Soufriere Marine Management Area

Saint Lucia

The Soufriere Marine Management Area (SMMA) is a marine protected area along roughly 12 km of Saint Lucia's southwest coast, encompassing the waters around the Gros Piton and Petit Piton volcanic peaks.

The SMMA stretches along the coast between Anse Jambon and Anse l'Ivrogne, from the shoreline out to about 75 metres depth. Officially declared a marine protected area in 1995, it is divided into marine reserves, fishing priority areas, and multiple-use zones. Part of the area overlaps with the Pitons Management Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004. Dive sites are characterized by steep volcanic drop-offs, drift diving, and dense coral, sponge and fish life.