Compact subdivision planned on 39-acres of mangrove and woodland
A developer has submitted plans to subdivide 39 acres of mangroves and woodland into 138 small lots which could eventually contain 75% more houses than is currently allowed.
Developer applies to build canal in mangroves – but not for boats
A developer has applied for permission from the Central Planning Authority to create a 100-foot canal through a mangrove buffer zone on the edge of George Town.
Court of Appeal hears landmark Boggy Sand seawall case
Court of Appeal judges are hearing arguments from lawyers this week on whether the Central Planning Authority was right to grant planning permission to a developer to rebuild a sea wall and a cabana on Boggy Sand Road, next to a protected marine area in West Bay, after the National Conservation Council directed the planning body to turn down the application.
CITA boss: Stingray mishandling ‘unacceptable’
A social media video showing a stingray being taken out of the water and placed on top of a couple has prompted an investigation by the Department of Environment.
Fishermen’s fears, as Brac braces for sargassum influx
A further influx of sargassum is expected this week along the Cayman Brac coastline, which has already been invaded by the stinky seaweed.
Carnivorous moustached snail on the loose
An invasive carnivorous species of snail with moustache-like tentacles has been discovered in Grand Cayman.
Sightings by volunteer ‘shark loggers’ on the rise
Divers who have been logging shark sightings have reported an increase in the number of the animals being spotted around the Cayman Islands.
‘Urban city’ developer’s new plans cause flooding fears
South Sound residents have hit back at Cayman Enterprise City’s application to modify existing plans for a large office and housing campus, which it dubs an “urban city”.
Housing development threatens future ‘Hell East’ tourist site
“Unique landscape” that was earmarked as a possible tourist attraction may be lost forever if the Central Planning Authority allows a residential development to be built over it.
Late hatching makes 2022 turtle nesting season longest on record
Cayman's 2022 turtle nesting season is now the longest on record after the last official nest of the season hatched on 22 Feb. on Little Cayman.
Planning board approves Barkers Beach Resort
The Central Planning Authority has approved an application to build Barkers Beach Resort, a five-storey hotel, in West Bay.
Up to $500,000 fine, 4 years in jail for feeding feral chickens, cats
New regulations that ban the feeding of feral chickens and cats from Friday, 3 Feb., carry a maximum penalty of $500,000 fine and/or four years in prison for people who repeatedly feed them.
Animal charities warn of ‘overrun’ feral cat population amid new rules
Cayman's animal charities say new regulations banning the release of stray animals after they have been captured for spaying or neutering purposes will lead to an explosion in the feral cat population in Grand Cayman.
Turtle nest numbers break record in 2022
A record 858 turtle nests were recorded this year, the highest total since the Department of Environment starting logging statistics in 1998.
DoE reminds public to keep out of Marine Reserve ahead of conch season
While Cayman's conch will be back on the menu starting next Tuesday the Department of Environment is reminding the public to follow the rules when it comes to hunting the local delicacy.
Permission quashed for Little Cayman resort
The Planning Appeals Tribunal has quashed a decision by the Sister Islands Development Control Board to grant permission for a resort on Little Cayman that had originally included plans for overwater bungalows in a protected marine reserve.
Westin returning to planning board over 10-storey tower
The Central Planning Authority is scheduled to hear an application this week from the owner of the Westin resort on Seven Mile Beach to add a 10-storey tower to the existing hotel.
Cayman seeks to increase protected land areas
The 11.3% of Cayman's landmass designated as Terrestrial Protected Areas falls significantly short of an international target of 30% by 2030, but if a recent round of nominations for newly protected land leads to further protections, the islands will move nearer to that goal.
Cayman’s invasive species under spotlight
Cayman's ongoing battles against invasive species, such as green iguanas, lionfish and feral cats, have been highlighted in the annual Virtual Island Summit, which addresses issues faced by island nations across the world.
Boggy Sand seawall planning approval quashed in test case for Conservation Council powers
The Grand Court has ruled that the National Conservation Council has the power to direct the Central Planning Authority to turn down planning applications that have adverse environmental impacts.
Coral Fest gives insights into reef health
A new festival celebrating the beauty and importance of Cayman's reefs, and also highlighting the many threats they face, finally went ahead on Wednesday after a number of COVID-related delays.
Multiple ‘pillaging poachers’ appear in court
As Cayman authorities crack down on poachers, more and more cases are making their way through the court system.
Trial sargassum clean-up under way
A trial clean-up of the massive influx of sargassum in West Bay is set to begin today, using giant pumps to remove seaweed that has floated into the area.
DoE: ‘Blanket’ coastal setback rules should be reconsidered
The Department of Environment has advised that setback requirements for coastal developments should be applied on a case-by-case basis rather than being granted planning permission based on "blanket" recommendations.
Feral cat culling resumes on Little Cayman
A cull of feral cats on Little Cayman resumed this month after government and local animal charities came to an agreement almost four years after a plan to control the island's cat population was stalled, due to a legal challenge brought by the charities to stop the animals being killed.
Man sentenced for taking parrot hatchlings
An East End man who took two hatchling Cayman parrots from their nest, which died ten days later, has been fined $2,000 and sentenced to 200 hours of community service.
Poacher facing jail for taking 43 conch
A poacher who as caught taking more than eight times the daily limit of conch, during closed season, has been warned that he could be facing jail time.
First turtle nest found for 2022
Cayman's 2022 turtle nesting season has kicked off with an early start following the discovery of the first loggerhead nest on 1 April.
World’s smallest butterfly could lose habitat on Grand Cayman
A 2021 survey of Grand Cayman’s extremely rare pygmy blue butterfly shows that less than 7% of this insect's mapped habitat falls under protected areas.
Shark killings on the rise in Cayman waters
The number of sharks being killed in Cayman’s waters is increasing, with 27 reported killed as of 26 Aug. compared to 16 in 2019.
Coastal impact from TS Grace being investigated
Initials checks on the coastal impact of Tropical Storm Grace have found that the northern end of Seven Mile Beach fared well, but there was some erosion on the southern end, Department of Environment Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie said.
DoE and Dart spar over environmental assessment requirement
The Department of Environment and Dart have locked horns over the requirement for an environmental impact assessment for a planned area development in West Bay.
NCC agrees to redirect funds to keep turtle camera operational
The National Conservation Council has voted to redirect $7000 from its Environment Protection Fund allocation to continue its CCTV turtle monitoring project in West Bay after a nesting Green Sea turtle was claimed by poachers.
CPA turns down application to clear mangrove area
The Central Planning Authority has rejected an application by K&B Ltd. to clear mangrove land near an area where illegal clearing had earlier been carried out.
World Sea Turtle Day: Huge turtle rescued on Little Cayman
Staff and guests at Pirates Point and the Department of Environment this morning rescued a huge green sea turtle that had become trapped in bushes on the grounds of the resort on Little Cayman.
More stony coral disease found at dive sites
A change in the progression rate of stony coral tissue loss disease has led the Department of Environment to suspect divers and boat operators may be spreading it.
Cease notice issued over Regal Beach Club works
The Planning Department has issued cease and enforcement notices to luxury condominium Regal Beach Club after its repair work was flagged as "unauthorized."
DoE contracting divers to fight coral disease
The Department of Environment is coordinating a national effort to combat the deadly Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease impacting over 20 species of reef-building...
DoE allocates funds to fight deadly coral disease
Just under $100,000 from the Department of Environment’s budget has been diverted to help combat the spread of the deadly stony coral tissue loss disease.
DoE: Developer investigated for illegal mangrove clearing
The director of the Department of Environment says a cease-and-desist notice has been formally served to a developer who was caught illegally clearing mangroves on the company’s property in Red Bay.
DoE: Leave the sharks alone
The Department of Environment has issued a reminder to the public not to harass or disturb marine wildlife after videos and photos of a shark spotted close to shore along Seven Mile Beach made the rounds over the weekend.
Conservation Council seeks feedback on plan to save rare shrub
The National Conservation Council is requesting public input on its proposed plan to protect the rare Aegiphila caymanensis shrub, which is unique to Grand Cayman and has been listed as critically endangered.
Litter Law charges considered in mangrove concrete dumping
National Concrete has been warned by the Department of Environmental Health that it may face prosecution under the Litter Law, after a company truck was photographed Monday discharging excess concrete into a Red Bay mangrove.
DoE: No prosecution over dumped concrete in Red Bay mangrove
The Department of Environment will not recommend prosecution against National Concrete, after a company truck was spotted Monday evening dumping concrete into a mangrove swamp in Red Bay.
DoE yet to approve plan for removal of ironshore at FIN
The Department of Environment has not yet given the go-ahead for work to start on removing parts of the ironshore to create a saltwater tidal pool at the FIN development on South Church Street.
Port Authority: Eden Rock damage was ‘no one’s fault’
A boating incident that left the coral reef at Cayman’s Eden Rock dive site covered in sand was likely an ‘unfortunate accident’, according to both the Port Authority and the Department of Environment.
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.
Man discovers rift in South Sound seabed
The full effects of the January’s 7.7 earthquake are still coming to light, this after a man discovered an crack on the seabed of the South Sound lagoon.
Turtle rescued after falling in pool
The Department of Environment's turtle-rescue team sprang into action over the weekend to save a green sea turtle after it got stuck in a swimming pool.
Inspired by good news
Friday’s Compass (17 July) was one of the most uplifting and encouraging papers I have ever read. Of course, we are all delighted with...
Coral killer disease found in Cayman
Cayman’s reefs are under attack from the mysterious, but deadly Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease that has ravaged Florida’s coral reefs.
Sargassum smothers local shores
Cayman’s pristine shoreline is once again under attack from a familiar foe as mounds of sargassum have started washing up on local beaches.
Satellite linked to Brac rocket debris visible in pre-dawn sky
Last month, just off the coast of Cayman Brac, fishermen discovered debris from a Russian rocket. Early Wednesday morning, stargazers may get a glimpse of a satellite launched from that same rocket.
Shark killed as ghost net causes coral damage in South Sound
A nurse shark was killed and two others, along with several species of fish, were rescued by Department of Environment officers after the marine creatures became trapped in a ‘ghost net’ in South Sound, near the Pallas wreck.
Marine enforcement continues amid COVID crisis
The Department of Environment has warned against overfishing amid the escalating financial consequences of the coronavirus crisis.
Mangroves cleared while protection plan awaits Cabinet approval
The Department of Environment says unapproved mangrove-forest clearing is a problem they are not authorised to act on.
Protect Our Future calls for mangrove conservation
Protect Our Future members marked Global Wetlands Day on Monday by protesting the destruction of mangroves at an Old Prospect Road site after a developer removed the vegetation and filled the area without planning permission.
Giant floating net found off George Town
A fishing device with a ghost net, measuring a total length of 877 feet, was found floating off George Town harbour Tuesday.
Plastic pollution entangles marine life
The increasing presence of plastics in the Caribbean Sea has created an environment rife with unnatural perils for marine life. In Cayman, the public...
Nassau grouper restrictions to continue
Even though Cayman’s Nassau grouper numbers are increasing, government restrictions on catching the fish will continue.
Trespass concerns remain as iguana cull begins
Those behind the 2020 green iguana cull say they will be going into communities to seek permission from homeowners to help reduce complaints of trespass.
Nassau grouper population bouncing back
Local conservation efforts to resuscitate the population of the critical endangered Nassau grouper population lauded.
2020 green iguana cull begins
The 2020 edition of the green iguana cull has started and already 594 of the animals being turned in to the Department of Environment in the first three days of this year's cull.
Stingray City freeze to run for 6 months
The Department of Environment has suspended issuing new Stingray City/Sandbar licences.
How much tourism is too much for a small island?
Cayman's tourism industry is thriving. But amid the debate over if and how to develop the island's port facilities, some are wondering, if the growth in visitors is sustainable and what the impact of rising visitation might mean for the island over the coming decades.
Stingray City licences capped
Government puts a cap on licences issued for Stingray City.
Stingrays injured by boats
The Department of Environment and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation raise concern after two stingrays were injured in quick succession by boats at the sandbar.
Two held for attack on DoE officer
Two men have been detained for the assault of a senior Department of Environment conservation officer who suffered a head injury on Tuesday during an arrest in East End. They have since been bailed.
DoE officer injured during arrest
A Department of Environment investigation is underway onto the assualt of a conservation officer who was left nursing a head injury on Tuesday. It followed a confrontation with a suspect in East End.
Iguana cull marks first year
A year after it launched, the Department of Environment's island-wide cull of invasive green iguanas has removed 1,028,305 of the animals from the population.
Gungchul, the rock iguana, killed on the Brac
The Department of Environment has renewed its call for drivers on Cayman Brac to slow down when travelling through areas inhabited by rock iguanas. Local conservationists mourn the death of Gungchul, a rock iguana, after the animal was run over by a vehicle on Tuesday near The Bat Cave, on South Side Road.
