Permit· St Lucia· Windward Islands

Soufrière Marine Management Area (SMMA) Fees and Rules

13° 51.2′ N · 61° 3.6′ W

Since 1992 the SMMA has managed the Soufrière coast from Anse Cochon to Gros Piton as a marine reserve, with five yacht mooring areas, controlled anchoring, dive permits and ranger patrols, so you pay for a mooring permit rather than drop the hook.

The GrenadinesGrenadaSt Lucia & Martinique

Practical

Coordinate is the OpenStreetMap 'Customs' office on the Soufrière bayfront, which houses the SMMA office (Noonsite). SMMA rules in brief (Noonsite, last updated April 2023, and the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority): the coast from Anse Cochon to Gros Piton is managed by the Soufrière Marine Management Area; anchoring is forbidden except in designated zones, and even there only by day (6 am to 6 pm) with a stern line to a palm tree. Use only SMMA moorings, which carry a yellow tag on the pick-up line; private moorings laid by locals off the town are not SMMA moorings and are of unknown quality. Mooring requires a Coral Conservation Permit bought from a uniformed SMMA ranger. Mooring areas: between Anse Chastanet and Anse Mamin, Rachette Point, Soufrière Jetty, Malgretoute Beach and the Beausejour area (Noonsite, EnezGreen). Fees (Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, undated, viewed 2026; Noonsite warns the page may contain errors, so verify locally): up to 70 ft EC$54/US$20 per night or EC$324/US$120 per week; 70-120 ft EC$270/US$100 per night; over 120 ft EC$540/US$200 per day; crewed charter yachts EC$1,350/US$500 per year. Snorkelling and diving permits are also issued by the SMMA (operators handle them for divers). SMMA office hours 9 am to 5 pm; rangers patrol 7 am to 7 pm; phone 459-5500 or VHF 16; email smma@candw.lc (Noonsite). The SMMA website (smma.org.lc) was offline when checked in October 2026. A 2018 Noonsite comment reported a customs officer charging an extra EC$125 'mooring' fee without documentation; ask for a receipt for any charge.

Best for

Knowing what to pay and where you may stop

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