An area of around 13,000 square feet of coral reef habitat within a marine park was impacted by anchor damage from the mega-yacht Tatoosh, according to a survey by Department of Environment divers. 
 
 The anchor chain of the 300-foot luxury yacht, owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, struck the reef in the West Bay replenishment zone, close to the popular Doc Poulson wreck dive site, around Jan. 14. 
 
 The DoE conducted an in-water survey of the damage last week and released its preliminary findings Friday. 
 
 “Initial figures place the damaged area at 1,200 square meters … with 80 percent of the coral within that area destroyed,” according to a statement from the department. 
 
 The estimate for the area impacted is around the same as that affected when an anchor and chain from the Carnival Magic cruise line struck a reef near George Town in 2014. It is not clear whether the level of coral density was on the same scale. 
 
 The DoE is still investigating the circumstances of the incident and is working on a full damage assessment report that will be completed this week. 
 
 A spokesman for Vulcan Inc., Mr. Allen’s communication’s team, said the crew is cooperating with the investigation. 
 
 “While moored in the Caymans in a position directed by the local Port Authority, the vessel Tatoosh shifted due to strong winds in the area that unintentionally pushed it closer to a marine reserve area. 
 
 “The vessel quickly relocated its position and the crew is cooperating fully with local authorities to ensure that no marine life in that area was inadvertently impacted.” 
 
 The yacht, which has an on-board helicopter, was still in Cayman’s waters Tuesday, moored close to Spotts Landing. 
 
 Kelsey Jukam contributed reporting. ||||| 
 
 Seattle Seahawks owner Paul Allen, left, with Coach Pete Carroll. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) 
 
 UPDATE 3:01 P.M. 
 
 Paul Allen’s Vulcan Inc. issued a statement to GeekWire saying that the yacht’s crew was directed to anchor in the designated area and moved the ship when it found out something could be amiss: 
 
 “Media reports are greatly exaggerated and the investigation by the local authorities is continuing. The local port authority had directed the Tatoosh to anchor in a designated area, and the crew moved the vessel, on its own accord, as soon as it learned from local divers that there might be a problem. The crew is cooperating fully with the local authorities in this matter.” 
 
 ORIGINAL POST 
 
 As one does when you’re the co-founder of Microsoft and owner of the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Allen owns a big yacht — the Tatoosh, which at 303 feet long long is the 49th largest in the world, according to BoatInternational.com. The yacht, described as “a model of understated luxury” in those big-yacht rankings, is manned by a crew of 30 and has two helipads, because you never know when you’ll need a spare. 
 
 And now it appears that Allen’s big yacht has him in big trouble in the Cayman Islands, where officials have accused him of wrecking a high percentage of a protected coral reef. 
 
 Paul Allen’s superyacht Tatoosh damages coral reef in the Caymen Islands https://t.co/gDVBcdCGam pic.twitter.com/QQNLkYTAVf via SUPERYACHTS.… — SuperYachts News (@superyachts_) January 27, 2016 
 
 Yacht & Boating World has the story: 
 
 The Department of Environment has accused the Microsoft co-founder of having caused serious damage to the protected coral reef in the West Bay replenishing zone. Following an inspection by local divers to assess the damage, officials have found that Allen’s 300 ft yacht MV Tatoosh wrecked a high percentage of the coral, which is essential for marine’s life. It is thought that the accident was caused by a yacht’s chain when it was anchored by the Doc Poulson shipwreck and The Knife dive site. 
 
 According to the Cayman News Service, the yacht’s anchor chain destroyed close to 14,000 square feet — three-tenths of an acre — of the coral reef in question, or about 80 percent of it. Coral reefs are considered vital for marine life to flourish and help protect coastlines from big waves and tropical storms. 
 
 Officials have yet to determine if Allen was aboard the yacht when the damage occurred but his camp is blaming the Port Authority, “claiming that they followed instructions when mooring the superyacht,” Y&BW’s Stef Bottinelli reports. “Shifting winds reportedly changed the position, pushing the ship toward the reserve but it was relocated to avoid damage,” the Cayman News Service says. 
 
 The Cayman Islands Department of Environment will issue its findings next week, and Allen could incur a big fine if he’s found to be responsible (though the Cayman News Service says the government there has failed to collect on similar sanctions levied on cruise-ship lines and other megayacht owners). 
 
 With a net worth of $17.4 billion, Allen probably can foot the bill.
– An American mega-yacht is being blamed for destroying 80% of the protected coral within a 13,000-square-foot area of a Cayman Islands marine reserve, the Cayman Compass reports. The 303-foot yacht named Tatoosh belongs to billionaire Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft and owner of the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers, reports the Washington Post. The damage was caused on or around Jan. 14 near a popular dive site, and the Cayman Islands Department of Environment is continuing to look into what happened. At the moment, it appears the coral was damaged by the Tatoosh dragging its anchor chain, notes the Compass. A spokesperson for Allen blames the incident on strong winds moving the yacht too close to the marine reserve, and GeekWire quotes a statement from Vulcan—Allen's company—that claims media accounts of the damage are "greatly exaggerated." The islands' Department of Environment is set to issue its report on the incident next week, according to the Post. If found responsible, Allen—who may or may not have been on the Tatoosh at the time—could face a major fine. Coral reefs are vitally important for everything from providing a habitat for marine life to protecting coastlines from storms. The Tatoosh, which features not one but two helipads, is one of the top 50 largest yachts in the world. But GeekWire points out it's actually the smaller of Allen's yachts. (On the bright side, Allen's yachting has resulted in a cool maritime find.)