Cousteau Marine Park, Pigeon Island, Guadeloupe

Sy-tucanon
Philip Fearnhead
Thu 13 Mar 2014 15:03
Thursday 13th March 2014: Position 16:10.00N 061:47.30W
 
The available moorings (anchoring forbidden) in the Marine Park are around Pigeon Island and reserved for commercial dive boats, apart from 3 which are for private boats under 12m length.  We hadn’t realised this last point until a police launch turned up to point it out. Fortunately we had completed our swimming by then and were able to leave promptly without ill will on either side.
 
Marine life is varied, but mostly small fish and deep water apart from one area, making it difficult for the park to live up to its reputation.  There are more small fish to be seen here than most other parts of the Eastern Caribbean, but that reflects more on the general overfishing elsewhere, so it was disappointing to see many fishing floats scattered throughout the marine park.  Nonetheless, any effort at conservation is to be commended.
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