Permit· Tobago· Windward Islands
Buccoo Reef Marine Park Restricted Area
11° 10.9′ N · 60° 49.8′ W · approximate
The Buccoo Reef Marine Park, from Pigeon Point to Buccoo Bay, is a legally restricted marine area: no yacht or dinghy may enter or anchor without written permission.
Practical
Position is a point inside the reef complex (approx), from OpenStreetMap. Under the Marine Areas (Preservation and Enhancement) Act, entering, landing, operating or anchoring a vessel, fishing, taking birds, cutting mangroves or disturbing the seabed all require written permission from the Minister (THA, posted April 2022). Under the 2016 user policy, only registered, insured vessels with Division access or transit permits may enter, navigation must follow the marked channel, tours run only 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, and fishing, parties and alcohol are banned. Permit fees were waived; forms from the Department of Marine Resources and Fisheries, Milshirv Complex, Shirvan Road (639-4354/4446). Noonsite (2022) reports active patrols and fines up to $6,000 (currency not stated). Jet skis are barred from the Park and from Pigeon Point Heritage Park by an urgent High Court injunction obtained by the THA in April 2026 (reported April 24, 2026), in force until further order. Doyle (2014) reports that the reef's cardinal buoys, including the Pigeon Point cardinal charted at 11°11.09'N 60°51.12'W, are gone, so the reef is unmarked: give it a wide berth, especially at night.
Best for
Knowing where you may not take the boat