Published 14 years ago, updated 6 years ago

Introduction of mandatory yacht fees within the Sandy Bay West End Marine Reserve, Roatan, Honduras

As of April 27th 2010, the Roatan Marine Park (RMP) will be introducing a mandatory mooring fee of $10 per day, $40 a week, and $100 for a month. This fee will enable the sustainability of the project, financing the maintenance of the moorings, as well as the employment of a full-time Park Ranger to supervise and monitor the area.

The RMP will provide 20 adequately installed and maintained moorings and one heavy duty mooring for larger vessels. The law states that anchoring will not be permitted within the mooring field. Therefore, if a mooring is not available, the yacht is not permitted to stay. There will be circumstances when vessels will be allowed to anchor temporarily, but these will be assessed upon a case to case basis.

The RMP ask that vessels contact their office via phone (445-4206) or radio (VHF channel 16) to check availability before heading to West End.

The RMP will provide dye tablets to be placed in the yacht’s holding tanks to ensure that no black water is dumped by the vessels. Any vessel found leaking sewage will be asked to immediately leave the Reserve. Anyone found illegally dumping sewage will be fined.

Spearguns are not permitted within the Reserve, unless in the possession of persons with a license issued by the RMP for the purpose of hunting lionfish. Anyone caught illegally using a speargun will be punished to the maximum capacity of the law, which will include confiscation of their equipment, including dinghy, and a $1,000 fine or seven nights in jail.

Yacht owners will have to sign a contract stating that they will adhere to the Reserve’s regulations and that the RMP is in no way liable for any damages incurred.

Funds generated from the mandatory yacht mooring fee will be split between the RMP and the West End Patronato. Fifty percent of net income, once maintenance and salaries are deducted, will be donated to the West End community to fund local projects.

For more information please contact the RMP office at [email protected] or visit their website at www.roatanmarinepark.com.