SMMA Nature Fee Payment Portal
Help us to Protect Saint Lucia Natural Resources
Welcome!!!.....
......to St. Lucia’s west coast, an area of outstanding beauty and biodiversity, and the location of the Soufriere Marine Management Area (SMMA) and the Canaries & Anse La Raye Marine Management Area (CAMMA). In this region you will find superb scenery, healthy and diverse coral reefs, valuable fish stocks and attractive beaches extending all the way from Marigot Bay to Anse La Ivrogne. The Soufriere Marine Management Association Inc. is a self-sustained not-for-profit NGO authorized by the Government of St. Lucia to manage both SMMA and CAMMA. Each area is divided into one of five zones: Marine Reserves, Fishing Priority Areas, Multiple Use Areas, Yacht Mooring Areas and Recreational Areas. The Association is mandated to conserve the natural marine environment and ensure sustainable use and development of the Areas particularly within the fishing and tourism sectors. Your support, contributions and ideas help us achieve this mandate.
Help us conserve and sustainably manage our valuable marine and coastal resources!
Diving in Saint Lucia.
With the dazzling beauty of the palm guarded beaches and lush rain forested mountains in St Lucia, many visitors arrive on the island forgetting that there is also equally alluring underwater scenery in the midst of crystal clear blue water which teams with an abundance of colorful aquatic life.
No longer a secret is the fact that St Lucia is recognised for having what is arguably the finest coral reefs in the entire Caribbean. That claim is factually backed by the island having the highest density of reefs, clearest water and greatest number of aquatic species around.
Yachting
About 4000 yachts visit the waters of the SMMA annually. In the past the coral reefs around Soufriere suffered from severe anchor damage.
Since the inception of the SMMA though, a number of yacht zones with approximately 60 mooring systems have been installed while anchoring has been restricted to a few selected areas as shown on the map. Our marine biologists have confirmed that some reefs are already showing good progress in recovering from previous damage.
Some of the most scenic mooring sites in the Caribbean are found in the SMMA. More than 20 moorings have been installed north of the Petit Piton at Malgretoute. The area between the Pitons also offers a number of regularly maintained mooring systems.
About us
Soufriere is a picturesque rural town, located on the southwest coast of the island of Saint Lucia. This area is remarkable for the richness and diversity of its landscapes and natural resources, including mountains, rainforest, rivers, active volcanism and coral reefs.
The area of coastline hereinafter described extends over 12 kilometers and presents a succession of beaches and cliffs, with the Soufriere bay at the center. The town of Soufriere lies within that bay. Because of its topography and relative isolation, the Soufriere region has not been part of the main transformations which have affected the rural economy of St. Lucia over the past few decades. Its agriculture therefore remains characterized by mixed crops produced on small to medium size estates. In the more recent past, Soufriere has witnessed radical changes provoked by the growth of tourism in the coastal zone.