Advocacy

As Friends of Fairchild at Magens Bay (aka Friends of Magens, aka Friends), we want to make sure Magens Bay remains a natural and public park, as Fairchild envisioned it, and that it does not become just another commercial beach with profit-generating activities & contracts aimed at tourists & cruise lines. Maintaining Magens Bay as an environmentally sustainable beach for the Virgin Islands community requires deliberate intent. Doing so need not conflict with tourism interest, as tourists can appreciate a beach with a thriving ecosystem and community-oriented feel. We are concerned about activities that may overextend and harm our natural resources, as well as actions that drive locals away from the beach.

As one of our prized resources, Magens Bay should be accessible to and regularly used by the local community. While enjoyed by millions of tourists, there are still many St Thomians who have never been to Magens. We would like all St Thomas school children to visit Magens, making use of the beach park – including the arboretum & nature trails –  as an environment for enhancing science education, swimming & water safety skills, and VI history. We would also like to host more events at Magens for adults, especially seniors. MBA has been investing in increasing ADA compliance of the facilities, but many Virgin Islanders remain unaware of the available resources. Additionally, limited public transportation options to Magens from many of the areas where locals live further hampers access.

A portion of the beach is now densely filled with beach chairs for rent, and excursions such as snorkeling, kayaking, and sandcastle building dot the length of the beach. It’s easy to see the impact on people (some beachgoers complain about the appearance, regular exercisers have had to modify their once-uninterrupted walks near the waterline, and others believe that tourists are being prioritized over locals and no longer feel welcome). But we have less of an idea what the impact of various human activities is on the wildlife. What might Magens look like in another decade or two if the trend of commercialization continues and Magens accommodates more and more visitors (possibly including overnight guests)? Will we even know when we reach a tipping point where beach usage is unsustainable? (Or worse: Have we already reached it?) What is the long-term vision for Magens, and how will we assess environmental impact and ensure future decisions align with the vision? Will we need to consider measures like limiting the number of daily visitors or dedicating a portion of the beach as explicitly lower density to avoid destroying the environment in an endless quest for more money?

The Magens Bay ecosystem is at risk not only from the high volume of beachgoers, but also from specific actions, such as boating, runoff from nearby properties, and littering. Seagrass beds are the preferred environment for sea turtles, and Magens Bay is one of the best places in St Thomas to spot them. The bay is home to black tip shark pups in the spring, many fishes and rays, and is regularly visited by dolphins. The beach, including mangroves, also host numerous species of birds. We need to preserve Magens for its non-human inhabitants, not just for ourselves.

DPNR long ago designated Magens Bay as an Area of Particular Concern (APC), and as such, it is eligible for legislated restrictions to protect the bay and its wildlife, yet special protections were never written. For example, although jet skis are prohibited within and near the swim area, MBA does not have the authority to regulate the rest of the bay where they are still allowed, and DPNR is rarely on site due to limited resources. Anchoring is currently allowed in the bay, even though it is well-known that boats and anchors can injure animals and damage life on the ocean floor. A proposal to install moorings and designate Magens Bay as a no-anchor zone could mitigate this risk. However, moorings may attract more boating activity, increasing the likelihood of animals (especially those that surface to breathe) being struck by boats and the likelihood of illegal dumping polluting the bay, as well as increasing light & noise pollution. Ideally for preservation purposes motorizing boats & watercraft would be excluded from the bay entirely (with the necessary exemption for legacy fishing boats). Should moorings be installed, Friends would like all precautions to be taken to reduce the impact of boats: e.g., a very limited number of moorings, placed significantly farther from the swim area, and active DPNR & MBA enforcement of pollution and boat traffic (including dinghy traffic which is a hazard to swimmers).

Development of nearby properties and pollution & runoff from land uphill in the Magens watershed is another concern. Compare a photo of the surrounding hillsides from ~1970 with one from today. Is it any wonder that the water clarity is not what it once was? Friends advocates for strong CZM protections and enforcement. How can we best prevent neighbors from damaging the bay and preserve the remaining undeveloped land? Do we have independent studies to assess the impact of neighboring residential & commercial developments?

Litter is a prevalent problem in the VI, and the beach is no exception. Trash blows out of overflowing trash barrels overnight, and far too much beach trash never makes it into the barrels in the first place. The concession has a water bottle refilling station to reduce plastic bottle use, but most people are unaware it is there. Promoting recycling at Magens will also reduce the volume of trash that crowds our landfill. The reef safe sunscreen law is a good start to reducing ocean pollution, but tourists sill don't know about it and use banned sunscreens. Partnership is needed with the Department of Tourism, taxi/tour operators, and the cruise lines to educate people to reduce their environmental footprint and keep harmful substances out of the ocean.

These are some of the many issues we care about. Above all, Friends strives to ensure that beachgoers are informed and engaged with beach operations, enabling Virgin Islanders to feel a sense of ownership for Magens Bay and to share the collective responsibility for preserving this unique treasure.