🌊 Cayman Islands government greenlights harmful marine park dredging

The Cayman Islands Government has approved a private developer's request to dredge a canal in a marine protected area and mangrove buffer, a decision that the Department of Environment (DoE) warns will cause significant damage to a vast stretch of unique marine habitat. The developer, Harilyn Bodden and Newlands Sound Development Ltd, was granted a coastal works licence to facilitate easier sea access for potential large boat owners who might purchase land in the subdivision. The DoE's coastal works review highlights that the project, which involves dredging a 100-foot wide by 1,626-foot long and 5-foot deep canal, will negatively impact the seagrass beds and coastal mangroves that serve as breeding and nursery areas for marine life. 🐠

The DoE's review further points out that the project is located in a marine preserve, designed to protect marine life breeding and nursery areas. The proposed excavation threatens healthy and increasingly rare seagrass beds, home to a diverse array of marine life. Seagrass beds, often referred to as 'transitional habitats', work in tandem with surrounding mangroves to create a robust ecosystem for marine life and aid in coastline protection and stabilisation. Furthermore, the seagrass habitat plays a crucial role in mitigating the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels, by providing flood reduction and reducing erosion from wave action. The DoE urged the government to reject the application due to the potential damage to the marine environment and the negligible benefits for a small group of people. 🌿

Despite the DoE's warnings and alternative solutions, the government granted the licence, marking a departure from previous administrations' policy of not allowing private development in marine protected areas. This decision is one of many by the current UPM government that threatens the Cayman Islands' dwindling marine and terrestrial habitats. The government's decision to allow the developer to cause significant damage that will impact the wider country raises questions about its commitment to sustainability and stewardship of the country's natural resources. 🏝️