ST. CROIX — Department of Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Dawn Henry announced on Thursday via press release that the St. Croix East End Marine Park (STXEEMP) will be hosting a bayside tour on Monday, November 16, at Great Pond Bay, and the entire community has been invited to participate.
According to the release, the tour will focus on various natural history and cultural aspects of the park and adjacent land, as well as highlight the area’s resources and attributes. Residents are invited to come observe the various marine organisms in their natural setting and listen to the Park Interpretive Rangers as they explain the interaction between people, land, ocean and the island’s coastal resources.
STXEEMP is the Virgin Islands’ first territorial marine park and was established for the purpose of managing the valuable marine resources on the east end of this island. These natural and cultural resources provide environmental, economic and social benefits to residents and visitors.
Increased demand for recreational, educational, and commercial uses require that the resources be managed in a manner guaranteeing that the benefits are available for present and future generations, the release further stated.
The tour will commence at 9:00 a.m. at the Great Pond entrance road and will last for approximately two hours.
For more information or to reserve a space, call Migdalia Roach, Marine Park outreach coordinator at (340) 718-EEMP (3367).
Feature Image: Aerial view of Great Pond.
Image Credit: Screengrab from Chris Hanley’s YouTube video.
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