Cayman Islands / Charity Support

The Central Caribbean Marine Institute on Little Cayman is an eco-friendly research laboratory offering facilities for scientists studying all aspects of coral reef biology. It also offers educational courses for young students at school and college level and aims to improve our understanding of the complex biology and crucial importance of coral reefs both as centres for biodiversity and as crucial coastal protection against erosion, hurricane damage and as an economic resource. CCMI is a UK registered charity, a Cayman Islands charity and a registered U.S. not for profit institution. More information can be found at www.reefresearch.org

Part of CCMI’s mission is to spread awareness of how critically import coral reefs are to human subsistence and survival in coastal environments. Although the coral reefs cover less than 1% of our ocean floor they are the only source of protein for over 1 billion people worldwide and they are critical to protecting coastal environments from erosion and storm damage. In the Caribbean reef based fishing, diving and tourism related activities represent over half of Gross Domestic Product of the island nations. In the past two decades these reef ecosystems have declined significantly in health and diversity, but Cayman has some of the healthiest remaining reefs in the entire Caribbean. For this reason CCMI seeks to raise awareness of their importance and facilitates crucial scientific research into the current threats to their existence.

CCMI is closely involved with two types of efforts aimed at the long term protection of coral reefs, both her in the Cayman Islands and globally. CCMI built and maintain a laboratory research facility at the Little Cayman Research Centre. This building which operates sustainably (using solar power and with compost toilets) and provides facilities and accommodation for visiting scientists and students engaged in marine research. The second arm of CCMI activity is to provide and encourage educational efforts on behalf of the marine environment. By hosting local schoolchildren on educational weekends and residential courses the Institute aims to improve local awareness of marine environmentalism. CCMI has (in cooperation with the Cayman Islands department of Education) instituted a teaching plan for schools to introduce the concept of ‘ocean literacy’ and produced a handbook for educators giving them the basic information they need to construct lessons on marine science.

CCMI acts as a host facility for visiting researchers in a number of fields. Recent and current research has focussed on coral diseases, coral recruitment and growth rates and the ongoing effects of the burgeoning invasive lionfish population. In Bloody Bay Marine Park on Little Cayman it has (in collaboration with NOAA) installed the Caribbean’s first ‘ICON’ station which contains instruments to measure a broad range of local and atmospheric conditions – air and sea temperatures, wind speeds and direction, ultraviolet radiation and salinity. This data is transmitted in real time and made available to researchers, marine protected area personnel and the public. The entire data collection and processing system, when used specifically to understand coral bleaching and coral reef-related events, is called the "Coral Reef Early Warning System (CREWS)". This system is considered part of the Integrated Coral Observing Network (ICON) and is thus named ICON/CREWS.

CCMI is proud to enjoy the patronage of His Royal Highness the Earl of Wessex.

Ways to donate:

Via the website www.reefresearch.org

Cheques may be sent to:

CCMI Director of Development
Central Caribbean Marine Institute
P.O. Box 1461
Princeton, NJ 08542
U.S.A.