News

The DoE wishes to advise anyone traveling to the Sister Islands this Easter to help stop the spread of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) by disinfecting all water gear & boat bilges in 1% bleach solution.

SCTLD is an EXTREMELY contagious coral disease that has spread completely around Grand Cayman’s reefs in just over a year, leaving millions of dead corals in its wake throughout the Caribbean. But thankfully, it has not yet reached either of the sister islands so we still have time to protect them.

Anyone travelling from Grand Cayman to the Sister Islands should disinfect all dive and snorkel gear, fishing gear, or anything making contact with the waters of Grand Cayman before travel. Gear may also be disinfected at any dive shop in Little Cayman or Cayman Brac.

Boaters should also disinfect boat bilges on the way out of Grand Cayman waters. Once offshore, pour a good splash of bleach into the bilge and leave it for 10 minutes before pumping it out completely. You can do this about a 1/2 mile off the wall.

Please Protect our reefs in the Sister Islands from the horrific damage SCTLD would cause. Learn more at doe.ky/SCTLD