Permit· St Martin (French side)· Leeward Islands
Saint-Martin Nature Reserve (Reserve Naturelle)
18° 5.6′ N · 63° 0.7′ W
A 30 sq km marine and coastal reserve created in 1998 along the northeast coast - Tintamarre, Pinel, Caye Verte, Petite Clef, Rocher Creole, Grandes and Petites Cayes, the Embouchure and the salt ponds - with strict rules for yachts.
Practical
Key rules (prefectoral decree 2020-142): use the reserve moorings; boats under 10 m are tolerated at anchor ONLY in sand at moored sites, with a 20 m swimmer safety zone off beaches; no anchoring on reef or seagrass; NO NIGHT MOORING without prior authorization (request at least three days ahead via the reserve's night-mooring form); no fishing between Galion Bay and Etang des Poissons; no spearfishing in marine parks; no kitesurfing at Galion and Tintamarre; no towed toys or recreational submersibles; no underwater/hull lights at night; no collecting shells, plants or sand; no landing on Rocher Creole, Petite Clef, the Embouchure islets or the Tintamarre cliffs; no non-commercial scuba without clearance. Usage fees apply to commercial operators. Patrols run regularly (204 sea patrols in 2023). Office: Lot 11-13 Rue Barbuda, Hope Estate; management +590 690 579 555, enforcement +590 690 337 296. A charter catamaran grounded at Grandes Cayes on December 24, 2023 after crossing the first reef line.
Best for
Knowing the rules before anchoring in the northeast