part in the development of the Islands' economic future

and a nursery for the fishery of the northern Virgin Islands.

The suggested houndries of the preserve in minimum area

form and references to the recommendations are shown in

Figure 15.

 In May, 1970, by letter to the Department of Conser-

vation and Cultural Affairs, Caribbean Research Institute

recommended designation of the area as a territorial natural

preserve, protected by legislation and warden policing. Areal

extent recommended was "all of the peninsula west of the la-

goon, Patricia Cay, Cas Cay, Bovoni Cay and all of the smaller

mangrove islands; all of the enclosed submerged lands and

enclosed waters, the grass/sand flats east of Bovoni Cay and

north of Cas Cay, and the marine waters and submerged lands

offshore to the south to a water depth of ten fathoms."

 The area outlined in the 1970 recommendation included

more land area on the peninsula west of the Lagoon (the

western slopes), but did not include Bird and Rotto Caya.

This investigation does not support need for inclusion of

the western slopes for adequate protection of the Mangrove

Lagoon itself, but does suggest need to isolate the flats

east of Dovoni Cay from heavy boat traffic hence, relo-

cation of the channel into Renner Ray if the traffic to the

existing commercial marinas is allowed at the present level.

The land on the western slope of the Long Point peninsula


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