28 February 2008

It has been a long time since September 2006 when we reported that regulations would go into place to protect the stingrays. It sounded like good news then but now it is 2008 and the rays are still misstreated. The question which keeps coming to my mind is: "Is there any hope or should we give up and write off stingray city as a long term attraction?"

Check the lates in the local press.

Latest Article in The Caymanian Compass

Check here to link to the 27 Feb 2008 article

also a follow up letter to the editor the following day.

The time is now!!!!!

Great news from The Cayman Islands Department of Environment

13 September 2006

It appears that at long last there will be formal regulations on the use of the Sand Bar. There will also be regulations in place that make it an offense to remove the rays from the water. Follow this link for the article online from the Caymanian Compass.

Be Stingray Friendly!

Stingray City Grand Cayman is one of the world's truly unique tourist attractions. In this web site you will be able to learn about the rays and the experience of interacting with them. If you are headed to Grand Cayman on a cruise or to vacation I am sure you have many questions about Stingray City and the rays. I hope to answer them for you here.

I am also very concerned about the way the rays are treated. Many of the handlers at the sandbar treat the rays with respect while others abuse them all in the name of "making more tips". I hope to use this site to educate everyone, the individuals working the boats as well as the tourists, as to what is proper treatment of the rays. I firmly believe that you would rather enjoy the rays, learn about them, and respect them, rather then having them treated like a sideshow at the carnival. If we all work together to maintain the long-term sustainability of Stingray City Sandbar we all win. If however we continue the way we have in the past all of us may be out of luck in just a matter of years.

A few "cowboys" can ruin it for us all.

October 2005 Great news and Public awareness

The 25th of October 2005 The Caymanian Compass published an article about the Caymanian Land and Sea Cooperative Society adopting a Stingray Friendly policy. This was followed the next day by the paper's editorial being about the same thing. This is the type of publicity that is needed to convert the hold outs. I want to thank those who are working to further the proper treatment of the rays. I have included copies of the papers article on the articles page for you to read.

Check out the articles page for an editorial that I had published in the Local papers a few years ago, and the recent articles that have been published .It explains clearly my feelings on the treatment of the rays.

Finding A Boat

One of the ways I am trying to change the behavior of the operators at Stingray City is to offer incentive to those who do act responsibly towards the rays. The find a boat page list some of the boats that have pledged to treat the rays properly. Some of these are small operators that would otherwise not be able to have their own web site or email address. To reward them for taking a leadership role in this area I am supplying them their own web pages and also an @stingraycity.org email address so that you can contact them. This is at my expense and there is no cost to the operators.

For larger operators who have policies in place to assure proper treatment of the rays I will have links to their web sites.

Anyone wishing to have their operation listed here should contact me at webmaster@stingraycity.org be prepared to let me know what policies you have adopted for your operation concerning the treatment of the rays.. If your handlers remove the rays from the water for any reason, i.e. "Stingray Hats", " Squirt Guns", "Stingray Back Rubs" etc. you will not be listed.

I urge those of you shopping for a Stingray City trip to consider these operations first. Give your business to the responsible operators withhold your dollars for those who do not act responsibly.

In dealing with any operators, ask if they have policies against removing the rays from the water. If they do not take your business elsewhere. As a consumer you can make a difference.