Proposed Marine Management Areas in

St. Kitts and Nevis

Emile Pemberton

Southeast Peninsula Area in St. Kitts

Shallow area with seagrass beds

Beach seine operations are forbidden here

Sunset over the Southeast Peninsula

Southeast Peninsula Area Nevis

The channel between the two islands – only about 2 miles wide

Brief Background

St. Kitts and Nevis are two islands separated by about two miles of water at the nearest point. These shallows are an area rich in biodiversity.

Lovers Beach

Marine Protected Areas will seek to Protect Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches

Legislative Framework

A few areas are de facto marine parks but have not been declared so under the laws of the country

Proposed Marine Park off Sandy Point

17°20

17°20,4'

17°20,8'

17°21,2'

17°21,6'

17°22,0'

17°22,5'

17°22,9'

17°23,3'

62°5062°50,4'62°50,9'62°51,3'62°51,7'62°52,1'62°52,5'

Legend :AA : Anchors AwayPR : Paradise ReefRD : Red Drum

Sandy Point

RD

PRAA

100

30

20 10

30 10

20

20

SCALE: 1/35714

: Fishing priority

: Marine reserve

Sandy Point

MAP 1: SANDY POINT AREA

Marine Protected Areas on the Southeast Peninsula of St. Kitts

20

10

10

20

10

10

17°10.0'

17°10.4'

17°10.8'

17°11.2'

17°11.6'

17°12.0'

17°12.5'

17°12.8'

17°13.3'

17°13.7'

17°14.1'

17°14.5'

17°14.9'

17°15.3'

17°15.7'

Shiten Bay

White House Bay

: Moorings for Day Charter Boat ( snorkelling )

: Mooring for Yachts

62°36.8'62°37.2'62°37.6'62°38.05'62°38.5'62°38.9'62°39.3'67°39.8'67°40.6'67°41.’67°41.4' 67°40.2'67°41.8'

SCALE : 1/67500

: Marine reserve

Mosquito Bay

Major’s Bay

Cockleshell & Banana Bays

Public Conservation Education

Public Education Through Participation: Families on Beach Patrol

Turtle watching

Turtle watching – land and water based is a proposed marine park activity

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

The National Conservation and Environment Protection Act, (NCEPA) No.5 of 1987 provides for the establishment of National Parks.

The Fisheries Act No.4 of 1984 provides for the establishment of Fishing Priority Areas and Marine Reserves.

Special regulations will be developed, with assistance from the Government’s legal Department.

Fee structure for activities in the MPAS

REVENUE MANAGEMENT

A special account will be established for fees and other money received or collected.

Proper accounting procedures will be established, including annual audits by a competent independent auditor.

The Executive Director of the Authority is responsible for the management of the account. Quarterly allocations will be made available in accordance with approved budget submissions.

Monitoring

Monitoring is needed firstly to guide management decisions, and secondly to determine the effectiveness of management. The Monitoring methods listed below would provide some of the necessary information. Some monitoring activities are already underway within the proposed MPAS but will need to be expanded. Other methods need to be started as soon as possible.

Monitoring

Monitoring environmental variables as indicators of potential impacts on the marine ecosystem such as:

Salinity at selected stations Sedimentation rates and water clarity at selected

sites Water quality, specifically the levels of inorganic and

organic pollutants.

Major’s Bay on the Southeast Peninsula of St. Kitts

This area soon to be developed for tourism

BURNABY

Beach

Coral

Sea Grass

TAMARIND

BAY