Oceans & CoastsNGO
Soufrière Marine Management Association: Saint Lucia's Model for Sharing the Sea
by Soufrière Marine Management Association (SMMA) · HQ 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia
0mooringsMooring systems installed to protect reefs from anchor damageas of 2025-01-01 · may be outdated
0yachts/yearYachts visiting SMMA waters annuallyas of 2025-01-01 · may be outdated
0yearsYears managing Soufrière's marine areaas of 2025-01-01 · may be outdated
The Soufrière Marine Management Association was established in 1994 as Saint Lucia's Local Fisheries Management Authority for the reefs along the island's southwest coast, an early model for co-managed marine protected areas in the Caribbean. Roughly 4,000 yachts visit SMMA waters every year, and the association has installed about 60 mooring buoys to stop anchor damage to coral reefs that were previously scarred by uncontrolled anchoring. SMMA marine rangers monitor water quality and reef health, enforce zoned fishing and recreation areas, and work with the fishing community on sustainable livelihoods, including a jointly built fish landing site in Soufrière.