TIME TO TURN THE TIDE ON PROTECTING SEVEN MILE BEACH

By Editorial Staff

The worsening erosion of Seven Mile Beach, Cayman’s premier tourism asset, demands urgent attention and decisive action from policymakers. Any discussion about solutions should also recognise a tenet of our Christian - and foundational maritime - community, found in the biblical admonition of Mathew Chapter 7, which is especially relevant to wise environmental stewardship.

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock… But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.”

Cayman now faces an environmental and economic disaster of significant proportions at Seven Mile Beach, where literal building on sand has been permitted—even in the face of clear biblical warning and technical advice.

As ominous as that warning is, and despite an acknowledgement of the seriousness of the situation, the manner in which it’s being dealt with is tantamount to throwing pebbles in the water to reclaim the land …and the sand.

Caymanian Times highlighted the relentless erosion of Seven Mile Beach in a series of articles in 2023. Since then, the problem, devoid of any decisive action, has only gotten worse and the solution more expensive.

We are re-running these articles as a reminder that we are ‘not out of the water’ as far as resolving this admittedly crisis-level issue is concerned. In fact, we might be further in the water, realistically speaking, judging from what came out of (or did not) come out of the recent Finance Committee meeting.

Tourism Minister Gary Rutty made only a passing reference to a plan for a much-talked-about beach replenishment scheme, which has spanned several governments.

“I applaud this government for its efforts to protect the southern end of Seven Mile Beach, where erosion has reached a critical stage. Inaction posed a serious threat to our environment, our tourism industry, and our reputation as a premier destination. The replenishment plan approved by Cabinet will prevent further damage to our best-known tourist attraction and preserve it for future generations to enjoy.”

A later exchange between the Opposition leader, Joey Hew, quizzing Environment Minister Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, did not create much wave either, with uncertainty remaining over exactly how the beach replenishment scheme will be funded and a timeline for action.

Feb 2023: SEVEN MILES BUT LESS BEACH

SEVEN MILE BEACH: TIME TO CHANGE THE GAME?

From West Bay to Jackson Point might measure seven miles as the crow flies…or as the boat sails across the bay. Just don’t tell that to Seven Miles Beach.

Seven miles it isn’t, and as far as the alluring stretch of award-winning beach goes, seven miles it never was.

Even the tourism brochures in their eye-catching promotions alternate between 5.5 and 6.3 miles of unparalleled tropical bliss.

But take warning. We are at serious risk of further depleting - if not destroying - this piece of paradise.

It will be a sad price to pay, the consequence of an almost unrestricted rush to development at the sacrifice of the environment - our greatest asset.

At the rate we are going, we’ll soon not be able to count many footsteps in the sands of our already (less than)Seven Mile Beach.

So, how did we get here, and where do we go from here?

Seven Mile Beach is somewhat of a misnomer as the strip as we know it was never seven uninterrupted miles of pristine beach.

Historically, the area has been part ironshore, small coves and inlets but with the stretch of beach the main feature.

Ideal for beachfront development, we learnt that over the years a process of ‘who came first got the best beach spots’ as can be seen from the parade of properties and their built timeline along the shoreline.

Previous ironshore areas have even been incorporated into development projects for the high-value claim of seafront vistas - if not necessarily direct beach access. After all, the beach might have only been a matter of a few minutes walk away.

It has now reached the point where property owners, business owners and developers hardly have any alternative but to resort to further manmade incursions onto the beach and into the sea to protect their investment.

But over time, sheer over-development driven by high demand, coupled with the natural ebb and flow of the tides, has resulted in Cayman’s most highly-prized possession being put at serious risk.

One factor is climate change which could be a game-changer for low-lying Cayman.

But while we may be on the frontline of threats, that actually presents us with the opportunity to be in the front seat of solutions.

We accept that it’s a delicate balance between development and the environment; however, the evidence clearly shows where we need to prioritise and ‘invest’ our policies.

Numerous studies, reports and recommendations point this out.

One of them, a 2011 report by the Cayman Islands National Climate Change Committee, clearly warned: “Pressure from coastal development, economic dependence of the tourism industry on Seven Mile Beach, rapid population growth and insurability issues for development place additional pressures on the coastal environment.”

The clock is ticking ominously.

Is it time for a moratorium on any further beachside development along Seven Mile Beach? Is it time to call time while there’s just enough time and scope for corrective action?

Or, considering the issues highlighted in the recent Finance Committee hearings, is it time for both government and beachfront businesses and homeowners to finally collectively put their money where their mouth is?