VI Rules

Over 2.25 million people visit the US Virgin Islands every year.

Visitors come here to experience the beauty of our natural resources, the lush mountainous terrain, the crystal blue waters, and the wonderful climate. The Virgin Islands as well as the other Caribbean islands contain some of the richest terrestrial and marine environments in the world. The Virgin Islands is home to four of the world’s seven sea turtle species and holds 14% of the world’s coral reef species!

The highlight of your trip may include walking along stretches of sandy white beaches and collecting the various treasures you find but, Virgin Islands law prohibits the removal of corals, shells or sand from the marine environment or beaches. The beautiful shell collection you found on the beach will be confiscated from you upon departure from the territory. Corals, shells, sea fans and sand need to remain where they are because they play a vital role in the health of marine ecosystems.

Most shells found along the shoreline or in the water once contained a living animal called a mollusk. The common names of mollusks that form the shells found on the beaches are snails and clams. Mollusks make up one of the largest groups in the animal kingdom, second only to the insects.

Mollusks are cold-blooded animals with soft bodies. They are unsegmented and have no internal skeleton. The animal’s shell is formed from calcium carbonate material secreted by a fleshy mantle covering the body. The shell supports the body and provides shelter, including protection from predators. A mollusk’s shell is never shed while the animal is alive.

As the animal grows, new shell material is added to the edge of the aperture (opening) of the shell. Like the growth rings in a tree’s trunk, the shell material records the life history of the animal that lives inside. Even after the animal that once created the shell has died, the shell plays an important role in the marine ecosystem. Unoccupied shells become homes for an assortment of other marine organisms, such as soldier and hermit crabs. Some organisms such as sea anemones take up residence on the surface of some shells. Studies have been done on a number of species to determine the size and age at reproduction. This is the size that these species can be harvested without endangering the population.

Virgin Islands law prohibits the collection of shells, corals, sea fans, etc. without proper collecting permits. Imagine the millions of visitors to the territmy each year taking a “token” back home. The collective effect would be disastrous to the environment. Contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife for information on species that may be harvested.