Recreational uses of marine resources in the Virgin Islands National Park and Biosphere Reserve: Trends and consequences
Rogers CS, Mclain LN, Zullo ES. 1988. Recreational uses of marine resources in the Virgin Islands National Park and Biosphere Reserve: Trends and consequences. Biosphere Reserve Research Report No. 24. National Park Service and Virgin Islands Resource Management Cooperative
Recreational uses of the waters and beaches of Virgin Islands National Park and Biosphere Reserve on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, have increased dramatically in the last 10 years. Recreational visits to the park have risen from less than 100,000 prior to 1967 to over 750,000 in 1986. Annual visitation to Trunk Bay beach, the most heavily used beach in the park, has risen from under 20,000 people in 1966 to almost 170,000 in 1986. The average number of boats per day in park waters increased from less than 10 in 1966 to about 80 in 1986. One consequence has been the degradation of the park's marine resources, particularly some of the coral reefs and seagrass beds along the north shore of the island which receives the heaviest use. Anchor damage and damage from boats striking or grounding on reefs is evident. Seagrass beds in popular bays have deteriorated. Based on field work and examination of National Park Service (NPS) records, this report documents some of the trends and consequences of increased recreational uses of the park's resources and some recent efforts to protect them. Its purpose is to provide a basis for future management actions designed to balance increased visitation with protection of fragile marine resources.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Rogers, Caroline; Mclain, Larry; Zullo, Evonne
- Date of Issue
- 1988-09
- Publisher
- National Park Service and Virgin Islands Resource Management Cooperative
- Units
- VIIS
- Keywords
- Human Impact, Management, Recreation, Virgin Islands National Park St. John US Virgin Islands