In the Cayman Islands, long term surveying of shark populations to monitor Caribbean reef sharks is underway. Education about the critical role that sharks play in maintaining a healthy marine environment and the need for a healthy respect for sharks is key in changing public perception to a positive attitude. 

With the help of acoustic tags, baited remote underwater video (BRUV) surveys, diving surveys and satellite tags, the Department of Environment together with Marine Conservation International, supported by the Cayman Islands Brewery’s White Tip Shark Conservation Fund, have been studying, monitoring and working to protect local shark populations in the Cayman Islands since 2009. 

All sharks are protected species in the Cayman Islands. Their population is fragile and small, making their protection and research key elements for conservation. 

On the evenings of the Nassau grouper spawning, the Grouper Moon team was treated to several Caribbean reef shark sightings when they swam through the Nassau grouper aggregation spawning site, which was an exciting way to watch the food web in action with the incredible apex predators amongst the groupers.