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Marine Life & Conservation

Inspiring The Next Generation To Save The Iconic And Endangered Nassau Grouper

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Live underwater webcasts from protected spawning site to local classrooms, and beyond, will visually teach important conservation lessons 

As the winter full moon approaches, the Southern Cross Club on Little Cayman prepares for the annual arrival of the Grouper Moon Project team. Each year from late January to early February, scientists and volunteers of the Reef Environment Education Foundation (REEF) join staff from the Cayman Islands Department of the Environment (DOE) to document the last healthy, active and protected Nassau Grouper spawning site just off Little Cayman. The Southern Cross Club and others in the local community provide vital support to the team, recognizing that it takes an entire community to bring this historical and endangered species back from the brink of extinction.

In addition to documenting fish activity and population for valuable research data, the project also reaches out to local school children hoping to inspire them to join the conservation effort. It does this largely by streaming live video on the Internet from Little Cayman to local classrooms where children can see on a computer the work being done through the Grouper Moon Project. Two live webcasts are planned from underwater; one of them from the aggregation site where a scientist in scuba gear diving among the fish will show students what happens when Grouper spawn and why they are vulnerable at this time. He will also answer their questions about the mysterious and solitary fish that travels long distances to spawn at this site on Little Cayman. This year the webcasts are being streamed to classrooms in 10 schools on Grand Cayman, 3 schools on Cayman Brac, and for first time, the small school on Little Cayman.

Little Cayman

 

“We’ve been expanding every year, adding more schools to the program because we get such good response,” says REEF educator Todd Bohannon, who with guidance from REEF scientists has developed the education curriculum. The webcasts lessons will be streamed from the aggregation site off the west coast of Little Cayman, from project headquarters at a house near the Southern Cross Club and from Bloody Bay Wall.

“The kids have an immediate connection to the lessons because it’s their history,” says Bohannon, who facilitates the webcasts between the scientists and the classrooms, fielding questions from the students. “They need to see the threat to the fish and these webcasts allow them to see it right in front of their eyes. We are giving them the tools they need to protect their environment and they are very enthusiastic, super smart and super excited.”

Cayman 6

The hope is that by giving Caymanian kids a chance to see first hand what the scientists are doing to save the grouper, it will inspire them to continue the conservation work. Bohannon says the response from the children of Cayman Brac as been outstanding, and this year family evening events are planned.

“I can tell the Brac kids are talking to their families about the program because of their questions regarding fishing,” says Bohannon. “They get really excited, their reaction and comments are richer, and I like that.”

Cayman 3Although they’ve never seen the live feeds before, the students of the Little Cayman Education Service (LCES) School have always been aware of what happens on their island during the Grouper Moon.

“They know what’s going on in Little Cayman when we come in and infiltrate the island!” says Bohannon. Last year Internet problems prevented a webcast in their classroom, so the Grouper Moon team made a personal visit to the classroom. “They loved it – it was great!”

Some of the live webcast lessons will be broadcasted from the porch at Peter Hillenbrand’s house near the Southern Cross Club. Hillenbrand, owner of the resort and a dedicated conservationist, is happy to have his house become “Grouper Moon central.” He enjoys being involved in the project and watching the marine scientists teach important lessons from his porch.

“The live broadcasts are one of the coolest learning tools I have ever seen,” he says. “It brings the Grouper Moon right into the class room, and there is nothing more important that educating our children about the world that surrounds them. There is not a better way to be amazed and learn other than being there yourself.”

Peter Hillenbrand and his team at the Southern Cross Club have been hosting the scientists and volunteers since the project began more than 12 years.

“We just take over the place – everyone is crashed out,” laughs a grateful Todd Bohannon, speaking for the entire Grouper Moon team. “This contribution is huge from a logistical point of view – Pete and his team always help out no matter what we need.”

“How do I prepare my house for the invasion? Ha! Well, I guess I try to make sure the sheets and towels are all clean, and my rum supply is abundant!” jokes Hillenbrand.

Cayman 5

The good-natured camaraderie of the team enables and supports important conservation work being done. Nassau grouper has historically been one of the Caribbean’s most economically important fish, but intense harvesting during spawning aggregations has placed them on the endangered list.  REEF is a volunteer organization and DOE has a limited research budget, so the project depends on volunteers, donations, fundraising and grants. Supporting the study are the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, Lenfest Ocean Program of the Pew Charitable Trusts, the NOAA International Coral Reef Conservation Program, the J. Edward Mahoney Foundation, and PADI Project AWARE. The Grouper Moon Project also relies on help from the Southern Cross Club and Peter Hillenbrand, the Little Cayman Beach Resort, Reef Divers, Brac Reef Resort, Divetech and others in the Cayman community.

Grouper Moon Project leaders say ultimately the salvation of the Nassau grouper depends on everyone who cares, doing their part to save the species – then carrying the message and passion to others. This year a few classrooms in the U.S. are participating in the live webcasts, and the team includes a couple of educators from the Bahamas, which helps the whole Caribbean.

“It’s vital for the success of the Grouper Moon Project to get the community involved,” says Todd Bohannon. “To have it last into perpetuity, you need to get the kids involved and you need to have the backing of the community.”

Each video session will begin at 11:45 am and continue for about an hour on designated dates. For more information and daily updates on the Grouper Moon Project visit www.groupereducation.edublogs.org.

Webcast Schedule:

Friday, Feb 6 at 11:45 am
Monday, Feb 9, 11:45 am
Tues, Feb 10, 11:45 am
Wed, Feb 11, 11:45 am (Backup Date)
(Cayman Time – CST)

About the Southern Cross Club

The casually sophisticated Southern Cross Club Fish & Dive Resort is Little Cayman’s original resort. It features 14 beachfront bungalows complete with a top-rated, professional in-house diving and fishing operation. A unique blend of rusticity and elegance the resort is often described as “Barefoot Luxury”.  Guests can expect friendly and diligent service, delicious food, inviting rooms with breath-taking views and a comfortable dive boat ― a few of the things that bring them back year after year.  Little Cayman is renowned for its breath-taking and pristine coral reefs and spectacular dive adventures. The resort’s beach-based location also provides flats fisherman with access to Bonefish and Permit just minutes away.

For reservations or more information:
Telephone: +1 (800) 899-CLUB (2582)
E-mail info@southerncrossclub.com
Website: www.southerncrossclub.com
Facebook:  www.facebook/SouthernCrossClub

Marine Life & Conservation

New report shows simple measures needed to cut beach plastic pollution

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beach

The Marine Conservation Society has launched its annual State of our Beaches 2023 report, highlighting the need for less single-use plastic items and more refillable options.

The charity’s beach cleaning programme, now in its 30th year, asks volunteers to record all litter that they find within a 100-metre stretch of beach. By gathering vital data from across the UK and Channel Islands, the charity creates change for cleaner seas and a healthier planet through policy and industry change. Last year, over 148 kilometres of beach were surveyed by volunteers, who removed 17,208kgs of litter from our coast.

Using data collected by over 14,000 volunteers, the State of our Beaches 2023 report shows that half of all litter collected came from public sources – either dumped, blown or washed onto our beaches.

Drinks-related litter, such as plastic bottles, caps and cans were one of the most found items, with an average of 16 found per 100 metres of beach surveyed. This figure is up 14% compared to the charity’s 2022 report.

Plastics caps and lids were recorded on 89% of surveys, with over 30,000 found in total. Plastic bottles were also commonly collected, with 73% of surveys finding this single-use item – a 4% increase compared to 2022. The charity’s inland litter pick survey, Source to Sea, also reported finding plastic bottles on 92% of cleans.

However, the charity’s State of Our Beaches 2023 report also indicates that some types of litter are on a downward trend. Although still in the top 10 litter items, disposable plastic cutlery, trays and straws were found on 5% fewer beaches across the UK, showing that bans on these plastic items between 2022 – 2023 could be working. The presence of plastic cotton bud sticks also dropped by 14%.

Lizzie Price, Beachwatch Manager at the Marine Conservation Society, said, “Half of the litter found on our beaches originates from public sources, underscoring the pressing issue of single-use plastic. Evidence shows that refillable alternatives and litter return schemes effectively reduce rubbish, as demonstrated by the decline our data has shown in items like plastic bags and disposable cutlery.

“Urgent and decisive action from UK governments is needed to accelerate our shift towards a circular economy, where we reuse, repair and recycle. The public needs greater access to refillable products and systems need to be implemented in which manufacturers are responsible for their waste.”

Governments across the UK have committed to delivering deposit return schemes from October 2025. However, the proposed scheme in England does not include glass items, despite glass being found on 52% of beaches in 2023. The charity is calling for governments across the UK to introduce compatible all inclusive deposit return schemes as soon as possible. This would see aluminium cans, and plastic and glass bottles have a 20p deposit which would be returned when recycled which would reduce drinks-related pollution.

Businesses are, however, starting to take refillable and reusable options into their own hands. Supermarket chain, Aldi, the largest corporate funder of the charity’s 2024 Beachwatch programme, is already leading the charge in refillable items by trialling refillable options for cereals and porridge oats in their stores over the past 5 months.

Plastics and Packaging Director, Luke Emery, from Aldi, who are running 4 beach cleans for staff and volunteers in 2024, said, We are continually working to reduce single-use plastics and packaging, and making unpackaged product options more commonplace for our customers is a key part of this. We are really pleased with the uptake of our refillable range so far by customers. Not only are we making sustainable shopping more accessible, but we also offer refill products for a better price than the packaged alternative, helping our customers save money.”

Marine litter is one of the biggest threats to our seas, with plastic breaking down over time into microplastics and threatening marine life which can ingest or become entangled in them. The Marine Conservation Society is urging the UK Government to move faster on its policies to cut down plastic waste and prevent items from reaching our seas.

To find out more about the charity’s beach cleans and how to get involved, please visit mcsuk.org/beach-cleans

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Guarding Against Coral Invaders

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Protecting (Dutch) Caribbean Reefs from Unomia stolonifera

Recent reports highlight the concerning spread of the invasive soft coral, Unomia stolonifera, currently devastating Venezuela’s marine ecosystems and detected in Cuba. With the potential threat of its expansion to the (Dutch) Caribbean islands, urgent action and awareness are essential to safeguard marine biodiversity and local economies from possible catastrophic consequences.

Invasive species are animals or plants from another region of the world that don’t belong in their new environment. These species can have major ecological effects by decimating native flora or fauna. They can also cause large economic losses and impact human health. Invasive species also pose a significant threat to marine ecosystems worldwide, including the Dutch Caribbean. Among these invaders is the octocoral species Unomia stolonifera or “Pulsing Xenia”, originally from the Indo-Pacific. With its rapid growth and lack of natural predators, this species can outcompete native species and disrupt fragile marine habitats such as seagrass beds and coral reefs.

Background

The invasive soft coral U. stolonifera was first identified in 2014, off the coast of Venezuela. It is believed to have been introduced via the illegal aquarium trade.  Since this species can reproduce sexually and asexually (or fragment), even small pieces can regenerate to spread.  Once introduced it quickly took over shallow reefs and hard substrate at depths of 0-50 meters, outcompeting local corals and seagrass for space.  Follow on surveys found that this coral species exhibited average percentage cover as high as 80%, vastly outcompeting native corals. In highly colonized areas, fish are disappearing due to loss of habitats.

In 2022, during a survey conducted in Cuba by the University of Havana, an unknown octocoral was discovered which was later identified as the invasive Unomia stolonifera. It is suspected that the coral larvae arrived in ballast water from fossil fuel ships originating from Venezuela, as nearby sites adjacent to Venezuelan ports have been heavily affected by the invasion.

How to help

Prevention through continuous monitoring, particularly in high-risk areas such as marine harbors and oil facilities, is paramount. Early detection plays a pivotal role in mitigating the threat posed by Unomia stolonifera.

The public’s involvement and awareness are also vital. Local communities, recreational divers, tourists, and all stakeholders are urged to participate in early detection efforts by reporting sightings (photo, location and date) of this invasive coral to their respective Protected Area Management Organization (PMO’s)- the Fundacion Parke Nacional Aruba (FPNA)STINAPA BonaireCARMABI Curaçao Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF)Nature Foundation St. Maarten (NFSXM) and St. Eustatius National Parks (STENAPA). If an invaded area is confirmed, follow the recommendations by the local PMO’s.

Keys to Success

Despite the challenges, early detection is key to mitigating the threat posed by Unomia stolonifera. With continued vigilance, research, and community engagement, there is hope for containing this potential issue before it becomes a major threat.

About the DCNA

The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) supports (science) communication and outreach in the Dutch Caribbean region by making nature related (scientific) information more widely available through amongst others the Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database, DCNA’s news platform BioNews and through the press. This article contains the results from several scientific studies but the studies themselves are not DCNA studies. No rights can be derived from the content. DCNA is not liable for the content and the in(direct) impacts resulting from publishing this article.

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