By Courtney Platt

For those who may have missed it:

Notice of Public Consultation: Fish Conservation Plan: The National Conservation Council invites public comment on a Species Conservation Plan for (reef) Fish. The Plan may be viewed at www.DoE.ky/fish-conservation and at the Grand Cayman Department of Environment office, District Libraries and the Little Cayman DoE Building. Written submissions should be sent to [email protected] or to the Conservation Council, c/o Department of Environment, PO Box 10202, KY1-1002, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, or by hand to the Department of Environment office, 580 North Sound Road, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. Submissions must be received by 19 August 2016.

I am currently preparing my own concise response for the Conservation Council and DOE, but each of us should be heard from as well. If you have not yet seen my TEDx talk on this topic, please see it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CkqA2s1oUk. In that 18 minute talk I give my reasons and recommendations, which come in addition to the proposed marine parks to ensure that the unsustainable take of spawning aggregations of any species be stopped. Continuing with no catch limits on fish in general, despite expanded marine parks will not protect spawning aggregations. Certain species in Grand Cayman are so sparse now compared to historic numbers that I believe they must be protected immediately… not after they become locally extinct. Counting on the expanded marine parks, (which must also happen ASAP) cannot by itself protect species that spawn at the drop-off (the current marine parks proposal continues to allow fishing the drop-off inside the parks). I strongly believe that the intent of the parks is seriously compromised by allowing any fishing at all along the deep fore-reef while we are also allowing unlimited catch numbers.

An ex-avid spear-fisherman myself, I am all too familiar with the need for us to completely eliminate spearfishing (other than lionfish of course). The DOE intended spearfishing to phase out as parts fail under the current laws, but we should now pull the plug as new guns and parts continue to increase instead of decrease. I believe that if we had had catch limits, marine parks, select species protections and sustainable spear fishing regulations in place 50 years ago, we might be able to have sustainable spear fishing today… but not at this time. Perhaps we can permit it again at some future time if we first restore historic reef fish populations.

Large numbers of adult fish produce large numbers of recruits, but what we have now produces very little by comparison. What little remains today is too precious to our restoration efforts for us to take risks with. I am concerned that Government has historically been and may continue to be more politically cautious than protectively cautious, which will leave some species in peril of local extinction or cause recovery to be greatly protracted in others. Because we have no data for historic populations prior to the 2009-2010 reef fish survey, the DOE cannot scientifically prove what experienced Cayman divers (and to some extent, older fishermen) “know” about the rate of decline that has occurred here. All they can prove with data is changes in population that occur going forward from 2010. It was a lack of data and political will that resulted in too little change when we established the marine park in the mid ’80’s and thus our current dilemma.

The most endangered species in Grand Cayman ought to have total protection, most obvious of which are at least: All groupers; Rainbow, Midnight and Blue Parrotfish; and Cubera Snappers. Although we could make different laws for Grand Cayman and the Sisters, we have an opportunity to ensure that what has happened here does not happen there as the resident and tourist populations continue to increase there too. If we still had today what we had when I arrived in ’83 our dive tourism numbers would certainly be multiples higher than they are now (you’ll just have to accept or reject my insight into the dive industry for that). It would also be awesome fishing for those who fish legally within sustainable limits. All Caymanians (not a select few) and Government will either profit or lose greatly depending on what we do now.

Furthermore, I believe that increasing funding by merely $200k per year for research, population monitoring and law enforcement is woefully inadequate. This is the number currently given in the Conservation Council’s draft Fish Conservation Plan. How much should we invest when potentially at least tens of millions$/yr in increased tourism profits, plus food for the poor are at stake? Even fishermen insist that we not make new regulations until we significantly increase enforcement. I suggest that we give DOE whatever they need to effectively enforce all regulations on all three islands. While poachers perceive that they can get away with it, they will continue to try (and often will get away with it). Much goes on after dark into the wee hours.

Please add your voices and opinions before the 19 August deadline. Take this critically important opportunity to save our future food stocks and tourism attraction while this iron is hot! Those of us who know what is happening must speak now while some seed stock remains. I fear we are already on the brink of too little too late for some of our most reef fish endangered species.

May God continue to bless Cayman through each of you,

Courtney

Courtney Platt Photography
P.O.Box 32326
Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands KY1-1209
(345) 945-3939, cell 916-1945
www.CourtneyPlatt.com

Related:

From Suzy Soto

To all concerned with conservation

Thank you for all the great work being done to protect our environment. There is one item Bob, myself, Carrie Manfrino, Guy Harvey, Harrison Bothwell, Courtney Platt and many others have discussed and have grave concern about. I heard on the radio about new regulations or something being passed in a few weeks which included something about taking 3 Parrot fish per day, either per boat or worse per fisherman. Excuse me if I have it wrong. Here is my plea;

Parrot fish were not normally taken by local fisherman, they are part of our “beach keepers”. There has been a lot of them being caught and from what I understand from the “Brackers” is that they are almost depleted over there. People taking them may not be aware of the type of fish and do so “willy nilly”. My big concern is the law should make Parrot Fish a protected species and illegal to take any at all! By mentioning the Parrot Fish and putting a limit on them, many of us feel it will only provoke those who never take Parrot Fish, to now think, “Oh we can fish for them now, it is ok”.

So please carefully consider the situation in the Brac, our future with the beautiful fish, and our beaches.

To those friends I have included, from what I understand we only have a few weeks to send our request to the [email protected] and the [email protected]. We are all so busy with work and as you can see, I am doing this at night from my great concern. Excuse my unprofessional email plea, but it is from the heart. So please send an email with your thoughts on the subject, before it it too late.

Suzy Soto

From John Bothwell

Secretary, Conservation Council

Senior Research Officer

Department of Environment

The National Conservation Council continues to welcome public comment on the Species Conservation Plan for Fish. A copy of the proposal is available for download in PDF format – Fish Conservation Plan Booklet – and written submissions should be sent to [email protected]. The Department of Environment are happy to answer any questions or speak with any individuals or groups and may be reached at [email protected]. Submissions to [email protected] must be received by 19 August 2016.

IMAGES: Supplied