What can you do?
What part can you play in helping us conserve and sustainably manage our valuable marine and coastal resources?
- Avoid touching the corals and other marine life when swimming, snorkeling, or scuba diving. Even the lightest touch of a fin or a camera, or sand stirred up from the bottom can cause damage.
- Leave all plants, animals, fish, and shells in the sea, whether they are living or not. An empty shell can soon be home to a crab or small fish.
- Observe the fish while snorkeling or scuba diving, but don’t feed them. Feeding destroys their natural feeding habits.
- Avoid disturbing mangroves or sea grass beds. They are critical parts of the marine environment.
- Stay at least 100 meters from a blue and white Alpha flag, or a red and white diver’s flag on a float or a boat in the water.
- Look out for swimmers, snorkelers, and SCUBA divers when boating.
- Tie up only to mooring buoys or anchor in designated sandy areas so that your anchor does not damage marine life.
- Do not collect or buy coral jewelry or other coral products. It is illegal to sell, take, buy, or possess corals in St. Lucia.
- Do not buy jewelry or other products made of turtle shells. A moratorium on the capture and sale of turtles and their products was declared in St. Lucia on March 1st, 1996.
- Limit your use of plastic and Styrofoam containers.
- Dispose all wastes properly whether on land or at sea.
- Tell others about the SMMA and set an example of proper behavior.
If you have questions relating to how you can assist the efforts of the SMMA, please do not hesitate to contact us.