Our Global Ocean:

Highlighting the resilience of marine ecosystems and showcasing global efforts to protect the ocean, including those led by the Cayman Islands.

Over the last four decades, the Cayman Islands has emerged as a global leader in marine conservation. Today, over 50% of its nearshore coastal waters are protected through an enhanced marine protected area network, bolstered by successful conservation efforts for species such as the Nassau grouper and sea turtles.

Produced by the Cayman Islands Government Office UK in partnership with the Cayman Islands Government Department of Environment and in association with Bryant Media, the filmspotlights the critical work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Blue Belt Programme, which supports the UK Overseas Territories in preserving ocean health, halting biodiversity loss, ensuring climate resilience, and fostering sustainable growth.

Sea turtles

Less than 25 sea turtle nests were recorded when turtle nest monitoring began in 1998. Since then, dedicated monitoring, research and legislation protecting sea turtles and their nests have led to over 1000 nests recorded in the 2023 season.

Although Cayman’s green and loggerhead turtle populations have increased steadily since conservation efforts began, populations remain critically low, especially for Cayman’s nesting hawksbill population which only records one or two nesting turtles per year. Habitat loss from coastal development on nesting beaches and the detrimental impacts of artificial lighting on emerging hatchlings, coupled with warming temperatures and beach erosion exacerbated by climate change, continue to challenge the potential of even the most supported conservation efforts.

Sharks

The Cayman Islands are one of only 17 countries in the world with shark protection legislation criminalising the harm or even feeding of sharks in Cayman waters.

Grouper

Once thought to be on the road to regional extinction, a viable Nassau Grouper spawning aggregation site was rediscovered in the deep waters off the western tip of Little Cayman in 2001. Research and conservation efforts have protected the site from fishing pressures during spawning season through marine park legislation and led to steady growth of the aggregation from hundreds to thousands in the last 30 years

MPA

55% of our nearshore coastal waters are protected through an enhanced marine protected area network, the majority of which are no-take zones

The Cayman Islands now have the largest remaining population of Nassau Grouper, an iconic Caribbean reef species and are recognised globally for this rare example of a successful species recovery programme.

For more information on the Cayman Islands’ marine conservation efforts or to discuss collaborative opportunities, please contact us at cayman@shearwater.global.