24 July – The Cayman Islands National Conservation Council (“NCC” or “Council”) has released an online survey to encourage as many local residents as possible to weigh in on the Council’s draft sea turtle species conservation plan.
The draft species conservation plan was approved on 19 June by the Council and was released for public consultation on 3 July, as required under the National Conservation Law (NCL). The consultation period will run through 9 September.
Links to the Survey Monkey questionnaire on the draft species conservation plan are available on the Department of Environment (DoE) website, DoE-associated social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), and are also available upon request by contacting the DoE offices at 949-8469 or by emailing DoE/NCC Public Education & Outreach Officer Brent Fuller at brent.fuller@gov.ky.
Download the Draft Turtle Species Conservation Plan.
Hardcopies of the draft plan may also be obtained at the DoE offices, 580 North Sound Road, George Town Grand Cayman. In the Sister Islands, copies of the draft plan may be reviewed at the local district administration buildings and at the Cayman Brac Library.
“It was important to NCC members that we try to reach as many people as possible and seek their views on this conservation plan that seeks to protect Cayman’s iconic marine reptile,” said DoE Director and Council member Gina Ebanks-Petrie. “We will collate all comments received and use those to inform and amend the plan as we go forward.”
“I encourage all of Cayman’s residents to participate in this survey,” said Minister of Environment, the Hon. Dwayne Seymour. “Sea turtles are one of Cayman’s best-known symbols and we should all take an interest in this work to help protect them.”
Members of the public not using the online survey can still submit their comments on the draft sea turtle species conservation plan in writing to the National Conservation Council email address ConservationCouncil@gov.ky or mail their comments to the Cayman Islands Department of Environment at PO Box 10202, Grand Cayman KY1-1002 before the expiry of the public consultation period.