Staying Afloat: rethinking coastal resilience in the era of climate change

It is a common trope of travel blogs that if you are looking for a tropical getaway, you should get there quickly, because low-lying islands like Cayman will vanish within the next century. Despite raising awareness about the uncertainty confronted by low-lying islands, this rhetoric can cause more harm than good. It not only eliminates local agency, but dismisses indigenous methods of resilience and ultimately justifies our eventual ethical erasure. Too often we hear the same reasoning: yes, it’s sad that their homes will disappear, but the intrinsic disadvantages of low-lying islands mean their destiny is pre-determined.

Accepting the loss of places like Cayman ignores the fact that many coral islands are fundamentally dynamic structures. Grand Cayman, and many other low-lying tropical islands, are formed primarily of carbonate debris created by marine life, namely coral reefs. Over millennia, sediment gradually accumulates onto pre-existing structures, such as the Cayman Ridge, eventually growing enough to break the surface and become an island.  

When left alone, and as long as coral reefs remain healthy, there is a growing body of research confirming that the natural growth provided by continued sediment deposition can keep low-lying islands above the waterline, despite local sea level rise.  

Enter humans.

In the last half century, Cayman has transformed. The island has transitioned from an economy based on maritime trade and fishing, to a centre of global finance and tourism. This change has been swift, manifesting itself physically as well as economically. Urban sprawl covers large swaths of the island while buildings along the coastline grow higher. While these developments represent Cayman’s growing wealth and prosperity, they require physical stability, defying the island’s dynamic nature.  

The desire for physical permanence has clearly affected the stability of Grand Cayman, particularly around the coast. Several reports and studies have established a direct correlation between the increasing erosion levels along Seven Mile Beach and the heightened frequency and intensity of storms and the deteriorating health of our coral reefs, as well as the ongoing construction in the area. This becomes evident when comparing Seven Mile Beach to other coastal sites around the island with similar geographies, yet not experiencing the same erosion rates. 

Without action, it is not unthinkable that large swaths of Grand Cayman, particularly in the densely populated areas around George Town and West Bay, will eventually succumb to increasing erosion and be swallowed by the sea. If we are to fight this, there must be fundamental shifts in how we plan and build on our island. 

1. Moratorium on coastal construction

Our coastline is our greatest asset, and continuing to build new structures in an already congested area is accelerating erosion. If there is any chance of maintaining the future integrity of Grand Cayman, costal development must be restricted and policies on coastal construction implemented. This could include setback laws and height restrictions. Although such a moratorium would limit the number of hotel rooms with direct beach access, it would allow for wide swaths of the coast to be used by the public. One could imagine a world where an unbroken sequence of public parks and trails run along the coast, linking the districts and connecting communities. Therefore, a coastal building moratorium would allow for the gradual restoration of our beaches, thereby stabilising the rest of the island, but would allow for our greatest asset to be enjoyed by all.

2. Create buildings that embrace island dynamics

Historically, buildings generally embraced island dynamics. Raised structures with light foundations allowed the land to fluctuate naturally without major disturbance to the buildings. Although the layout of some of these homes can be ill-suited to modern living, their basic principles outline how we should be designing. Using local materials to create low-impact but strong foundations reduce the damage that new structures have on the movement of sediment around the island, and this way of building could be encouraged through grants and rapid permitting.

3. Coral renewal

Healthy coral reefs are the key to sustained island growth, and we should be doing everything within our power to maintain them. Often, we implement reactionary protection policies such as reducing our carbon footprint and eliminating contaminated runoff into the sea. Going forward, we must be far more proactive in implementing policies that actively encourage the development of coral nurseries and the replenishment of depleted reefs. 

Cayman is a victim of its success. Economic growth is inextricably linked with coastal erosion. However, there are actionable measures to mitigate future climate challenges. Contrary to prevailing rhetoric, Cayman, and islands like it, have the capacity not only to survive into the future, but thrive.

By: Matthew Feitelberg