Ever wondered what the Cayman islands are doing to keep these beautiful turquoise waters and coral reefs thriving with life? Well the Department of Environment has not only clear rules about what people can catch while fishing and a list of protected species they also have Marine Parks with clearly marked usage zones.
As a visitor to Silver Sands, when you step onto the beach and look out to sea in front of the property you can see the area of Marine Park that is situated right in the heart of 7-Mile.
As you can see from the above chart curtesy of the DoE, some of the different zones include:
Marine Parks
Environmental Zone
Replenishment Zone
Designated Grouper Spawning Area
Wildlife Interaction Zones
No Diving Zones
You might see some of these zones marked along the beaches as you explore the island, however if you have any further questions please check out this link to the DOE Marine Park Rules for exact rules.
One of the most well known Wildlife Interaction Zones is the famous Stingray City, a definite must during your visit to Cayman!
As you can see from the above chart, there are also rules about what you can take, hunt and fish. Line fishing from shore is legal, however spear fishing is highly restricted and you must get a special license to do so. There are also certain times of the year where catching conch, lobster and other ocean delicacies are legal, leaving the rest of the year for the stocks to replenish. For more rules and regulations on Catch Limits please follow this link to the DoE.
The DoE is also in charge of protecting and managing the land and all the terrestrial animals that make the Caymans as diverse and special as it is.
Respecting these rules as a visitor to the Cayman Islands are very easy… take lots of photos and leave only sandy foot prints and bubbles!
Photo Credits: Chase Darnell and Heather Holt Photography
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