Marine Park Regulations & Anchoring Cayman’s Marine Parks were put in place in 1985. Due to environmental stressors, such as declining fish populations, reef degradation, climate change, rapid population growth and development, Marine Parks are extremely important for Cayman’s fish population to remain sustainable. In 2021, the Marine Parks in the Cayman Islands expanded to 48% on Grand Cayman, 43% on Cayman Brac and 57% on Little Cayman. You cannot take any marine life, whether alive or dead, within a Marine Park Zone. Line fishing from shore is permitted, as is line fishing at depths of 80ft or more. Taking fry and sprat with a fry or cast net is allowed. Note: fish traps, spear guns, pole spears and other nets are totally prohibited. No anchoring is permitted; only the use of fixed mooring is allowed. The exception to this is: boats of 60ft or less may anchor in sand, so long as no grappling hook is used and neither the anchor nor the rope or chain will impact coral. Anchoring is also permitted in designated port anchorage
areas – contact Port Security on VHF channel 16. In Bloody Bay, Little Cayman, restrictions have been placed on the use of the Marine Park; no commercial operations may use it without a licence. Visit www.doe. ky for details. Replenishment Zone Regulations In Replenishment Zones, line fishing and anchoring are permitted, as long as you do not damage coral. Boats must not impact coral in any way. Taking conch or lobster, and using spear guns, pole spears, fish traps and nets are prohibited. Environmental Zone Regulations Restrictions in the Environmental Zone are strictly enforced and there are no exceptions. The rules are: no marine life, whether alive or dead, can be taken; no inwater activities are permitted; the public may only access at speeds of five mph or less; and there is no anchoring of any boat. Please note that line fishing, fish traps, nets and spear guns are strictly prohibited.
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grouper closed season is 1st December30th April. During the open season the catch limit is five per person or five per boat per day, and only fish between 16 inches and 24 inches (inclusive) may be taken. No one may spear Nassau grouper. All of the above rules also apply to the purchase of lobster, conch, whelk or grouper caught in Cayman waters. Echinoderms (starfish, sea eggs, urchins, sea cucumbers, sand dollars etc.) and elasmobranchs (sharks, stingrays, and other rays) may not be taken from Cayman waters at any time. No one may disturb, harass or harm turtles. Furthermore, no one may take turtles in Cayman without a licence. Possession of turtle eggs is prohibited. No one may use food to attract any shark in Cayman waters. For a list of protected fish go to www.doe.ky. Taking any marine life (alive or dead) while scuba diving is prohibited. Do not wear gloves while diving or snorkelling. Damaging coral in any manner is illegal.
