The U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico have signed a new partnership to help preserve and protect their beautiful and profitable coastal and ocean resources.
The partnership will focus on the impact of fishing, pollution, and tourism on the waters all around these islands, with an eye to developing tourism while still protecting these delicate marine areas.
Preserving the marine environment is critical for USVI, as the waters all around these islands are some of the richest and most diverse in the world. Of course, this makes St. John vacation rentals ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving adventures, so USVI also has a long history of protecting these natural environments because of the popularity and potential stresses of these tourist activities.
Right off the coast, the Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument was established in 2001, covering a massive system of coral reefs and sea grass beds. It stretches over about for about three miles of oceans surrounding St. John, and covers the popular diving point of Hurricane Hole.
Research here in National Monument has turned up previously undiscovered kinds of coral ecosystems, and more than 30 different species of coral, which is an amazing amount of natural diversity in one area.
The Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument is part of the Virgin Islands National Park, established back in 1956, and preserving more than 60 per cent of the island of St. John.
While staying at St. John vacation rentals, visitors to USVI can be sure that everything is being done, both on land and in the surrounding waters, to make sure the beauty of the ecosystem in USVI is being preserved for future generations to enjoy.