2020 Little Cayman
Reef Report Card
CENTRAL CARIBBEAN MARINE INSTITUTE
Very Good
16%

Fair
21%

CORAL REEF HEALTH STATE
Fair
18%

Very Good
27%

1999
Good +26%

2020

Good37%

Good +10%
Good
45%

In August 2020, the surveyed reefs were in aperiod of recovery, with their health status
improving overall compared to 2019. Of thereefs surveyed, 27% were in “very good” healthin 2020, versus only 16% in 1999 and 17% in 2010.
At the bottom end of the health spectrum, wehad no surveyed reefs listed as in “poor” health,and only 18% of the reef classified as “fair”,compared to 36% the year before.

Figure 1: Coral Reef Health State 1999 vs 2020

CORAL REEF SPECIES COMPOSITION
Composition of the coral community on
the reef has shifted over time, from reefs
dominated by massive boulder corals, suchas Orbicella spp., to smaller corals such as
Agaricia spp. and Porites spp. (see Figure2). The size of corals surveyed has
decreased overall, which may indicatethat the reefs are less structurally robust
and capable of providing some of theimportant services we depend upon themfor, such as storm protection and complex
habitats for a variety of marine life.

Figure 2: Coral Species Composition 1999 - 2020

PERCENT CORAL COVER
There is a cyclical pattern of decreasing andincreasing coral cover from 1999 to 2020, which
may represent periods of disturbance, recovery,and recruitment. However, the current trend istowards increasing abundance, which suggests
the reefs of Little Cayman are in a period ofrecovery.
Figure 3: Percent Coral Cover 1999 - 2020

2020 Little Cayman
Reef Report Card

MACROALGAE
There was a gradual, significant decline in thepercent cover of algae on the reefs in Little
Cayman from 1999 to 2020. This decline in algal
cover indicates a healthy reef that has not
yet undergone a phase shift from coral to algae.
The decrease in algae cover also is an indicatorthat herbivorous fish populations on the reef are
thriving.
Figure 4: Mean Macroalgal cover 1999 - 2020

FISH COMMUNITIESFish abundance has increased overall since
1999, indicating a rebounding fish population.
This is a positive sign of the efficacy ofprotections enacted by the Cayman Islands
Department of Environment. Specifically, we'veseen a significant trend of an increase inparrotfish populations across all sites surveyed.

Figure 5: Mean fish density 1999 - 2020

CONCLUSION
Little Cayman's coral reefs show positive traits ofresiliency, with continued high coral and fishabundances. However, shifts in species contributions
and colony size indicate that while coral coverremains high, Little Cayman is not immune to humanimpacts and global climate change.
Figure 6: Mean parrotfish density 1999 - 2020

CONTACT CCMI

ABOUT CCMI

(345) 948-1094
reefresearch.org
info@reefresearch.org

Our vision is a world with vibrant oceans and healthy coral reefs. We will make thisvision a reality by undertaking cutting edge, impactful research and transforming
this research into conservation and education initiatives which will serve to bridge
the gap between knowledge and action. CCMI maintains an active field researchand educational facility on Little Cayman with satellite offices in Grand Cayman,
the US, and the UK. CCMI is a US 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (ID# 22-3609293), aUK charity (#1104009) and Cayman Islands nonprofit (NP-03).

@reefresearch
youtube.com/ccmireefresearch

HEALTHY REEF SPONSORS