COLE BAY--All non-resident visitors to Man of War Shoal Marine Park will have to pay a nature fee as of today, Monday, to enter the park, Nature Foundation St. Maarten announced on Saturday. The nature fees are set at US $3 for a daily nature tag (pass) and US $15 for a yearly nature tag. Residents are exempt from this fee.
The revenue generated through the sales of the nature tags will be used for the management of marine park infrastructure and educational programme about Man of War Shoals Marine Park and St. Maarten's unique underwater environment.
Dive centres on both sides of the island have been given the nature tags to sell and are cooperating with the programme.
The Nature Conservation fee is similar to fees which are charged for the use of Marine Parks throughout the region and the world.
This fee is based on the ministerial decree, signed by Tourism and Economic Affairs Minister Franklin Meyers, designating the Man of War Shoal Marine Park of December 30, 2010. It is also tagged to the ministerial appointment of the Nature Foundation on August 15, rhe Landsbesluit Maritiem Beheer (LBMB 2007) and Nature Conservation Ordinance (AB 2003).
"This fee is for non-residents and visitors to the island. The Marine Park was established for the people of St. Maarten so we feel that they should not have to pay this fee. After lengthy negotiations and consultations with all stakeholders, including a survey which was distributed to visiting divers, we were able to arrive at a fee which was accepted by all," said Tadzio Bervoets, Nature Foundation Marine Park Manager.
For more information on the new fee or the work of Nature Foundation, call 544-4267, e-mail
admin@naturefoundationsxm.org or
manager@naturefoundationsxm.org.
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