Lifestyle
Îlet Pinel: a guide to the French side's reserve island
Where Îlet Pinel is, how boat access works, and the nature-reserve rules set by prefectural decree 2020-142.
By SXM Daily ·
Îlet Pinel is a small island just off Cul-de-Sac on the north-east coast of the French side of St. Martin. It lies inside the Réserve Naturelle Nationale de Saint-Martin, so the reserve's rules apply to everyone who lands there.
Photo: Clavius66 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Where it is
Pinel sits a short distance offshore from Cul-de-Sac. The reserve around it was created by decree no. 98-802 of 3 September 1998. Its rules are set out in prefectural decree no. 2020-142 of 23 July 2020, issued by the Préfecture de Saint-Barthélemy et de Saint-Martin.
Getting there
Pinel can only be reached by boat. Under decree 2020-142, carrying passengers to protected sites is a commercial activity that needs authorisation from the reserve, and each boat may carry no more than 28 passengers.
If you come by private boat, the decree says that where the reserve provides moorings, boats under 10 metres are tolerated at anchor only on sand. A 20-metre safety zone from the beach must be kept clear for swimmers.
What it's like
Pinel has shallow, clear water and a sandy beach. It is a protected natural site, so expect wildlife and treat it gently.
The rules
Decree 2020-142 lists rules for the reserve's sites, including Pinel. Under the decree:
- Taking anything away, or throwing anything into the sea, is prohibited.
- Motorised vehicles are not allowed.
- Bivouacs and campfires are banned outside designated zones.
- Collecting shells or plants, dead or alive, is prohibited.
- Any kind of noise or sound pollution is banned.
- Mooring overnight needs the reserve management's express permission.
- Anchoring on reefs or seagrass beds is not allowed.
The decree explains the rules partly by "the risk of accidents caused by too many people visiting such sites as the bays of Pinel and Tintamarre."
French-side rules apply
Pinel is on the French side, so the French State's reserve rules apply. Prices on the French side are in euros (EUR).
Sources
- https://reservenaturelle-saint-martin.com/sites/default/files/telechargements/arrete_prefectoral_anglais_2020_a_0.pdf