However, the depletion of the species around the islands made it impossible locally for turtling to continue to be a viable source of income.

In 1968, American and British investors — Irvin Naylor, Henry Hamlin, Samuel Ayres, III, and Anthony G.A.

Subsequently, as a goodwill gesture, the new company paid off all the left behind local trade creditors of Mariculture and - though lossmaking - was adequately financed during its seven years of life.

A dialogue with the Cayman Government about the future commenced in 1980, and the turtle herds were slimmed down by a substantial release programme and culling, as a means of cutting costs whilst retaining the essence of the Farm.

Its overseas markets had finally closed, but the sale was effected without financial loss to any party except shareholders, and within five years the slimmed down farm - now reliant on tourist visitors - was generating a cash surplus (see"Financing the Cayman Turtle 1968 to 1988" (Amazon.com).

The hurricane was located 90 miles southwest of Grand Cayman and produced little wind, but the waves washed turtles of all sizes from hatchlings to 600 pound adults out to sea.

As a result of the disaster, the Cayman Islands government conceived a new vision for the centre when the breeding pond was relocated across West Bay Road from the current facility.

A fresh water lagoon and waterfall was also included in addition to a predator tank where reef sharks would habitate.

[11][12] Approximately 100 scientific papers have been presented or published based on work in collaboration with researchers at Cayman Turtle Centre.

Sir Paul McCartney, former member of The Beatles has supported the campaign[15] and urged the Centre to shift towards a more humane, sustainable and profitable alternative.

[16] Experts also claim that programmes of this kind fail to address the root causes of turtle decline and efforts would be better spent tackling illegal poaching – a problem that still continues in the Cayman Islands.

[18] In April 2013 the Cayman Turtle Centre released data showing however that there are several positive indicators in its financial performance in recent years.