Coastlines host some of the most beautiful and ecologically important habitats worldwide. The beaches and waters surrounding the Cayman Islands are the foundation of its tourism industry and key to its enduring appeal as a place to live. However, according to the World Economic Forum, only 15% of the world’s coastlines are in their natural state, and reducing pressure from humans is a continual balancing act.

The Cayman Islands have well-established protection and conservation laws, such as no-take limits on lobster and conch, protections for Nassau Grouper spawning aggregation sites, and an increase in marine protected areas. Respecting and abiding by these protections is vital to combating the increasing human pressure on our coasts.

However, the benchmark for keeping a coast ‘ecologically intact’ is reliant upon one thing: the general public's understanding of how they can contribute – and that means learning about how these ecosystems work.

The mangrove, sea grass, coral trifecta

To date, globally, 20% of mangroves, 30% of seagrass, and 20% of coral reefs have been lost due to direct human impact. These three interconnected ecosystems contribute to the health and well-being of both the marine and terrestrial environment: they support fisheries, provide natural protection from storms, sequester carbon, and provide social and economic benefits to the local population.

The relationship between mangroves, sea grasses, and corals has also been identified as key to both coastal water and nutrient quality, as well as providing an entwined set of essential habitats that support thriving coastal fish stocks and coral recruitment.

These ecosystems are often viewed in isolation – yet their interconnectivity is vital to coastal health. Sea grasses, for instance, support mangrove function by protecting them from waves,
and mangroves protect sea grass beds from excess nutrients and sediment. The removal of one or more of these ecosystems should, therefore, be approached with extreme caution as it can affect multiple ecosystems, both marine and terrestrial.

Deepening our knowledge of key ecosystems

In the face of so many threats – rising water temperatures, the loss of oceanic biodiversity and the impacts of increased storms – scientists too must keep improving their knowledge in order to protect our marine coasts.

At the Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI), the research team headed up by Dr Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley is working on a Blue Carbon Offset and Biodiversity project, to establish and quantify the role of mangroves, sea grasses and corals, pertaining to how much carbon they absorb.

This is a proof of concept project and a key focus of the project is to take an ecosystem-based approach to restoration, examining the interactions between habitats and how these influence carbon sequestration and offset viability. 

This work links to CCMI’s long-term monitoring and research agenda to understand how coral reef ecosystems can become resilient in the face of warming oceans. Sponsored by Butterfield Bank, the project aims to address knowledge gaps that hinder effective blue carbon offset initiatives, explore the potential for marine habitat restoration as a carbon offset tool, and engage stakeholders in restoration and offsetting activities. The aim is to improve the understanding of the role oceans play in overall planetary health.