C.I. Department of Environment

Today is #WorldShorebirdsDay. In honour of this annual global event, @birdscaribbean has created a new video to celebrate Caribbean shorebirds! Now is an ideal time to learn about and celebrate the diversity of shorebirds in the Caribbean. During late summer and early fall, our resident shorebirds, like the Black-necked Stilt and the Lesser Yellowlegs, are joined by long-distance migrants, such as the Solitary Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Whimbrel and many more. Get to know some of Cayman’s shorebirds so you’ll be able to identify them when you encounter them in the wild. #BirdsOfTheCaribbean #CaymanIslandsShorebirds #ProtectOurBirds #DoE

Monday, 6 September is #WorldShorebirdsDay. The Caribbean boasts some of the most beautiful shorebirds. If you happen to see some of them while you’re out and about this weekend and over the next week, please make a note of them, and add them to the #GlobalShorebirdCount that #BirdsCaribbean is participating in. You can find out more information about the count at @BirdsCaribbean. The data you collect during shorebird counts will help scientists coordinate follow up conservation actions and research. Sadly, shorebird populations have declined by 40% in the last 50 years due to threats such as habitat loss, pollution, hunting, and climate change. Every shorebird counts! #CaymanIslands #CountOurBirds #ProtectShoreBirds #BirdConservation #DoE

Did you know that sea turtle hatchlings usually emerge from their nests at night? This prevents them overheating and lessens the chances of them being seen by predators both on land and in the sea. Occasionally though, they will emerge in the day, usually driven by a drop in temperature. The #DoE #TurtleTeam recently experienced a natural daytime hatch in #LittleCayman, as shown in the video, and observed the loggerhead hatchlings making their way safely to the sea. If you see hatchlings in the daytime heading to water, please do not interfere, but do call our turtle hotline on 938-NEST (938-6378). #TurtleThursday #DaytimeTurtleHatch #Loggerheads #SeaTurtles #CaymanIslands

On Sunday, 22 August a dead shark was found in Bodden Town by a member of the public who reported the incident to the #DoE. The animal is a neonate male nurse shark, born sometime this year. The cause of death was likely a result of fishing as there appeared to be a small hole on the snout where the point of a hook may have exited. Blood on the tail of the shark was likely sustained during the fight with the fisherman as it was thrashing over ironshore in the shallow water. DoE is reminding the public to continue to stay vigilant when fishing off the shore and in shallow water because of the ongoing pupping season. Shallow water and mangrove forests are pupping grounds for sharks because this habitat provides shelter and food for the young sharks. Therefore fisherman will encounter them more frequently over the next few months. If you encounter a shark, stop fishing immediately and quickly attend to any accidentally hooked sharks to help improve the animal’s chance of survival. It is ILLEGAL to kill, harm or possess a shark or any part of a shark in the #CaymanIslands. The DoE encourages the public to report suspicious behaviour, ongoing crimes, and any dead shark sightings. Email doe@gov.ky or call 949.8469. For urgent reports, persons can also call 911 or DoE conservation officers on 916-4271. They will respond immediately. #SeeSomethingSaySomethingDOSomething #ProtectOurSharks #SaveOurTomorrowToday #ProtectOurMarineEnvironment #ObeyTheMarineLaws #CaymanIslands

#DoE had the opportunity to meet with residents in #CaymanBrac recently to discuss the conservation plans for Sybil’s Crownbeard (Verbesina Caymanensis), a small shrub found only in the Brac. Hear more from our Terrestrial Resources Unit Manager, Fred Burton about this rare plant species that is uniquely Caymanian. To read the Sybil’s Crownbeard Conservation Plan visit the Protected Species page at Conservation.ky.   #SybilsCrownbeard #VerbesinaCaymanensis #CaymanIslands #SpeciesConservation #ProtectOurFlora

#FYI On Friday, 20 August a dead whale was found washed up on the beach in Bodden Town. After examining the animal our #DoE team believe it to be a pygmy sperm whale. It appeared to be an embryo due to its size (approx. 1m / 3ft) and underdevelopment of eyes and teeth. Cause of death was likely due to the storm last week instead of any human intervention. We believe the mother was caught in #TropicalStormGrace and prematurely aborted the pregnancy. Premature abortion in pregnant whales can happen when the mother experiences significant stress/trauma or the conditions aren't beneficial for the survival of the offspring. A reminder to report any sightings of dead sharks, turtles or marine mammals. Email doe@gov.ky or call 949.8469. For urgent reports, persons can also call 911 or DoE conservation officers on 916-4271. They will respond immediately. #CaymanIslands #PygmySpermWhale #WhaleEducation #FYI

Hundreds of sea turtle hatchlings were saved by DoE's Turtle Team before Tropical Storm Grace! Tropical storms pose a threat to incubating sea turtle nests as inundation from waves can result in egg and hatchling mortality. In preparation for the storm, the #DoE #TurtleTeam relocated 23 nests that were close to the high water mark and removed hatchlings that were due to emerge to prevent them from drowning inside their nests. The rescued hatchlings were successfully released in advance of Grace's arrival. Thank you to all that assisted with the rescue! #seaturtlerescue #loggerheadturtle #greenturtle #seaturtlehatchlings #tropicalstorm #hurricane #conservation #protectseaturtles #CaymanIslands

Accidentally caught a shark? Here’s what to do: 🦈 Release the shark. 🦈 Remove the hook if possible and comfortable to do so OR cut the line as close to the hook as possible. Use circle hooks because these are less likely to hook the shark in the gut and are easier to remove. 🦈 Use non-stainless steel hooks because they will rust out relatively quickly if the hook remains in the shark, thus improving the animal’s chances of survival. 🦈Avoid any additional injuries to the shark and limit the amount of time spent handling it because the stress can cause the animal to die post release. Sharks play a vital role in maintaining a healthy marine environment and are an important non- consumptive resource for Cayman’s marine-based economy. We all need to do our part to protect them, which will then benefit our reefs and the other fish that live in our waters. DoE asks the public to be vigilant and release any accidentally caught sharks. It is ILLEGAL to kill, harm or possess a shark or any part of a shark in the #CaymanIslands. The #DoE encourages the public to report suspicious behaviour, ongoing crimes, and any dead shark sightings. Email doe@gov.ky or call 949.8469. For urgent reports, persons can also call 911 or DoE conservation officers on 916-4271. They will respond immediately. #SeeSomethingSaySomethingDOSomething #ProtectOurSharks #SaveOurTomorrowToday #ProtectOurMarineEnvironment #ObeyTheMarineLaws #CaymanIslands

A dead female dusky smooth hound shark (Mustelus canis) was found at Lobster Pot dock recently. This is a deep-water species which was likely caught and killed accidentally. Deep water sharks often die on fishing lines because they cannot survive the pressure change when being reeled in from deep depths and arrive dead on the surface. This is only the third record of this species in Cayman since 1987. It is globally classified as “near threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. A reminder that it is ILLEGAL to kill, harm or possess a shark or any part of a shark in the #CaymanIslands. The #DoE encourages the public to report suspicious behaviour, ongoing crimes, and any dead shark sightings. Email doe@gov.ky or call 949.8469. For urgent reports, persons can also call 911 or DoE conservation officers on 916-4271. They will respond immediately. #SeeSomethingSaySomethingDOSomething #ProtectOurSharks #SaveOurTomorrowToday #ProtectOurMarineEnvironment #ObeyTheMarineLaws #CaymanIslands

Three dead sharks were found in #CaymanBrac in July. The species were unknown, and all were found in the vicinity of Scott’s Dock. Some had fins and/or other parts of the body removed. This is a concerning record for the Brac as the #DoE has received reports of two to three dead sharks per month on that island since the beginning of the year. Most of these sharks were adults. Sharks are often attracted to the smell of fish guts and blood in the water at fish cleaning stations, such as the one at Scott’s Dock, and approach the area hoping to receive a few scraps to eat. Persons fishing in the area are then likely to encounter these sharks because they are drawn to the fishing activities, either the baited hook or a hooked fish struggling on the line. Please stop fishing if a shark is in the area and release any accidentally caught sharks It is ILLEGAL to kill, harm or possess a shark or any part of a shark in the #CaymanIslands. The #DoE encourages the public to report suspicious behaviour, ongoing crimes, and any dead shark sightings. Email doe@gov.ky or call 949.8469. For urgent reports, persons can also call 911 or DoE conservation officers on 916-4271. They will respond immediately. #SeeSomethingSaySomethingDOSomething #ProtectOurSharks #SaveOurTomorrowToday #ProtectOurMarineEnvironment #ObeyTheMarineLaws #CaymanIslands

On 30 July the removed fins of a nurse shark were discovered at Lobster Pot dock and two dead Caribbean reef sharks at Newlands boat dock were found and reported. The reef sharks were neonates, born within the past two to three weeks, evidenced by their belly buttons which were still visible. It is ILLEGAL to kill, harm or possess a shark or any part of a shark in the #CaymanIslands. As summer is reproductive season for sharks and females are pupping now, fishermen will more frequently encounter young sharks over the next few months when fishing off the shore, close to shallow water and mangroves. The DoE asks that fishermen stop fishing while there is a shark around and quickly attend to any accidentally hooked sharks to help improve the new-born’s chance of survival. The #DoE encourages the public to report suspicious behaviour, ongoing crimes, and any dead shark sightings. Email doe@gov.ky or call 949.8469. For urgent reports, persons can also call 911 or DoE conservation officers on 916-4271. They will respond immediately. #SeeSomethingSaySomethingDOSomething #ProtectOurSharks #SaveOurTomorrowToday #ProtectOurMarineEnvironment #ObeyTheMarineLaws #CaymanIslands

On Saturday morning (14 Aug 2021) a baby dolphin in distress on Seven Mile Beach was attended to by #DoE volunteers, staff and others. The dolphin had an old, healing wound in its side and experienced some bleeding from cuts on its fin(s) from washing ashore in the surf. The dolphin was tended to and escorted out to deeper water with a DoE vessel. We thank the public, St. Matthew's University Vet School, @CaymanTurtleCentre and the dolphinariums for their support, especially the Cayman Turtle Centre and Dolphin Discovery veterinarians who worked with our team to help this dolphin out. #TeamWork #DolphinRescue #CaymanIslands