Pristine coral in the Caymans to be dug up for cruise ship docks
IT IS one of Britain’s most prized coral reefs, sitting off the Cayman Islands and praised by the Prince of Wales as a “shining example” of a Commonwealth nation protecting its marine life.
But 15 acres of reef, home to critically endangered turtles, could be destroyed to make way for two cruise ship docks.
Campaigners say the George Town Harbour project will result in 22 acres of seabed being dredged and two deep water piers constructed to allow marine life to move underneath.
In December, the islands’ first publicly initiated referendum will decide the reef ’s future.
An environmental impact assessment in 2015, said 15 acres of reef habitat would be removed. But the designs have been altered, following the selection of Verdant Isle Port Partners (VIPP) as the preferred bidder in July, and there has been no new assessment.
Campaigners want the full plans to be released and a new assessment carried out before the referendum.
This week, the Cayman Islands Government (CIG) and VIPP said the new plans would lead to a reduction in the dredge footprint, impact on coral and adverse environmental impact.
VIPP said it planned a “relocation” programme to save some of the critically endangered corals. Citing multiple studies and past successes with repairing reefs, it hopes to translocate much of the coral prior to dredging.
VIPP also has optimistic plans for “coral gardening”, where fragments of healthy coral will be grown in tanks, before replanting in nearby reefs – with a goal of replanting one million corals. But it admitted: “It is clear that coral relocation will never completely mitigate impacts of proposed projects.”
The cruise firms – Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean – have faced criticism, after pledging to work with conservation NGOS to “ensure the long-term health of the oceans”.
Charlie Butt, the RSPB Caribbean territories manager, said: “It is difficult to believe that they would consider backing this plan if they knew that at least 15 acres of world-class coral reefs ... would be permanently lost.”
The UK has made commitments to safeguard the biodiversity of the Cayman Islands, a UK Overseas Territory.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “Environmental protection is an area of devolved responsibility to the locally elected government. Lord Ahmad [the Commonwealth minister] discussed the impact of the project with the government and the opposition when he visited the Cayman Islands in June. Our governor talks regularly about this issue with all those involved.”
The CIG has said updated designs will be released in the coming days.