Western Caribbean
1A1
Cayman Islands
MAPsi
The
Cayman Islands are Overseas Territories of
the UK and consist of three islands: Grand Cayman,
Cayman Brae and Little Cayman. All are very
low-lying, with a maximum elevation of only 42 meters.
Jamaica and the Cayman Islands are situated on either side
of the Oriente Transform Fault, which also separates the
south coast of Cuba from Jamaica. The Cayman Trough, to
the east of Jamaica and the southeast of Grand Cayman,
is actively spreading at the mid-Cayman Rise. Weather
patterns in the Caymans are broadly similar to those in
Jamaica, but the eastern islands are generally drier than
Grand Cayman.
The reefs of the Cayman Islands are similar to each
other. Grand Cayman has a narrow carbonate shelf which
rarely exceeds 1.5 kilometers in width, and which is frequently much narrower. The fringing reefs often have well
defined spur and groove formations, below which there are
two distinct terraces: one at about 9 meters deep, the other at
12-16 meters. This second deeper terrace plunges vertically
into the abyssal depths of the Cayman Trench. Coral cover is
generally high. Historically, Grand Cayman had one of the
largest green turtle rookeries in the Caribbean. The turtles
were exported to Jamaica as a major food source during
the early days of colonial rule, and it has been estimated
that some 1 3 000 individuals were exported armually in
the early 18th century, before the fishery collapsed through
overfishing towards the end of the century.
There has been a remarkable expansion in the Cayman
Islands over the last 30 years. The resident population
has grown from 8 500 to 30 000, while the economy has
boomed. The Islands are a thriving offshore financial center,
with more than 40 000 registered companies in 1997,
including almost 600 banks and trust companies whose
assets currently exceed USS500 billion. Despite this,
tourism is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for
about 70 percent of gross domestic product and 75 percent
of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed
at the luxury market and caters mainly for visitors from
North America. Numbers are very high, with some 1.4
million visitors arriving annually. About 40 percent of these
visitors go diving, attracted by the easy access to clear
waters and sheer drop-offs.
Most of the pressure on the reefs arises from the
massive, tourist-focussed development. Pollution and the
contamination of groundwater by sewage are potential
problems, as is overfishing. The deeper reefs off George
Town have been destroyed by the continual anchoring of
{IBl
W ^^IHHI
Cayman 1Islands
^^Hj
General Data
Population Ithousandsl
35
GDP (million US$1
612
Land area (kmz|
277
Marine area (thousand km^^1
119
Per capita fish consumption (kg/yearl
na
Status and Threats
Reefs at risk (%|
100
Recorded coral diseases
3
Biodiversity
Reef area (km^j
230
Coral diversity
35/57
Mangrove area (km^j
71
No. of mangrove species
3
No. of seagrass species
na
Dive tourism in the Cayman Islands is a critical part of the island's economy.
1A1
Cayman Islands
MAPsi
The
Cayman Islands are Overseas Territories of
the UK and consist of three islands: Grand Cayman,
Cayman Brae and Little Cayman. All are very
low-lying, with a maximum elevation of only 42 meters.
Jamaica and the Cayman Islands are situated on either side
of the Oriente Transform Fault, which also separates the
south coast of Cuba from Jamaica. The Cayman Trough, to
the east of Jamaica and the southeast of Grand Cayman,
is actively spreading at the mid-Cayman Rise. Weather
patterns in the Caymans are broadly similar to those in
Jamaica, but the eastern islands are generally drier than
Grand Cayman.
The reefs of the Cayman Islands are similar to each
other. Grand Cayman has a narrow carbonate shelf which
rarely exceeds 1.5 kilometers in width, and which is frequently much narrower. The fringing reefs often have well
defined spur and groove formations, below which there are
two distinct terraces: one at about 9 meters deep, the other at
12-16 meters. This second deeper terrace plunges vertically
into the abyssal depths of the Cayman Trench. Coral cover is
generally high. Historically, Grand Cayman had one of the
largest green turtle rookeries in the Caribbean. The turtles
were exported to Jamaica as a major food source during
the early days of colonial rule, and it has been estimated
that some 1 3 000 individuals were exported armually in
the early 18th century, before the fishery collapsed through
overfishing towards the end of the century.
There has been a remarkable expansion in the Cayman
Islands over the last 30 years. The resident population
has grown from 8 500 to 30 000, while the economy has
boomed. The Islands are a thriving offshore financial center,
with more than 40 000 registered companies in 1997,
including almost 600 banks and trust companies whose
assets currently exceed USS500 billion. Despite this,
tourism is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for
about 70 percent of gross domestic product and 75 percent
of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed
at the luxury market and caters mainly for visitors from
North America. Numbers are very high, with some 1.4
million visitors arriving annually. About 40 percent of these
visitors go diving, attracted by the easy access to clear
waters and sheer drop-offs.
Most of the pressure on the reefs arises from the
massive, tourist-focussed development. Pollution and the
contamination of groundwater by sewage are potential
problems, as is overfishing. The deeper reefs off George
Town have been destroyed by the continual anchoring of
{IBl
W ^^IHHI
Cayman 1Islands
^^Hj
General Data
Population Ithousandsl
35
GDP (million US$1
612
Land area (kmz|
277
Marine area (thousand km^^1
119
Per capita fish consumption (kg/yearl
na
Status and Threats
Reefs at risk (%|
100
Recorded coral diseases
3
Biodiversity
Reef area (km^j
230
Coral diversity
35/57
Mangrove area (km^j
71
No. of mangrove species
3
No. of seagrass species
na
Dive tourism in the Cayman Islands is a critical part of the island's economy.