Buck Island Reef National Monument will lift the temporary restriction for anchoring on Thursday, July 23, and the public will once again be allowed to anchor by an approved permit issued from the superintendent under the authority provided by the special regulations in Virgin Islands law.
This temporary restriction was in response to the park having scheduled maintenance repairs around both the anchoring and moorings areas. This temporary closure helped mitigate the risks of park employees and/or contractors from potential hazards and provided a safe working area while divers and staff were mapping, marking GPS points and installing new marker buoys for the anchoring area.
NPS encourages people who choose to visit Buck Island Reef National Monument during this pandemic to continue to adhere to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and territorial and local public health authorities to protect visitors and employees. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html #RecreateResponsibly.
More information in regards to anchoring is prohibited, with the exception for emergency or authorized administrative purposes or if a valid park permit is issued, can be found in Presidential Proclamations 3443, 4346 and 7392.
For questions, contact Supervisory Park Ranger Gabriel Laurencin at 773-1460, ext. 234 or 247 or Park Superintendent Gregory Camacho at 773-1460, ext. 222.
Visit Buck Island Reef’s webpage for current conditions and updates: www.nps.gov/buis/.
