The Department of Environment is taking a survey to gauge the public’s value of marine resources. The aim it so place a dollar value to aid in decision making.
The survey, which focuses on culture and recreational value, uses the choice modeling method – which gives participants a number of choices that resemble real life trade offs.
It’s been a few weeks since the Department of Environment celebrated Earth Month, with a number of events such as road and beach side clean up, reef survey and eco-challenges.
On this Environment Break find out how those events went and learn about some new environment issues that were in focus for 2014.
The Cayman Islands joined the rest of the world in celebrating Earth Mont back in April, but living green shouldn’t take place in one month. On this Environment Break Daybreak’s Edlyn Ruiz speaks with Leah Grant of the Department of Environment and Tania Johnson of the Department of Environmental Health about ways individuals can live an eco-friendly life.
One easy way is to recycle. To learn more about recycling programmes on islands you can visit the DEH’s website or email recycle@gov.ky.
The Department of Environment embarks on its annual conch survey. The survey keeps count of number of conch found in Cayman waters. Daybreak’s Edlyn Ruiz speaks with DOE’s John Bothwell about the process of data collection, where attention is being focus and how the information collection is used in decision making.
Dr. David Bass, a scientist with the University of Central Oklahoma, has been working with the Department of Environment to record fresh water species found in the Cayman Islands.
The primary focus is to gather data on what aquatic invertebrates are currently present, through sample collection. The samples are then studied to determine whether they are endemic to the island or introduced.
Dr. Bass, along with Jessica Harvey and Jane Haakonsson of Department of Environment speak with Daybreak’s Edlyn Ruiz about what species have been found, and how the information will be used by the DOE.
The Department of Environment takes on a tree planting initiative. Cayman 27′s Edlyn Ruiz finds out how it benefits our coastlines on this Environment Break.
The Department of Environment continues its efforts to tackle the invasive lionfish population. They’ve partnered with students at Bangor University to analyse where the lionfish are and what they’re eating.
Learn more on this Environment Break.
The Department of Environment (DOE) is taking stock of the number of green iguanas on Grand Cayman. DOE’s Jane Haakonsson shares details about a recent survey the DOE underwent and what it means in terms of controlling the iguana population.
Green iguanas are an invasive species, so biologically they shouldn’t be in Cayman. Ms. Haakonsson says the species are native to Central and South America and have spread very quickly.
“They are invasive not only on Grand Cayman, but on several Caribbean Islands. You see them in Florida and all over the place as well. The reason why they are so successful is because they adapt very well,” Ms. Haakonsson added.
The survey revealed that green iguana are more prevalent in the western side of the island, and that their population numbers are greater than that of residents.
This week on Environment Break we learn why the Department of Environment hopes that moving rock iguanas on Little Cayman will help the species thrive. Department of Environment’s Jessica Harvey talks to Edlyn Ruiz about this programme.
“As people may know we have two species of iguana here that reside here. We have the blue iguanas in Grand Cayman only and we have the Sister Islands rock iguanas in Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. As people may know as well, there seems to be a larger population of iguanas in Little Cayman and around this particular area, the museum area. There is a high density of iguanas and that’s partially due to the fact that it has a lot of great characteristics about it that make it a preference to reside there,” Ms. Harvey said.
She adds the problem is that the space in which they reside is surrounded by road.
To report your sightings call 917-7744.
On this Environment Break find out how the Department of Environment is working to survey the icon bird species, the White Crowned Pigeon.
Department of Environment’s Jane Haakonsson and Cayman Turtle Farm’s Geddes Hislop talk to Edlyn Ruiz and share how the White Crowned Pigeons are being released into the wild.
Ms. Haakonsson says the birds are very charismatic. She explains how the bird used to be on the “game species list” but has now been removed.
“Now we’ve actually taken it off because numbers are potentially decreasing,” said Ms. Haakonsson.
Click on the video to hear more about the releasing of this species.
On this Environment Break, visiting scientists are diving into the water to study and survey Cayman’s stingray population.
Edlyn Ruiz speaks with Department of Environment’s Jessica Harvey and Georgia Aquarium’s Dr. Tanya Clauss, Dr. Lisa Hoopes and Dr. Alexa McDermott to find out what it is they are hoping to learn.
The study will focus on the general health, nutrition, and living conditions of the animals.
Click on the video to find out more on this study.
Fish pots have been in the news recently, but what exactly are they? Are they causing a lot of problems? Department of Environment (DOE) John Bothwell talks to Edlyn Ruiz about the regulations for fish pots.
Mr. Bothwell says all fish pots need to be licensed by the Marine Conservation Board, as well as be tagged by the board. He adds that if anyone sees a fish pot, leave it alone and if you see anything that is of concern call the DOE.
Click on the video to hear more about this topic.
In this Environment Break, Edlyn Ruiz is at the Department Environment with John Bothwell. They talk about a type of seaweed that you may have been noticing on the surface of the water.
The seaweed that has been on Cayman’s shores and floating on the surface is called Sargassum seaweed.
According to NOAA, Sargassum is a genus of large brown seaweed (a type of algae) that floats in island-like masses, and is common in waters off the U.S. South Atlantic coast. Mr. Bothwell adds that this seaweed spends most of its life on top of the water.
Mr. Bothwell says the large masses of seaweed is not something you necessarily need to worry about. He adds fishermen are the most excited when they see Sargassum, as it attracts dolphin fish. Other species have been documented to use the large brown seaweed; amberjacks, jacks, and tuna are some of the large predators that use this habitat.
Marine mammals (dolphins) and juvenile loggerhead sea turtles have also been observed among the Sargassum.
If you have property on the beach and may be have concerns about cleaning up the Sargassum mess, watch the video to find out more on how to do it properly.
Edlyn Ruiz speaks with Department of Environment’s John Bothwell about the efforts to restore the reef damaged by a cruise ship anchor in Grand Cayman. Mr. Bothwell says the damaged reef will take a long time to recover as coral take hundreds of years to grow. “That reef will never recover essentially in our lifetime,” Mr. Bothwell added.
Volunteer efforts, however, are making slow but steady progress in cleaning up the area which will provide the reefs the best possible environment to recover.
To join the efforts, visit Cayman Magic Reef Recovery Facebook page.
Cabinet recently approved a policy for managing coral nurseries and on this Environment Break we learn what that means for research and how interested institutions can get on board.
Edlyn Ruiz caught up with Department of Environment’s John Bothwell.
Click here to find the policy
Public meeting
There have been a number of shark sightings in Cayman’s waters in recent weeks, which has raised the question, is it safe? On this Environment Break, Department of Environment’s John Bothwell talks about Cayman’s shark population.
Mr. Bothwell tells Daybreak’s Edlyn Ruiz that while shark sightings aren’t very common in Cayman, it is common for sharks to swim up to shallow waters. He also gives a reminder that, while sharks are often more apt to be afraid of a humans, people should take precautions.
On Environment Break the focus is on ocean acidification, which is a threat to the coral reefs marine eco-system. Edlyn Ruiz talks to University of Essex’s Emma Camp and Department of Environment’s John Bothwell to find out more about how this has impacted Cayman’s waters.
Ms. Camp says ocean acidification means that the ocean is becoming more acidic, and that it means that the PH of the water is getting lower.
Watch the video for more.
Marine ecosystems around the world are facing the threat of ocean acidification, an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the ocean.
PhD. candidate from the University of Essex, Emma Camp, is in Cayman working with the Department of Environment (DOE) to study the effects ocean acidifcation is having on coral reefs.
She is examining coral from non-reef environments and comparing them to coral from reef environments, and testing to see which of the two can better handle the stress of ocean acidification. Early findings show that the coral from seagrasses and other non-reef environments are able to sustain their growth, which gives the hope that it can be used as a buffer and protection for corals growing within reefs.
DOE’s John Bothwell explains that Ms. Camp’s work highlights the need to better preserve the ocean’s biodiversity through protected marine parks.
Make 2015 a year of Eco-responsibility. New Year’s goals related to health or your relationships may top some lists, but resolving to change your environmental habits could have a huge impact on both yourself and the rest of the world.
In this Environment Break, Department of Environment’s Wendy Williams talks to Edlyn Ruiz about the importance of going green and shares tips on how to live a green lifestyle.
A new discovery has been made in Cayman’s water. Daybreak’s Edlyn Ruiz gets the story behind the uncovering on the underwater worm from the people who found and named the species.
“It’s always been a life long dream to find something new under water,” said Cynthia Abgarian, who discovered the underwater worm.
“We started to find more and more of them, not on what Cindy had photographed it on, but on Star Coral,” said Mr. Everett Turner, who is the Author of Cayman has Worms. He adds that they continued to photograph and asked if people knew what they were. No one had the answer, which was when they realized that the worm may be a new species.
Essie Evans, who also an author of Cayman has Worms says that they’ve put together a book of photos for divers to showcase the wealth of marine life in Cayman.
Department of Environment’s Tim Austins says “Obviously Cayman is a diving destination. The marine environment is a particularity special place and I think it’s really exciting that there is still species out there that we literally don’t know about. It reinforces how important marine protected areas are.”
Watch the video to hear the name of the underwater worm.
