Standing on Seven Mile Beach, it’s easy to imagine the turquoise shallows stretching endlessly into the horizon. But just a few hundred feet offshore, the seabed plunges into one of the deepest ocean trenches in the world — more than 25,000 feet down. This dramatic underwater landscape makes the Cayman Islands unique, and now Caymanian scientists are setting out to explore it like never before.
Cayman Joins the Blue Belt Programme
In 2023, the Cayman Islands joined the UK Government’s Blue Belt Programme, a global initiative that helps UK Overseas Territories protect and manage their marine environments. Now celebrating its 10th year, the programme has made scientific expeditions a cornerstone of its work.
Earlier this month, Cayman’s Blue Belt Programme Officer Kelly Forsythe boarded the Royal Research Ship R.R.S. James Cook alongside other regional scientists. The voyage began in the Dominican Republic and will survey the waters of Anguilla and Turks and Caicos before arriving in Grand Cayman in mid-February. Kelly will then be joined by seven other researchers from the Department of Environment (DoE), marking the first time Caymanian scientists have collaboratively designed and managed a deep-sea survey of their own offshore waters
Snapper Research: Protecting a Caymanian Staple
One of the expedition’s top priorities for Kelly is studying a fish familiar to Caymanian dinner tables – snapper. Simply called “red snapper,” the catch may actually include four different species: red, blackfin, silk, and queen snapper.
By collecting samples, analysing DNA traces in the water, and tracking fish populations, scientists hope to better understand how these species live and reproduce. This knowledge will help improve fisheries management, hoping to ensure that Cayman’s most popular cooking fish remains abundant for generations to come.
Exploring Sea Mounts, Corals and Biodiversity
Cayman crew members Paul Chin, Claire Fletcher and Sabrina Douglas will also investigate sea mounts — underwater mountains that never break the surface. These structures act like oases in the ocean, attracting fish, corals, and even seabirds as nutrient-rich currents sweep up their slopes. DoE’s Matthew Southgate and Jane Håkonsson will focus specifically on seabird species and behaviours to gain further insights on these critical habitats while Megan Ehman and Justin Porter will study how deep-sea corals grow on these banks. Learning more about these ecosystems and how marine life moves between offshore and nearshore environments will help scientists piece together the puzzle of ocean resilience as warming seas and shifting currents reshape ecosystems worldwide.
Water Quality in a Changing Climate
Another focus, particularly for Justin Porter is water quality. As pollution, plastics, and nutrient runoff increase globally, Cayman’s scientists will collect samples from different depths to test for heavy metals, acidity, and oxygen levels. These results will provide a clearer picture of how climate change and human activity are affecting Cayman’s waters.
Safeguarding Caymanian Identity
For Caymanians, the expedition is not just about protecting wildlife. It’s about safeguarding livelihoods, culture, and identity. The baseline data gathered will help inform policies to strengthen fishing, tourism, and recreation, all of which depend on healthy seas. By investing in research today, Cayman ensures that future generations inherit waters beyond the reef as vibrant and abundant as those enjoyed now.
Learn more about the team and research at www.doe.ky/bluebelt-expedition