Western Caribbean
143
Protected areas with coral reefs
iSite name
^
Cayman Islands
Abbreviation
lUCN cat.
Size ikm^i
Year
I
Bats Cave Beach (Grand Caymanl
Replenishment Zone
Victoria House -
Sand Cay Apartments (Grand Caymanl
Marine Parl<
West Bay Cemetery -
Victoria House (Grand Caymanl
Replenishment Zone
RpZ
MP
RpZ
IV
IV
0.31
8.01
0.69
1986
Bloody Bay -
Jacl<5on Point [Little Caymanl
Marine Parl<
MP
II
1.61
1986
Bowse Bluff -
Rum Point (Grand Caymanl
Marine Park
MP
II
0.60
1986
Cayman Dive Lodge
(Grand Cayman]
Replenishment Zone
RpZ
IV
0.04
1986
Coral Isle Club (Cayman Bracl
Replenishment Zone
RpZ
IV
0.01
1986
Dick Sessingers Bay
Beach Point (Cayman Bracl
Marine Park
MP
II
1.43
1986
Franl^ Sound (Grand Caymanl
Replenishment Zone
RpZ
IV
2.24
1986
Head of Baricers -
Flats (Grand Caymanl
Replenishment Zone
RpZ
IV
3.65
1986
Jennifer Bay - Deep Well
(Cayman Bracl
Marine Park
MP
II
0.61
1986
Little Sound (Grand Caymanl
Environmental Zone
EnvZ
lb
17.31
1986
Mary's Bay - East Point
(Little Caymanl
Replenishment Zone
RpZ
IV
1.80
1986
North Sound (Grand Caymanl
Replenishment Zone
RpZ
IV
33.10
1986
North West Point -
West Bay Cemetery (Grand Caymanl
Marine Park
MP
II
1.55
1986
Preston Bay -
Main Channel (Little Caymanl
Marine Park
MP
II
0.81
1986
Radio Mast -
Sand Bluff (Grand Caymanl
Replenishment Zone
RpZ
IV
1.77
1986
Salt Water Point -
Beach Point (Cayman Bracl
Replenishment Zone
RpZ
IV
0.26
1986
South Hole Sound (Little Caymanl
Replenishment Zone
RpZ
IV
3.16
1986
South Sound (Grand Caymanl
Replenishment Zone
RpZ
IV
3.17
1986
Spott Bay (Cayman Bracl
Replenishment Zone
RpZ
IV
0.33
1986
1986
1986
A^
cruiseships, and nearby shallow reefs have been damaged by
the resulting sedimentation. There are also direct concerns
about the carrying capacity of dive sites and there have been
some declines in fish stocks associated with overfishing.
There was large-scale bleaching of corals in 1987, and even
more severe bleaching in 1995-96 and 1998. In addition,
white band disease has been reported.
There is reason for optimism, however Diadema died
out in 1983 but this did not result in an algal bloom because
grazing fish were still abundant, and in 1998 the Diadema
seemed to be recovering in areas on west Grand Cayman.
Acropora species are still common, although impacted by
storms. A comprehensive system of marine protected areas
has been established covering 34 percent of the coastal
waters of the islands, enforced by a number of guards, and
also regularly subject to detailed monitoring.