It’s rare when a dive-industry leader
speaks candidly about reef degradation in
her own back yard, but Cayman’s Cathy
Church told the Cayman Compass that “If
we don’t take action now corals will be
in serious trouble. Anything that hurts
coral needs to be contained — increased
sewage, seeping groundwater from the
unsealed landfill site, fertilizer runoff,
detergent and the destruction of mangroves.”
She asserted that the proposed dolphin
facility will also be problematic
because bacteria from dolphin feces has
been linked to coral loss in other destinations.
Church said, “This porous little island
cannot support high-level development
because everything we do ends up on the
reef.” The more development, the more
people come, contributing to more cars,
more sewage and more pollution. “Every
little bit we do kills off a little more reef.”
Church says there are fewer varieties
of fish. “There is fishing line on any dive
site on this island, and it is fresh,” she
said, though no fishing is permitted on
the coral walls. There needs to be stricter
limitations on where to fish. However,
dive operator Peter Milburn believes fish
life is abundant, because marine parks
are working, though he says all of Little
Cayman must be given Marine Park Status
to keep certain marine species from
becoming over fished.
Church fears that if more coral dies,
Cayman itself will start to disappear. She
says if the coral does not build up faster
than we destroy it,”then the sea will erode
away our island. We’re built on a coral
reef. We’re not on a wide continental
shelf. Our coral is not just a tourist attraction;
it’s the basis of our existence.”
PS: Cathy’s beautiful coffee table book,
My Underwater Photo Journey, is available at
Undercurrent. Click on Diving
Book and Guides and all profits from our
book sales go to save coral reefs.