News
Cayman dive community tackles coral reef damage
Cayman’s recreational and professional divers have joined forces to try to repair damage done to nearly 12,000 square feet of coral reef wrecked when a cruise ship dropped its anchor on the site last month.
Last Saturday, 28 volunteers took to the water from Don Foster’s Dive in George Town to remove rubble from the reef. Initially divers are targeting a shallower area, about 60 feet deep, and moving the debris in plastic crates to a sandy patch closer to the shore. As the project continues, they will remove rubble from deeper levels.
Sunset House general manager Keith Sahm, who is heading up the logistics of the volunteer-led project, said that while the work done last Saturday was just the beginning of what will be a long-haul project, “at least we’ve made a start.”
Any live dislodged coral that can be salvaged will be re-attached using epoxy, a waterproof cement, but before that can be done, the debris needs to be removed, he said.
“We cannot rebuild until we get rid of all the rubble,” Mr. Sahm said.
Divers worked in teams to fill crates with rocks and dead coral and then swam or walked the crates to the newly created rubble site before returning to the reef to refill the containers.
The reef was seriously damaged last month when a Carnival Magic cruise ship accidentally dropped its anchor at the site.
On Saturday, the divers carried out an orientation and assessment dive to familiarize themselves with the site, before re-entering the water to begin removing the rubble. Prior to the dives, they were briefed by Department of Environment research officer James Gibb, Russell Hartridge of Don Foster’s Dive, and Ocean Frontiers’ Lois Hatcher. Ms Hatcher was involved in the Maasdam reef restoration project in 1996, after a Maasdam cruise ship dragged its anchor on Soto’s Reef in George Town.
The plans for the recovery project first took hold during a meeting at Sunset House on Thursday night last week.
At that meeting, Ms. Hatcher told volunteers, “[We need to] uncover any corals that are still alive or attached to the reef structure, or buried and threatened under rubble.
“When the next big storm comes in, all that rubble is going to move around, so the quicker we can get it out, the better, because if it starts moving around, it’s going to start killing everything in its path.”
She also highlighted some differences between the Carnival Magic’s cruise ship anchor damage and the damage to Soto’s Reef in 1996.
“What I want to emphasize is … this is going to take a lot of time. The Maasdam took about 9,000 hours over three months, so this is probably going to be going on for months, possibly a year,” she told volunteers. “The damage that we’re dealing now is from 60 to 110 feet [deep], the damage in the Maasdam was shallower [40 feet].” “The number one thing that we want to do is to secure any of the large dislocated corals … that will give it a lot better to recover,” she added.
“This is going to be something where we really need the community to come together. If nobody’s going to be held accountable for this, we have to be accountable for it,” she said.
Mr. Gibb, following Saturday’s dives, told divers the ongoing work should be “slow, calm and deliberate,” to ensure not only diver safety but also that live coral at the site did not sustain any further damage.
“As we get further into this, we are going to find more and more live coral and will start to put that aside,” he said.
More than 100 people have joined a Facebook page, created by Aaron Hunt of Cayman Eco Divers, that is being used to communicate details of the project to divers. Mr. Gibb said any other divers who want to get involved can check the ‘Cayman Magic Reef Recovery‘ Facebook page to find out when dives will be organized.
Three more dives at the site were scheduled for Sunday, and more will be organized on a regular basis as the project continues.
Local companies have also joined the project, with Harbour House Marina providing the epoxy, Woody Foster suppling the lift crates, and Sunset House and Don Foster’s suppling free air tanks for the dive volunteers.
Source: www.compasscayman.com
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Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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