Saint Barthélémy National Nature Reserve

To protect exceptional underwater environments, such as seagrass beds and coral reefs. These are the habitats of many species, including threatened species.

Species of Concern: Seagrass beds, coral reefs, grouper of Nassau, eagle ray and long-nosed hippocampus, green turtles, hawksbill turtles, humpback whales, dolphins

Restrictions

The following activities are prohibited:
1. Fishing with nets, traps and spearfishing with guns or other similar instruments are prohibited throughout the entire marine reserve.
2. Introducing any animals into the natural reserve, no matter their state of development, unless authorized by the Minister for Nature Conservation after consultation with the National Council for Nature Conservation.
3. Harming or taking out of the reserve any marine or land species or birds or their eggs, broods, or nests.
4. Disturbing animals by any means, subject to authorizations issued for scientific purposes by the Prefect after the advice of the Advisory Committee;
5. Abandoning, depositing, or discarding rubbish of any kind or any product of any nature likely to affect the quality of the water, air, soil or site or the integrity of the fauna and the flora.
6. Public or private works are prohibited, subject to the provisions of article L. 242-9 of the rural code and maritime fishing.
7. The collection of minerals and fossils is prohibited unless authorized for scientific purposes by the prefect after consulting the advisory committee.
8. All research or mining activities are prohibited in the reserve, with the exception of those concerning the transferable substances mentioned in article 2 of the mining code.
9. Any industrial or commercial activity is prohibited, with the exception of discovery activities of the reserve authorized by the prefect, after consulting the advisory committee.
10. The movement of people as well as the navigation and mooring of boats are regulated by joint order of the prefect and the Government delegate for the coordination of State action at sea, after consulting the advisory committee.
11. The collection of minerals and fossils is forbidden except with a permit issued for scientific purposes by the prefect after consultation with the advisory committee.
12. All exploration or mining activities are prohibited in the reserve, with the exception of those concerning the transferable substances mentioned in article 2 of the mining code.
13. Any industrial or commercial activity is prohibited, except for activities to discover the reserve authorized by the prefect, after consulting the advisory committee.
14. The circulation of persons as well as the navigation and the anchoring of boats are regulated by a joint order of the prefect and the delegate of the Government for the coordination of the action of the State at sea, after the opinion of the advisory committee.

Allowed

Fishing for baits, angling, collection of Queen Conch and Burgos and the use of purse seine may be authorized under certain conditions after consultation with the Advisory Committee by a joint decree of the Prefect and the Government Delegate for the Coordination of State action at sea. The Prefect and may authorize, if necessary, the work required for the maintenance of the reserve, maintenance of existing equipment and navigation safety.