Cayman Islands' Marine Parks Rules

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Cayman Islands' Marine Parks Rules

Rules for Cayman Islands Marine Parks

MARINE PARK ZONE
- No taking of any marine life alive or dead, except:
- Line fishing from shore is permitted (See Fishing Licenses Section in Summary of Marine Conservation Laws)
- Line fishing at depths of 80 ft or greater is permitted
- Taking fry and sprat with a fry or cast net is permitted. NOTE: fish traps, spear guns, pole spears and seine nets are totally prohibited.
- No anchoring - use of fixed moorings only, except:
- boats of sixty feet or less may anchor in sand, so long as no grappling hook is used, and neither the anchor nor the rope or chain will impact coral
- Anchoring permitted in designated Port anchorage areas -contact Port Security VHF Channel 16
- Anchoring prohibitions suspended during emergencies and by permission of Port Director
-Bloody Bay, Little Cayman - Special restrictions have been placed on the use of the Bloody Bay Marine Park: no commercial operations may use the park without prior permission from the Marine Conservation Board.

ENVIRONMENTAL ZONE
- No taking of any marine life, alive or dead with no excepttions
- Public may access only at a speed of five m.p.h. or less
- No anchoring of any boat
- No in-water activities NOTE: Line fishing, fish traps, nets, spear guns and strikers are totally prohibited.

REPLENISHMENT ZONE
- No taking of conch or lobster by any means
- Line fishing (See Fishing Licenses section in Summary of Cayman Islands Marine Conservation Laws) and anchoring permitted
-Anchor, chain or line must not touch coral

- Spear guns, pole spears, fish traps and nets prohibited, except that fry and sprat may be taken with a fry or cast net
NOTE: These zones include the outside edge of the reef to a depth of 20 feet.

DESIGNATED GROUPER SPAWNING AREA

- East and West End of Cayman Brac, Little Cayman and Twelve Mile Bank. Coxswain Bank and South West Point Grand Cayman.

- No fishing for Nassau Groupers in 2003 and during every alternate year after (ie 2005, 2007, etc)

- During open season only line fishing is permitted in these areas by Caymanians

- No fish pots or spearfishing within one-mile radius of Designated Grouper Spawning Area from November 1 through March 31.

ANIMAL SANCTUARIES/RAMSAR SITES

- No hunting
- No collecting of any species
- No littering

NO DIVING ZONE

- No SCUBA diving

Public moorings are located around each of the islands to reduce anchor damage to coral. These 18 or 30 inch white buoys may be identified by their blue stripe and yellow pick-up line and may be used free of charge. The smaller buoys are designed to hold vessels up to 60 feet long and the larger buoys are for vessels up to 100 feet. Where possible, please tie up to a buoy instead of anchoring. It is an offence to anchor so as to damage coral anywhere in Cayman waters. Please limit your use of the mooring to 3 hours or less. It is the responsibility of the boat operator to ensure that the mooring is in safe condition - do not leave the boat unattended while on the mooring.

Damaged moorings may be reported to the Department of Environment on VHF 17 or 949-8469

Marine Park Rules and Information courtesy of the Cayman Islands' Department of Environment with many thanks.