showed a drop frommore than
100 animals in 2010 to 17 in
2012 for reasons that are not
clear. Natural predation, fishing
mortality and sabotage were
all possibilities, and when four
of the 10 rays found in the Dolphin Discovery (West Bay)
facility had PIT tags, it confirmed sabotage — they were
taken illegally from the sandbar. The DoE subsequently
made them return the rays, despite their objections. It is
possible that rays were taken off island in boats, and that
further reduced the numbers over a short time. The law
was changed on May 17, 2013, to protect all rays in the
Cayman Islands from capture by any means. Hooray.
AD: The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation provides a
way to raise funds for scientific research. I assume
artwork and other sales help, as well?
Harvey:
Yes. A percentage of revenue is split between the
research institute and other research pursuits. We have
also been fortunate to get funding from other sources,
including several state lottery systems and a Florida
specialty license plate. Last year we raised $1.4 million for
research. With this money we funded 60 different grants,
all of which support education
and conservation. It’s a very
exciting time — we’ve been
able to make a big impact the
last few years.
AD: I heard a rumor that you got your start in
apparel merchandising as a kid by selling T-shirts
out of your van. Now you’re raising huge sums
of money for research and conservation through
merchandising. To state the obvious, this is a
meteoric rise in success. How did you do it?
Harvey:
You know, I have no idea how that story got
out. I never sold anything out of the back of a van. After
several successful art exhibitions in Jamaica, Florida
and the Bahamas in the mid-1980s, I signed a contract
to manufacture a line of apparel featuring my artwork,
and in 2004 I signed a new license that will continue
for years to come. That’s 27 years — definitely not an
overnight phenomenon — and I have worked in the art
business for 30 years. So for me, the secret to success
has been composing new art all the time, surrounding
myself with a good team and plain old hard work.
— Allison Sallmon
|
29
(800) 854-4767 or (345) 949-7111
Please Dive Responsibly
Always Dive with a Buddy!
Diving Freedom
@SunsetHouseCayman
“It’s Like Live Aboard Diving
with All the Comforts of Home!”
~Morning Spectacular Wall Dives off Custom Boats
~Second Dive on Amazing Reefs
~Unlimited Shore Diving 24/7
~USS Kittiwake Wreck
~Stingray City
with
Comfortable Rooms, Restaurant, Fantastic Bar
&
Cathy Church’s U/W Photo Centre
Harvey conducts
research on stingrays
at the sandbar in
Grand Cayman.
COURTESY GUY HARVEY
