Please Don't Mishandle the Sealife!

[formernuke]

Look, observe but don't feed or touch it's easy people.

 

[tridacna]

That whole situation was kind of like when the Brooklyn Zoo polar bear ate the kid who entered its cage and taunted it. Its called natural selection

This has nothing to do with Natural Selection. Or Darwin.

 

[tarponchik]

The company potentially building the cruise dock is proposing to move a large section of reef near the dock including the wreck of the Balbo. It's hard enough to transplant a small amount of living coral let alone a whole reef. Goodbye, Balboa,Cheeseburger, Soto's, Eden Rock, Devils Grotto and more.
I think the government, cruise ship companies, and dock construction company are just throwing this reef transplant garbage out as a sop to the environmentalists. Total BS. The company, ironically, is called Verdant Isle Consortium.

The Cayman National Trust, Central Caribbean Marine Institute, and other environmental groups are up in arms. The Cayman government had scheduled a referendum for Dec 19 but was forced to delay. They have been mounting a huge pro dock publicity campaign in the interim. The Cayman Compass has been reporting on the pros and cons of the dock project for a while. Interesting but sad reading.

At the end of the day the island belongs to the Caymanians and it is there decision what to do, but it will be a shame to lose a whole chunk of west side reef and have significantly more cruisers on island. I just hope they leave the Brac and LC alone.

It is tempting to present this as "Big Bis vs. People" but in such cases there always is the fifth column of boat operators, tour guides, gift shops and eateries owners, etc. Everyone who wants to make a quick buck will vote for more cruise ships coming, come Hell or high water.

 

[Dizzi Lizzi]

I would love to do this, and 10 or 15 years ago I would not have hesitated. But now I can't bear to think of contributing to this madness. While I know I would be kind and would never handle wildlife on purpose, I can't control others and it would make me crazy. Same reason I can't go back to Hanauma Bay. Despite the mandatory video saying don't touch the wildlife or the reef there were several people standing on the reef to take pictures. Made me so sick. We went to the lifeguards and all they could do was tell people to not stand on the reef. They had no power other than the bullhorn. My friend and I swam out and told several groups not to stand on the reef, don't chase the turtles....sickening. Don't get me started on all the trash and used 1x snorkel sets.

 

[Bob DBF]

Everyone who wants to make a quick buck will vote for more cruise ships coming, come Hell or high water.

And it isn't just a "quick buck", but also folks that just need a job.


Bob

 

[Joneill]

That whole scene disgusts me. They are known for feeding them things the rays do not normally eat which changes their behavior. Also, the handling of any marine life really irks me.

I wonder what they would think if someone grabbed their backside? Would they get mad? Well, "I was just curious and wanted the experience." Humans do enough harm to marine life as it is.

When I was in Rangiroa in October, some of the dolphins in Tiputa Pass would nudge you or stop and hang right in front of you as they wanted to be "scratched" - I normally abide by the no touch rule, but when the wildlife is "asking" I see no harm in obliging as long as it's done carefully and respectfully (in that case, tht meant no chasing the dolphins and only interacting like that if they intitiated) - It was a truly amazing experience!

 

[tarponchik]

And it isn't just a "quick buck", but also folks that just need a job.


Bob

Yeah, this is basically Economy vs Nature.

 

[ScubaWithTurk]

When I was in Rangiroa in October, some of the dolphins in Tiputa Pass would nudge you or stop and hang right in front of you as they wanted to be "scratched" - I normally abide by the no touch rule, but when the wildlife is "asking" I see no harm in obliging as long as it's done carefully and respectfully (in that case, tht meant no chasing the dolphins and only interacting like that if they intitiated) - It was a truly amazing experience!

I understand your train of thought. However in order to play devil's advocate, we do not know what touching marine life does to them. Can our oils hurt them? Can we take away a protective layer that then causes infection?

I would say do not touch. If the dolphin wants to contact, they will initiate contact. Just my 2 bar and thanks for your input in this discussion.

 

[KathyV]

Article about managing crowds and tourist capacity with specific references to Sting Ray City:

How much tourism is too much for a small island? | Cayman Compass

 

[caydiver]

It is tempting to present this as "Big Bis vs. People" but in such cases there always is the fifth column of boat operators, tour guides, gift shops and eateries owners, etc. Everyone who wants to make a quick buck will vote for more cruise ships coming, come Hell or high water.

The small ops and those with businesses in the area do not want the port project. Sadly there is a big difference in people who accept that the port needs to be updated but the proposed project is way beyond the scope of what is necessary. The new “development” as proposed is total overkill We don’t have a mid ground. Our choice is all or nothing.