Page 21 - Dive Guide

important fact that it will take many years for that LIoNfIsh
growth to be replaced. Many, if not most, corals The Indo-Pacific Red Lionfish, native to the Indian
grow at a rate of less than half-an-inch a year; so if and Pacific Oceans, has managed, with some
the underwater beauty which has taken centuries human help, to break free of its native range and
to develop is to remain for the future enjoyment spread into the coastal waters off Florida and
of everyone, residents and visitors must act into the Caribbean. By 2008 this dark invader
responsibly. threatened the reefs of the Cayman Islands.
MARINE PARks However, through foresight on the part of the
Whatever other treasure lies hidden in the Cayman Cayman Islands Government, legislation was
Islands, there can be no doubt that the greatest introduced to allow spears to be used to remove
treasures are the clear waters and healthy reefs the fish and a licensing programme was begun to
which make these islands a pre-eminent centre license individuals to cull lionfish from the Cayman
for diving and other water sports. Marine Parks, Marine Parks. Current research shows that a
Replenishment Zones, Environmental Zones and sustained high level of culling can and does yield
Animal Sanctuaries have been set up on the positive results.
islands to ensure that Cayman’s treasures will be LIoNfIsh CuLLING:
in pristine condition for generations of visitors to
enjoy. • Visitors are permitted to cull lionfish after
attending a licensing course but only with dive
shARk & RAY PRoTECTIoN companies that are licensed under our Customer
• All sharks and rays (all elasmobranchs) are Spearing Program (CSP) – visitors cannot be
completely protected at all times in all Cayman issued with their own spear. Under the CSP,
Islands waters. guests can only use the company spears under
• Under the National Conservation Law all supervision of staff and only on specific lionfish
elasmobranchs are protected from ‘take’ which culling dives – they can’t ‘check out’ spears PRoTECT ThE sEAs 365 DAYs A YEAR
is defined very broadly as to “collect, hunt, kill, and go on their own. Taking the course does not
destroy, damage, injure, disturb, harass, harm, guarantee that the guests will be able to engage
wound, capture, molest or impede a live in culling activities.
specimen in any way or to attempt to do so, and • We recommend contacting your favourite dive
includes incidental taking”. operator directly to determine whether they are
• At the Sand Bar (and Stingray City) wildlife licensed under our Customer Spearing Program
interactions, the guides there follow certain (CSP).
protocols so that tourists can interact with the • Visiting divers may not bring lionfish spears (or
stingrays while guests and guides remain other spears) in to the Cayman Islands with
within the intent of the Law: them.To do so is a violation of the Cayman
i. No lifting of stingrays from the water. Islands law. Anyone (other than locals with
ii. Only approved foods – normally a box Cayman licensed spears) caught travelling with
of squid per boat – may be fed to or using a spear in Cayman, even for lionfishing,
the rays. will at a minimum have the spear confiscated
iii. Only the guides should handle the even if no other charges are proffered.
food, or the stingray – this is so that
only experienced people interact with PhOtOgraPher: legendS & liOnS
the animals, decreasing the stress for
animals and visitors and decreasing
the likelihood for a negative experience
for both.

www.divecayman.ky 21