Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve

To preserve and protect the area's blend of sea and land, which holds some of the largest remaining mangrove forests in the Virgin Islands, as well as coral reefs and a submarine canyon.

Species of Concern: green sea turtle, corals, queen conch

Restrictions

Except under a permit or specific authorization of the Commissioner of Planning and Natural Resources, it is unlawful to:
(1) take or possess any bird, fish or other wildlife, or part thereof;
(2) use or possess any firearm, bow and arrow, or any trap or other contrivance designed to be, or capable of being, used to take birds, fish or other wildlife, or to discharge any firearm or release any arrow into any wildlife or marine sanctuary; or
(3) throw, place, or deposit any waste within any wildlife or marine sanctuary.

Under Virgin Islands Rules and Regulations, it is prohibited to:
- Collect, take, or possess any fish, coral, bird, or other wildlife, or part thereof.
- Use or possess any firearm, bow and arrow, spear gun, or any trap, net, or other contrivance designed to be, or capable of being used to take birds, fish, or other wildlife, with the exception of recreational catch-and-release line fishing with barbless hooks, or to discharge any firearm or release any arrow into the sanctuary.
- Throw, place, or deposit any waste into the sanctuary.
- Collect, take, possess, or harmfully disturb any plant, soil, rock, or other material, either marine or terrestrial.
- Destroy, injure, or harmfully disturb any sanctuary animal, either marine or terrestrial.
- Feed any sanctuary animal, either marine or terrestrial.
- Store, maintain, repair, construct, use, or abandon any vehicle or vessel in the sanctuary.
- Dredge, fill, excavate, or otherwise alter the seabed or shoreline of the sanctuary, or construct, place, or abandon any structure, material, or other matter on the seabed of the sanctuary.
- Use any motorized vessel except as specified for restricted areas in V.I. Code tit. 25, § 297-3 within the sanctuary.
- Use any “Personal Watercraft” or “Thrillcraft” within the sanctuary.
- Discharge, release, or deposit any material or substance of any kind into the sanctuary waters.
- Excavate, remove, deface, damage, or tamper with any archaeological or historical resources or possess or use metal detectors within the boundary of the sanctuary.
- Discharge, release, or deposit, from beyond the boundary of the sanctuary, any material, substance, or other matter that subsequently enters the sanctuary and degrades the natural resources or other values of the sanctuary.
- Mark, deface, or damage in any way whatsoever, or displace, remove, or tamper with any sign, notice, or placard, whether temporary or permanent, or any navigational aid, monument, stake, post, buoy, scientific equipment, or boundary marker installed by the United States Government or the Government of the Virgin Islands.
- Short-term anchor (14 days or less) outside a designated anchoring area.
- Long-term anchor or moor any vessel or surface platform without obtaining a mooring permit issued by the Department of Planning and Natural Resources.
- Anchor or moor any surface or underwater vessel or platform outside designated anchoring or mooring areas.
- Anchor during hurricanes only in designated hurricane anchorage areas.
- Possess any item listed above (natural, historical, or archaeological resources) within the sanctuary, as there is a presumption that it has been collected or removed illegally.

Under the navigation regulations, the use of motorboats, including personal watercraft and other thrillcraft, is limited in this area. Operation in this area shall be in as straight a line as is practicable under the circumstances and shall in no event interfere with swimming and other non-motorized activities; operation in these areas shall be at a reduced speed, without excessive wake and, whenever safety requires it, or in a designated mooring or anchoring area, shall be in a slow, no-wake manner.

Allowed

Recreational catch-and-release line fishing with barbless hooks is allowed.