An oft-stated truism is that the future of a nation rests in the nurturing of its youth. 

In a similar manner the future of many living entities depends on its ability to foster offspring. Dampening that ability would be a death knell to many species. 

Clearly then the absence of marine replenishment zones would be a negative situation. Many of the currently endangered creatures would have no safehaven. Without any protection they would likely be over-harvested by humans and ultimately result in serious repercussions for Cayman’s ecosystem. 

One fish that comes to mind as a possible victim without the zones would be the Nassau Grouper. Already on the verge of extinction, the grouper is a target of restaurants that serve them and fishermen who make a living catching them. 

Currently, the Marine Conservation Law imposes rigid guidelines and penalties to discourage hunting the fish and protect its known spawning sites. In fact there is an eight-year ban in place on grouper fishing. 

As Department of Environment officer Bradley Johnson states, the zones are needed to ensure breeding 

“By protecting these spawning grounds results in more grouper and ensures groupers for future generations,” Johnson said. “Groupers take up to eight years to become sexually mature. Research and monitor is being carried out by the DOE on spawning sites, such as counting the amount of fish that come, deploying current drifters to see where eggs are being distributed and having technical divers explore deeper areas of the site inaccessible on scuba. 

“DOE began monitoring breeding grounds from 1987 to 2000. Data from all three Islands show a steady decline in all measurements taken. Fishing in the spawning areas is simply not sustainable, it profoundly jeopardises any chances of recovery if the populations are fished below certain levels.” 

The lack of marine zones would also heavily impact the lobster and conch populations. It’s no secret both are mainstays of Cayman culture and cuisine and the zones offer a place for the creatures to safely breed for an extended period. Without such zones they could permanently disappear due to over-harvesting. 

Coral, too, could be affected. The lack of zones and corresponding laws could see much of entities damaged and killed by anchors, chains and lines dropped by unsuspecting or unscrupulous fishermen. 

That scenario makes me wonder if there would be even more indifference to sea life. As it is, many people illegally fish the replenishment zones in search of catches that can be sold or served as a meal. 

As a Caymanian, I have some understanding as to the importance of the zones. Without them many of the creatures I grew up learning about would be gone, along with the harmonious ecosystem we enjoy today. 

Sadly not every resident respects nature and what God has placed in the sea. The question may have started out being how would marine life survive without safe zones. But the real dilemma is how would the people of these islands fare without those areas.