Blights tourists favourite Cayman Islands

The tropical Cayman Islands are at the centre of a dispute over the ‘factory farming’ of green sea turtles after activists launched a campaign calling for the global end of commercial turtle farming.

Now the authorities of the British overseas territory and offshore tax haven are under growing pressure to address the situation, as a film published today by the Ecologist (Thursday) reveals. (*See separate story)

The Cayman Turtle Farm has received wide ranging political condemnation from British MPs, with Early Day Motion 611 Turtle Farming in Cayman already attracting the backing of 65 MPs from across the political spectrum.

The EDM reads:

“That this House (…) calls for action following the WSPA report on serious welfare concerns about the Cayman Turtle Farm in the British Overseas Territory.”

Grand Cayman is home to the last farm in the world that rears sea turtles for human consumption. As well as supplying meat for domestic consumption, the farm is a major tourist destination, especially for the sizable numbers of cruise ship passengers who visit.

Campaigners say the estimated 7,000 turtles held at the farm are subjected to ‘systematic cruelty, neglect and major animal welfare concerns.’

Undercover footage shot by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) – and featuring in the film – highlights a side to the turtle farm that they say few visitors would be aware of.

As the film explores, welfare is not the only concern opponents have raised – risks to human health, financial cost and alleged failures in its conservation mandate have also been highlighted.

The cruelty claims are, however, vigorously disputed by the farms management.
Those who run the farm also defend their research and conservation programme, stating the farm is a facility the Cayman Islands ‘can be proud of’.

They accuse activists of attempting to undermine the farms revenue base whilst at the same time stating they want to work with the farm.

The film includes comments from:

Gina Ebanks-Petrie, Director, Cayman Islands Department of Environment

Richard Branson

Dr Neil D’Cruze, WSPA

Tim Adam, The Cayman Turtle Farm

Guy Harvey, Conservationist

Underwater photographer and conservationist Cathy Church

Paul Kennedy (Cayman 27)

Isley Ebanks, proprietor, Heritage Kitchen

The film can be viewed at http://bit.ly/WMzWDH

For further information please visit:
http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/1758612/cayman_islands_under_fire_over_factory_farming_of_sea_turtles.html

*See also iNews Cayman story: “Does the Cayman Islands really need ‘cramped, dirty and overcrowded’ turtle farm?