Tourism Minister Proposes New Sandbar Regulations
Effective 28 April, members of the public and local watersports operators will see a change in policy when visiting the Sandbar.
Following a request from Minister of Tourism
and Environment Hon. McKeeva Bush, the Port Authority, with assistance
from the Department of Environment (DOE), will be installing a
series of buoys around the popular tourist destination. The action
has been prompted by concern over the years regarding the general
condition and stability of the Sandbar. Following the announcement
last December by the Minster of Environment of his intention to
create a Special Management Area encompassing the Sandbar and
surrounding patch reefs, watersports operators from CITA and the
Land and Sea Cooperative, members of the Marine Conservation Board,
and the DOE have been meeting to develop comprehensive regulations
for the management of the Area.
The DOE will demarcate the Sandbar using several orange cone-buoys
to be placed on the 4ft. depth contour around the site. Once the
area is marked, the new guidelines will come into immediate effect.
The guidelines require commercial vessels to anchor outside the
buoyed area at all times. All other vessels visiting the Sandbar
on weekdays and on Saturday and Sunday mornings will also be required
to adhere to this rule. However, after 1:00 pm on Saturdays and
Sundays the Sandbar will be reserved for local, recreational users
who will be permitted to utilise the Sandbar as is traditional.
Commercial vessels will not be permitted to utilise the Sandbar
at these times. The public is expected to comply with the new
guidelines.
For more information regarding the new Sandbar regulations, contact the Department of Environment at 949-8469 (Ph) or 949-4020 (Fax).