WEBVTT

00:01.701 --> 00:07.674 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5%
In the shallow, turquoise clear waters of
Grand Cayman s North Sound, dozens of wild

00:07.774 --> 00:12.278 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5%
southern stingrays glide effortlessly through
the sea.

00:12.379 --> 00:19.019 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15%
These southern rays are very, very important
to the Cayman Islands from an ecotourism perspective.

00:19.119 --> 00:23.523 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15%
Tourists from all over the world come to the
site to interact with the animals.

00:23.623 --> 00:27.327 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15%
You don t get that experience anywhere else
in the world.

00:27.427 --> 00:30.397 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15%
It s the number one water sports attraction
on the island.

00:30.497 --> 00:41.074 align:left position:80%,start line:83% size:10%
It s a hundred foot vis, it s generally
calm and the animals are very conditioned.

00:41.174 --> 00:46.880 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5%
Thousands of people each year visit the iconic
stingrays of Grand Cayman, and for more than

00:46.980 --> 00:51.151 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15%
a decade, researchers have been studying the
animals.

00:51.251 --> 00:57.891 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5%
Among other things, they want to find out
what impact human interaction might have on the fish.

00:57.991 --> 01:03.830 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5%
From boat fuel, sunscreen, people eliminating
in the water, all of the different types of

01:03.930 --> 01:08.301 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5%
things that they re exposed to at the sandbar
in really high concentrations could certainly

01:08.401 --> 01:10.970 align:left position:82.5%,start line:89% size:7.5%
be very detrimental to them long term.

01:11.071 --> 01:16.142 align:left position:70%,start line:83% size:20%
Because the numbers of people that are visiting
the sandbar just grow and grow every year.

01:16.242 --> 01:19.546 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5%
The animals have a wretched time when there s
too many people there.

01:19.646 --> 01:23.650 align:left position:77.5%,start line:83% size:12.5%
They become very flighty, they keep moving
all the time, they stay on the perimeter of

01:23.750 --> 01:25.819 align:left position:10%,start line:89% size:80%
the sandbar and don't interact.

01:25.919 --> 01:29.756 align:left position:80%,start line:83% size:10%
So it s a double edged sword - how much
is too much?

01:29.856 --> 01:32.092 align:left position:12.5%,start line:89% size:77.5%
This is our national treasure.

01:32.192 --> 01:33.326 align:left position:15%,start line:89% size:75%
Why not enjoy it, you know?

01:33.426 --> 01:36.463 align:left position:25%,start line:89% size:65%
But don t abuse it.

01:36.563 --> 01:39.933 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5%
Our concern is first and foremost the welfare
of the rays.

01:40.033 --> 01:44.571 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15%
Secondarily, obviously very importantly the
experience of the visitors to our islands,

01:44.671 --> 01:49.375 align:left position:75%,start line:83% size:15%
and we probably have a million people a year
who visit the stingray.

01:49.476 --> 01:53.413 align:left position:72.5%,start line:83% size:17.5%
So, it is clearly something that is extremely
important to us, but it is equally important

01:53.513 --> 01:57.513 align:left position:12.5%,start line:89% size:77.5%
that we get the balance right.