CHAPTER I

Introduction and Research Methodology

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The Sand Bar and Stingray City are one of the Cayman Islands major tourist attractions, and

feature extensively in the Islands marketing. Located in the shallow waters of North Sound in

Grand Cayman, the two sites offer shallow water snorkelling and diving amongst stingrays.

One of the features of trips to swim with the stingrays is the opportunity to touch and feed these

animals, which now congregate at both sites: generally at least 50 stingrays can be seen at the

Sand Bar, and 30 at Stingray City.

It is estimated that in recent years around 900,000 vi sits a year – over 780,000 of these by cruise

passengers – are made to the Sand Bar and Stingray City, with nearly half of all visitors to the

Cayman Islands taking a trip. The Sand Bar is only 60 cm deep in some places shallow enough

for snorkellers to be able to touch stingrays resting on them bottom. Stingray City is deeper

between 3 to 5 metres and visited by recreational scuba divers.

1.2 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The research project has been carried out with the following objectives:

The basic objective behind carrying out this research project is to assess the negative

impacts of tourisms on marine ecosystem.

Also to explore possible measures that could be taken to protect the marine ecology.

[1]

1.3 SCOPE:

The scope of the present research is limited to the ‘impact of coastal tourism on stingrays at the

Stingray city’ only as the topic suggested. In this research project the researcher attempts to

analyze the effect of tourism on marine species. Looking at the vastness of the project the

researcher has confined the scope of the study to analyze the topic. The researcher has tried to

cover the aspects connected with the said topic and analyze them in an elaborative manner with

the help of relevant case laws.

1.4 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The quality and value of research depends upon the proper and particular methodology adopted

for the completion of research work. Looking at the vastness of the research topic – doctrinal

Legal research methodology has been adopted. The researcher adopt both the primary and

secondary sources.

1.5 RESEARCH PROBLEM:

Whether behavioral modifications in the stingrays can be protected.

The researcher has taken up the following problem because it is very important to know whether

the changes observed in the stingrays could be stopped before these changes increase so much

that it becomes impossible to prevent the species of stingrays.

Whether the measures taken by the Department of Environment to protect stingrays are

complied with.

Researcher came up with the above stated problem so as to find out that set of rules

framed by the Department of Environment are followed, and if not followed then the

extinction of the stingrays is nearby.

[2]

1.6 HYPOTHESIS:

In order to conduct a research work, some important hypotheses are to be formulated. The focal

points and assumptions are normally available through the formulation of hypothesis. The major

hypotheses developed on the basis of study are as follows:

The stingrays which are fed by the tourists are unhealthy as compared to those who are

not fed by the tourists.

Preventing the tourists from feeding the stingrays would lead to the loss of tourism at the

stingray city.

[3]

CHAPTER II

Concept of Marine Ecology

2.1 MEANING

Marine Ecology is the scientific study of marine-life habitat, populations, and

interactions among organisms and the surrounding environment including their abiotic

(non-living physical and chemical factors that affect the ability of organisms to survive

and reproduce) and biotic factors (living things or the materials that directly or indirectly

affect an organism in its environment).

Marine ecology is a subset of the study of marine biology and includes observations at

the biochemical, cellular, individual, and community levels as well as the study of

marine ecosystems and the biosphere.

The study of marine ecology also includes the influence of geology, geography,

meteorology, pedology, chemistry, and physics on marine environments. The impact of

human activity such as medical research, development, agriculture, fisheries, and

forestry is also studied under marine ecology. In some ways, marine ecology is more

complex than the relatively straightforward study of a particular organism or

environment because of the numerous interconnections, symbiotic relationships, and

influence of many factors on a particular environment.1

1 http://marinebio.org/oceans/marine-ecology.asp, visited on 2nd Feb, 2012

[4]

2.2 STINGRAYS

The stingray is a flat marine fish found in warmer waters around the globe. The stingray is

belongs to the same group of fish as other ray and are also believed to be closely related to

sharks.

The stingray inhabits the warmer tropical waters around the world generally in the slightly

deeper waters rather than the shallows. When the weather begins to cool, the stingray will retreat

further into the depths of the ocean.

2.2 INTERACTION WITH STINGRAY AT STINGRAY CITY

Interacting with stingrays at Stingray City, appears to be substantially growing in popularity.

Promotion of the rays is increasing through websites and brochures and larger tourism

productions. Yet there is still very little known about the impacts on rays (both behavioural and

physical), risks to humans, or indeed the issues that provisioning stingrays can present. An

impact study conducted on stingray provisioning in the Cayman Islands, provisioning activities

at Hamelin Bay, and other areas in the southwest are unique because they are shore-based.

Collected data shows that rays are attracted to the site principally by food provisioning and

secondarily by boats due to learned association with food. They are most common at the

provisioning site in the middle of the day, as are peak visitor numbers.

Behavioural impacts on rays were found to be attraction to humans, resulting in aggression and

hierarchy towards one another. Attraction to humans at the provisioning site reflected that the

rays may be partially habituated. However, rays were also seen foraging naturally for food,

indicating that they are not yet dependent on humans. Other potential impacts to rays include

boat damage from pleasure craft, overfeeding, being fed the wrong food, damage from fishing

hooks and risk of disease from foul water.2

2 David Newsome, ‘Impacts and risks associated with developing, but unsupervised, stingray tourism’, International Journal of Tourism, Volume 6, Issue 5, September 2004, pp 305-398

[5]

2.3 CAUSES OF INJURY SUFFERED BY STINGRAYS

A new study has revealed that stingray at a tourist hotspot in the Cayman Islands are suffering

because of all the human attention. The Grand Cayman sandbank, dubbed Stingray City, is

regularly swamped with up to 2,500 visitors at a time, most of whom have paid handsomely for

the chance to feed, stroke and swim with the creatures.3

The study highlights the risks to animals posed by the growing "wildlife tourism" industry.

Experts say wild populations of creatures such as dolphins, penguins and sharks are also affected

by increased contact with curious people.

The study was one of the first to investigate direct effects on the physiology of animals involved

in such tourism.

Blood tests showed that the stingrays at Stingray City had weaker immune systems and were in

poorer health than animals not disturbed by tourists, perhaps making them more vulnerable to

disease and storms.

The experts warn that the "long-term health and survival of tourist stingrays have a significant

probability of being affected" and they call for tighter regulation of the industry. Similar crowded

tourist sites across the world will be doing similar damage to stingray, they say.

Christina Semeniuk, an ecologist said: "Reduced stingray numbers, or injured, unhealthy-looking

stingrays can cause the visitor site to become less attractive and may cause a decline in tourist

numbers and have an economic impact."

The stingray at the site are regularly injured by boats, the scientists found, while the crowded

conditions encourage parasites. The creatures have also come to rely on hand-fed squid, which

stingray do not usually eat. "These impacts can have long-term health effects, in terms of

reduced longevity and reduced reproductive effort," Semeniuk said. 4

3  Meyer, P. (1997), ‘Stingray injuries’ at pp 24–28

4 David Adam. “Stingrays suffering from contact with wildlife tourists, study finds.” The Guardian on the web. 29

May 2009

<http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/may/29/wildlife-tourism-stingray>

[6]

Recreational diving and snorkelling are increasingly popular leisure activities, with potentially

adverse consequences for coral reefs and other types of marine life. It is estimated that the

stingrays now receive 80,000 to 100,000 visitors per year, and on a busy day more than 500

divers and snorkellers can be observed in the water stroking and feeding the rays. The stingray

population is beginning to show major behavioural changes such as the development of shoaling

behaviour, skin abrasion from handling, and altered feeding habits. It is also possible that some

behavioural modifications are being learnt and transmitted to new generations of rays. Concern is

expressed about the effect of consistently high levels of visitation upon the stingray population,

and it is suggested that there is an urgent need for long term monitoring with possible restriction

of visitor numbers.5

2.3.1 INCREASED LEVEL OF OVERCROWDING

Since 1930s, stingrays have been present at the Stingray City. They were attracted by fishermen

cleaning their catch. Diving became popular at Stingray City and trips started to hand feed the

rays in 1986. Today most leisure tourism for this area is motivated by diving or fishing. And the

dive, with 50 stingrays at least, has become one of the best in the world as the fish are harmless

and not aggressive to people.

Actually their only natural predators are humans and sharks. There are no official numbers for

Stingray City available, but the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism and their Protection and

Conservation Unit estimates between 80,000 to 100,000 visitors per year. In high season more

than 500 divers and snorkelers each day can be found in the water feeding and stroking the rays.

There is concern expressed about the effect of consistently high levels of visitation upon the

rays’ population, because such visitor numbers seems likely to start or accelerate existing

changes in the behavior of the stingray. Also other visitor-related problems as overcrowding, like

the provision of poor and inaccurate information and minimal safety precautions will be become

a problem. Unfortunately is Stingray City, by far the most frequently visited marine tourism

attraction in the Caymans, outside the network of protected areas off the coasts. 5 Myra Shackley, ‘Stingray City- Managing the Impact of Underwater Tourism in the Cayman Islands’ , Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Volume 6, Issue 4, 1998

[7]

This means that the activities of local dive tourism operators are the most profitable, but not

subject to protected area regulations. The levels of overcrowding these days influence the quality

of the visitor experience and seem to have an unfavorable effect upon the rays. 6

2.4 ALTERING STINGRAY BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY

So many underwater photographers have visited or plan to visit Grand Cayman's famous

Stingray City. But what most do not realize is that there are inherent problems with the massive

numbers of tourists that are feeding these stingrays everyday, which is the very reason that the

stingrays appear in the first place. In fact, upon further investigation, it is not difficult to even

learn about some of the abuse that tourist operators inflict on the stingrays by lifting them out of

the water for tourists to photograph.

According to a study, based on the research of a University of Rhode Island professor, tourist

activity in the waters off the Grand Cayman Islands is responsible for the disruption of behaviors

and an increase in the size of the female population in stingrays.

From an evolutionary point of view, for millions of years these stingrays have been nocturnal.

Tourists start feeding them during the day and they reverse their behavior. They became very

active during the day, or diurnal, which they never were before, and now they sleep all night.

Stingrays are bottom-feeders, and do not typically eat non-natural prey items, such as squid,

which many tourists have been feeding them.

They eat a lot of invertebrates, worms and shellfish. Their mouths are on the bottom, so they

swim along and dig up stuff in the substrate mostly. They do catch little fish sometimes but it's

mostly invertebrates. It is surprising that the females are a lot bigger than the males, almost twice

as big. With people feeding these rays, they're getting to really big sizes that they wouldn't

usually grown to in the wild. The female stingray population in tourist areas has also increased. 7

6 Jessica Peelen, “Impacts of diving: To dive or not to dive” Tourism Destination Management November 25th,

2011

<http://www.tourism-master.nl/2011/11/25/impacts-of-diving-to-dive-or-not-to-dive/>

7 Nelson, J.S. (2006). ‘Fishes of the World’ (fourth ed.). pp. 76–82.

[8]

It was specifically that group-living stingrays in a new environment—which includes both the

presence of tourists and quickly renewing food patches—will be exposed to increased injuries,

eco-dermal parasites and aggressive interference competition that result from the unusual

grouping behavior. It was found that, in comparison to stingrays from non-tourist sites, tourist

fed stingrays are more likely to have lower body condition, be injured by boats and predators, be

susceptible to eco-dermal parasites, and be engaged in intense interference competition (in the

form of specific bite marks). Stingrays from tourist sites also have significantly higher mean

numbers of injuries, parasites, and median bite marks. The tourist site represents a riskier habitat

with regards to injury and predation; and there may be long-term fitness consequences. 8

Underwater photographers tend to participate in the feeding of sharks, dolphins, stingrays, and

other species, in order to get close enough to get high quality images. It adds to the local

economies and prevents exploitation and removal of the larger species. However, it has also been

proven that this activity can alter animal behavior, population levels, aggression, dependence

upon and habituation to human contact, as well as malnourishment and disease.

2.5 SAFEGUARDS TAKEN TO PROTECT STINGRAYS

The Department of Environment has hired a full–time enforcement officer to ensure the

wellbeing of stingrays at the Sandbar.

8  Jason Heller, ‘Stingray City - Altering Stingray Behavior & Physiology’ April 14, 2009

< http://www.divephotoguide.com/underwater-photography-scuba-ocean-news/stingray city altering stingray

behavior physiology/>

[9]

Measures are taken to make sure that operators and visitors do not lift stingrays out of the water,

that boat operators are licensed and that vessels do not anchor on the shallowest part of the

sandbar, potentially injuring the stingrays.

Tim Austin, deputy director of the Department of Environment said the post was part of

measures taken to help protect stingrays when the Sandbar was designated as a wildlife inclusion

zone.

Some 170 stingrays frequent the Sandbar.

Studies have shown that most of the animals in the area have been injured at some point, most

likely by propeller blades from boats.

Under regulations in the law, boats cannot anchor in water shallower than three feet, operators or

tourists are not allowed to lift stingrays out of the water nor wear any kind of footwear in the

water.

The regulations also prohibit unlicensed tourist boats from entering the area. It also prohibits

feeding the stingrays anything other than ballyhoo and squid, and each boat is only allowed to

carry one pound of food for them.

The rules also stipulate that a maximum of 1,500 visitors and 20 boats are allowed at the Sandbar

at any one time. Boats are only allowed to stay there for one hour.

A report showed that the steady diet of squid, the proliferation of tourists and the presence of so

many boats each day could be harmful to the stingrays’ health.

Furthermore, measures should be taken to alleviate crowding conditions at Stingray City Sandbar

(leading to injuries and parasite transmission) by limiting the number of people and boats, or by

expanding the site into nearby areas to accommodate the current level.

A research conducted on stingrays found that of the stingrays examined, 30 per cent from non–

tourist sites had been injured while 85 per cent at the Sandbar had suffered injuries.

“Boat collisions are generally the dominant form of injuries to animals that are the focus of

marine–based tourism attractions,” the report stated. The majority of injuries incurred [at the

[10]

Sandbar] regardless of injury type, are indeed caused by boat propellers, anchor chains, or

anchors that have resulted in a myriad of boat–related injuries.9

Report showed that the steady diet of squid, the proliferation of tourists and the presence of so

many boats each day could be harmful to the stingrays’ health.

Feeding marine wildlife as a tourism experience has become a popular means by which to attract

both People and wildlife, although management efforts are still in their infancy. “Stingray City

Sandbar’’ in the Cayman Islands, where visitors can hand feed free-ranging Southern Stingrays

(Dasyatis americana), is a world-famous attraction currently undergoing visitor and wildlife

management. One plan is to decrease the amount of non natural food provided by tourists with

the intention of decreasing stingray habituation to the artificial food source and promoting

stingray health.10

Stingrays are often viewed by people as a threat and a danger, not as something that creates

balance or as wonderful animals. Awareness of the predicament face by stingrays is often limited

and fear mongering by media has given rise to a misunderstanding of these creatures. It is

important to promote educational awareness and conservational importance for these key

animals and a significant local public awareness and marine environmental education

programme has been launched. There are a number of activities that are raised for public

awareness and to inform the public of the information gathered from the studies.

There are talks to local schools, community groups, business and social groups. Educational

leaflets have been designed and distributed.

9 Dawid Bowen. “More Police to Control Stingray City.” Scuba Herald on web. 31 Oct 2011

<http://www.scubaherald.com/more-police-to-control-stingray-city>

10 Joe Shooman. “Stingray City bar protest planned.” Caymanian Compass. 30th December, 2009

<http://www.caycompass.com/cgi-bin/CFPnews.cgi>

[11]

Cay Brew have kindly offered to donate 5c on every stingray conservation fund set up through

the DoE.

Work with local residents and visitors have generated a greater understanding of historical

populations, looking particularly at occurrences as well as increases or decreases in numbers of

observations over time. Collaborating with local fishers, elasmo branch catch or by-catch is

monitored and traditional knowledge recorded.11

Although the Cayman Islands have a network of protected areas, marine park and management

zones off their coasts, the Sand Bar and Stringray City are outside this network, and therefore not

covered by protected area regulations. Because access to the sites is uncontrolled they are also at

risk from overcrowding, which detracts from the tourist experience as well as being likely to

increase pressure on the stingrays.

To address these issues, the Cayman Islands Department of Environment set up a process to

involve representatives from all the stakeholders – including the Marine Conservation Board,

Cayman Islands Tourism Association Water sports Committee, Land and Sea Coop, general

public, Department and Ministry of Tourism, as well as the Department of Environment – in

discussion of the issues facing these sites, and to formulate an agreement on management of

marine tourism.

Through this process, the stakeholders jointly proposed the creation of two Special Management

Areas (SMAs) under the Caymans’ Marine Conservation Law – one at the Sandbar area, and a

second at Stingray City; and that the rules governing these SMAs would become part of the

Marine Conservation regulations which would then be enforced by the Department of

Environment.

2.6 OPPOSITION OF FLOATING BAR AT STINGRAY

Rumors have been circulating for months about plans to build a floating bar in Stingray City, just

off the coast of Grand Cayman.   This popular area is a natural habitat for stingrays and one of

the Cayman Islands' most popular tourist attractions.  Tourists can get up close and personal by

touching, petting, and even feeding these tame rays. 

11 http://www.doe.ky/marine/sharks/project-mission

[12]

A local businessman, Bennie Bush, has proposed the idea of putting in a floating bar, much to

the chagrin of many residents and tourists.  While Bush feels it will enhance the Stingray City

operations, some locals and marine life preservationists fear the impact on the local ecosystem.

The project appears to be gaining some steam and is one step closer to becoming a reality.  The

Liquor Licensing Board of Grand Cayman approved Bush's application for a retail liquor license,

along with a music and dancing license as well.   

Since the approval of the licenses, talk of the proposed bar is slowly making its way around the

globe.  One person in opposition of the floating bar is ensuring her voice gets heard.  Natasha

Kozaily, a local Caymanian, organized a silent protest.  There is also a petition, sponsored by

Oceanic Defense, to promote awareness and rally signatures against the proposed bar. 

Kozaily's feelings echo many others who feel the floating bar will damage the sensitive

ecosystem and turn the pristine area into a party place.  Kozaily pointed out in a recent interview

that there will still be litter and trash floating around, even if clean up efforts are in place. 

On promoting the wrong type of atmosphere people feel that the animals are being exploited, not

protected.  There is a risk of drowning and/or stepping down on a stingray if people become too

intoxicated, or even just careless. 12

CHAPTER III12 http://www.examiner.com/international-travel-in-national

[13]

Tourism and Development: An Ecology Perspective

A study found that supplemental feeding changes the activity patterns, feeding habits and

reproduction of stingrays.

A study was directed on the effects of human feeding on marine wildlife.

Dania Beach on the Cayman Islands' most popular tourist attraction, Stingray City and the

Sandbar, where as many as 3,000 people per day interact withstingrays.

The two-year study, funded by the Guy Harvey Research Institute, found that supplemental

feeding changes the activity patterns, feeding habits and even reproduction of stingrays.

They are fed mostly frozen squid from California. They wouldn't eat a squid in their natural

environment mainly blue crabs and shrimp.

It was found that the fed rays remained at the Sandbar during the day, ranged around a bit at

night and then returned to the Sandbar the next morning. The wild rays headed out to deeper

water during the day and returned to South Sound at night, moving around farther and more

frequently than their human-habituated counterparts.

The supplemental feeding reversed the activity pattern. It changed from resting during the day

and foraging at night to reversal of that pattern.

The researchers concluded that tidal phase had no effect on the animals' activity space.

The scientists also noted that the fed animals were much fatter than their wild cousins and tended

to reproduce all year long on the Sandbar instead of in cycles.

The study has wide-ranging implications for watersports operators, marine resources managers

and lawmakers. Currently, supplemental feeding tourist attractions are conducted at more than

300 sites in nearly 40 countries worldwide.

3.1 TOURISM AND ITS IMPACT

[14]

The huge attraction of the stingray experience to tourists is important for the Cayman Islands

economy, around a quarter of which is based on tourism, but also raises concerns about the

effects of diving and snorkeling tours on the stingray population.

Stingrays were first came to the Sand Bar and Stingray City to feed on fish wastes thrown

overboard by local fishermen, but since 1986 they have been hand fed by dive operators.

Although stingrays are normally solitary, they have switched to forming packs of 12-15

individuals, and from night-feeding to feeding during the day, at the two sites.

Most of their food now comes from feeding by divers. As well as these major behavioural

changes, a recent study carried out in conjunction with the Department of Environment, has

found that these stingrays exhibit higher injury rates, which are caused by boat collisions, higher

numbers of parasites on their gills, and higher incidences of open wounds. Blood samples also

show that the human-fed stingrays are not receiving the proper balance of essential fatty acids

that is critical for disease resistance and immune response.

3.2 FEEDING EFFECTS

The Cayman Islands have banned shark feeding and are considering regulating stingray

encounters.

Gina Ebanks-Petrie, director of the Cayman Islands Department of the Environment, says

establishing voluntary guidelines for stingray encounters has not worked.

Some of the proposed regulations include: licensing boat tour operators, designating anchorages

and no-boat-entry zones around Stingray City and the Sandbar, limiting the number and duration

of simultaneous boat tours at the Sandbar, prohibiting hook-and-line fishing in the feeding zones,

prohibiting shoes or fins at the Sandbar and regulating the types and amount of food dispensed.

If adopted, penalties for violators would be stiff -- fines of up to $600,000 (U.S.), prison for up to

a year and seizure of vessel and equipment.

3.2 ESTABLISHMENT OF MARINE PARKS: EFFECT ON BIODIVERSITY

[15]

In an effort to protect these resources, the Cayman Islands Marine Parks were founded in 1986

under the forward-thinking slogan “Save Our Tomorrow-Today.” In 2012 they still serve that

stated purpose. Officials from the Cayman Islands are celebrating this important milestone. 

In enacting the Marine Parks Regulations, three types of protected area zone designations were

created: marine parks, replenishment zones and environmental zones. Over the years, these

locales have enabled conch, whelk and lobster populations to be sustained. They have also

protected reefs and secured fish stocks. That visionary move established the Cayman Islands as a

regional leader in marine conservation. Apart from fulfilling the moral obligation to secure

marine resources for future generations, the marine parks have also proven to be a sound

economic decision. A 1985 National Geographic article described Cayman’s reefs as “a bonanza

for pleasure and profit,” adding that the Islands’ “submarine splendor” supports an underwater

recreation industry with more than 300,000 visitors annually.

It has been found that Marine Parks promote healthy corals and increase biodiversity, biomass,

size, and abundance of fish: within Marine Parks, there are more species of fish and they are

larger and present in greater numbers. Research shows that fish move across the boundaries of

Marine Parks to colonize the areas outside them.

By maintaining the natural variety and abundance of herbivorous and carnivorous species,

Marine Parks preserve a delicate balance in coral reef systems. Because the fish in Marine Parks

are protected, reefs within and near park boundaries are healthier. Healthy reefs are more

resilient; they have the capacity to recover from major impacts such as coral bleaching, disease,

and storms. As a country, they are fortunate that the early institution of Marine Parks has helped

our coral reefs survive until now.  As part of a growing network of Marine Protected Areas

around the globe, they can work to ensure that marine ecosystems in the Cayman Islands are

healthy enough to cope with current impacts and coming challenges such as climate change.

The new “Dive 365″ Project is a shining example of private sector dive operators working with

Government’s Dept of Environment and the Marine Parks to provide a sustainable solution for

all of the dive sites in the Cayman Islands. “Dive 365″ is a project that is in the process of adding

68 new dives across all three islands over a five year period.

[16]

In addition to new legislation, there are many ongoing projects that help the Marine Parks and

their management. To date 32 new moorings have been installed in the first 2 years and has now

enabled the key component of ‘Dive Site Rotation & Resting’ – this involves removing moorings

in turn and resting them from any diver traffic for an agreed period of time from 6 to 18 months.

Little is known about the outcome from ‘Rotating & Resting’, but from piloting these programs,

best practices can be learned and shared with other tropical destinations with coral reefs.

Recently, ongoing efforts include the new ‘Wildlife Interaction Zones’ that was new legislation

put in place to protect the Southern Stingrays at the tourism sites of Stingray City and The Sand

Bar.

 Legislation has also been put in place to prohibit divers from wearing gloves to help stop divers

from touching corals.13

13 http://www.diverwire.com/post/scuba-travel-news

[17]

CHAPTER IV

Conclusion and Observation

OUTCOME OF HYPOTHESIS

The first hypothesis taken up by the researcher as:

The stingrays which are fed by the tourists are unhealthy as compared to those who are not fed

by the tourists, stands correct because through various case studies and inspections it has been

found that the stingrays which are not fed by the humans have 80% better immune system than

those which are being fed by the tourists at the tourist sites..

The second hypothesis taken up as:

Preventing the tourists from feeding the stingrays would lead to the loss of tourism at the

stingray city, also stands correct because it has been found that around 9,00,000 visitors visit at

the stingray city every year out of which 7,80,000 are the cruise passengers which bring huge

amount of profits to the tourism industry of Caribbean along with them.

Therefore, any restriction not allowing the tourists the access to the stingrays at the sites would

lead to a reduction in tourists visiting such sites and hence it may turn out to be a great loss to the

tourism industry.

[18]

CONCLUSION

The economy of the Cayman Islands is really dependent on tourism, so restriction on dive tour

numbers would result in political opposition from tour operators and travel agencies. Assuming

that demand continues to rise, it is unlikely that they would be able to raise tour fees sufficiently

to compensate for reductions in numbers. It makes sense, economic as well as conservation, to

develop a sustainable management plan for the site. One of the potential solutions is to

incorporate Stingray City into the protected area system, so a management mechanism will be

provide to co-ordinate a systematic study of the population dynamics and reproductive behavior

of the rays, plus the enforcement of feeding regulations. It is impossible to prevent overcrowding

without a management structure that combines some quota-based restriction of access with

appropriate ecological studies.

Ecological Impacts

- Fed rays have negatively impacted fitness attributes

(1) Higher parasite loads

(2) Higher injury rates

(3) Dependent on and unnaturally conditioned by diet

(4) Lower serum proteins

Rays are high-level predators within the ecosystem, and as such have few predators. Their low

natural rate of mortality has allowed them to adopt a life history strategy focused on producing a

few, large young. Compared to most bony fish, rays are long-lived, slow-growing, and have

delayed maturation. Unfortunately, these same characteristics make rays highly vulnerable to

human-induced pressures, such as fishing, habitat degradation and pollution.

Rays are present in most marine ecosystems worldwide, and have a vital role in maintaining the

health and function of these ecosystems. The challenge for marine science now is to ensure these

rays are protected, so they do not quietly disappear before we can fully understand just how

important they are.

[19]

SUGGESTIONS

Education and awareness of the risks posed to stingrays are a key tactic in mitigating the

negative impacts of tourism. Furthermore, measures should be taken to alleviate crowding

conditions (leading to injuries and parasite transmission) at SCS by limiting the number of

people and boats, or by expanding the site into nearby areas to accommodate the current level.

Less food provisioned to the stingrays would also alleviate the stingray aggregation, and ensure

that the stingrays resume foraging naturally and solitarily, further away from the tourist site.

Additionally, safety devices on boat propellers, such as cages and guards, can also aid in

reducing injuries.

Future assessment should consider baseline (control) as well as tourism-induced parameters for

key monitoring purposes, integrating both physiological and general fitness (injury rates, open

wounds, parasite loads) indicators as a basis for limits of acceptable change.

[20]

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books Referred:-

Charles, A. Maddox, ‘A preliminary study of stingray toxin’

Michael Luck, ‘The Encyclopedia of Tourism and Recreation in Marine Environments’

Nelson, J.S. (2006), ‘Fishes of the World’ (fourth edition.)

Meyer, P. (1997), ‘Stingray injuries’

Website Visited:

1) www.mightylaw.com.

2) www.wikipedia.com.

3) http://marinebio.org

4) http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com

5) http://www.guardian.co.uk

6) http://www.tandfonline.com

7) http://www.tourism-master.nl

8) http://www.divephotoguide.com

9) http://www.scubaherald.com/more-police-to-control-stingray-city

10) http://www.caycompass.com

11) http://www.doe.ky

12) http://www.examiner.com

Journal Cited

David Newsome, ‘Impacts and risks associated with developing, but unsupervised,

stingray tourism’, International Journal of Tourism, Volume 6 ,   Issue 5 ,   September 2004,

pp 305-398

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Myra Shackley, ‘Stingray City- Managing the Impact of Underwater Tourism in the

Cayman Islands’ , Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Volume 6, Issue 4, 1998

Newspaper Article

David Adam. “Stingrays suffering from contact with wildlife tourists, study finds.” The

Guardian on the web. 29 May 2009

Dawid Bowen. “More Police to Control Stingray City.” Scuba Herald on web. 31 Oct

2011.

Joe Shooman. “Stingray City bar protest planned.” Caymanian Compass. 30th December,

2009

Article in Electronic Magazine

Jessica Peelen, “Impacts of diving: To dive or not to dive” Tourism Destination

Management November 25th, 2011

<http://www.tourism-master.nl/2011/11/25/impacts-of-diving-to-dive-or-not-to-dive/>

 Jason Heller, ‘Stingray City - Altering Stingray Behavior & Physiology’ April 14, 2009

< http://www.divephotoguide.com/underwater-photography-scuba-ocean-news/stingray city

altering stingray behavior physiology/>

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