From:TheBahamasWeekly.com
Guy Harvey Launches Petition Drive to Protect Stingrays
By John Bell
Oct 16, 2012 - 11:47:03 AM
Enactment of the
National Conservation Law Postponed Over the Last 10 Years
The Cayman
Islands
- Marine wildlife artist and conservationist Dr.
Guy Harvey is leading a petition drive calling on the government of the Cayman
Islands to immediately put the National Conservation Law into effect, ensuring
the safety and protection of all stingrays in the country’s territorial waters.
Currently, stingrays are only protected in the country’s
designated Wildlife Interaction Zones, Stingray City and the Sandbar, two of
the island’s best known tourist attractions.
Dr. Harvey said that outside of the zones there is no protection for
stingrays and they can be removed and/or caught and eaten by local residents.
The National Conservation Act would close this loophole.
Recently four stingrays tagged for study were found at a
local Dolphin Discovery facility and returned after a national outcry. However,
six other untagged stingrays remain in captivity at the dolphinarium.
“The wellbeing of stingrays affects every single person in
the Cayman Islands,” said Dr. Harvey, who pointed out that half a million
visitors per year from around the world come to swim and interact with these
charismatic animals.
“By signing this
petition you are speaking out against the unconscionable acts of harming
stingrays, especially when taking them out of their natural habitat.”
Time is critical, according to Dr. Harvey, a marine
biologist, who calls The Cayman Islands home.
To review and sign the petition, please go to: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/611/940/070/protect-and-keep-stingrays-in-their-natural-habitat/
The goal is to reach 10,000 signatures.
“Maintaining the ecological health of these stingray
populations for the long-term will require management and conservation programs
based on a thorough knowledge of the biology of these animals,” said Dr. Harvey
who initiated research work on the Cayman Island’s southern stingray (Dasyatis
americana) population in 2012.
Dr. Harvey said the situation at the Sandbar in North Sound
is unique, with a large number of wild rays that are not fenced or contained and
inhabit the shallow clear water with accessibility every day of the year. The
socio-economic value of the rays to the Cayman economy is enormous. Each animal
may generate USD 500,000 in revenue per year and in its lifetime, assuming they
live more than 20 years, may generate USD 10,000,000 in a lifetime.
From 2010, tour operators and casual observations indicated
a sudden decline in the number of rays at the Sandbar. The Guy Harvey Research
Institute (GHRI) based at Nova Southeastern University conducted a census in
January 2012 and sampled only 61rays in the standard three -day research period
at the Sandbar which represents a significant (38%) decrease in number of rays
compared to the last census in 2008.
This summer GHRI returned with the support of the Georgia
Aquarium veterinary staff.
Over three
days the team sampled 57 rays (only 5 males) at the Sandbar (down from 61 in
January) with assistance from Department of Environment staff and several
volunteers. The team spent a day at the original Stingray City and sampled 11
rays (2 males) and caught 3 rays (1 male) at Rum Point bringing the total to 71
rays sampled.
The low number of males
generally is cause for concern.
“These iconic animals have given so much to benefit the
Cayman Islands that its time the Government returned the favor by immediately
approving the National Conservation Law,” said Dr. Harvey.
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