The new sign in the arrival area at PJIA informing guests to not remove any material from our beaches and waters.
AIRPORT--The Nature Foundation St. Maarten has installed a new awareness sign in the arrival area of Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA), warning visitors against removing shells, coral and other marine materials from the island’s beaches and reefs.
The sign forms part of the “Keep the Reef Off the Runway” campaign, funded by the CITES Secretariat, which aims to raise awareness about the environmental and legal consequences of taking marine life and natural materials as souvenirs.
The campaign comes after more than 6,000 kilograms of marine materials, including shells, coral and rocks, were confiscated at the airport in 2025. The new sign carries the message, “Our beaches are not souvenir shops,” and is positioned in the airport’s arrival area to reach visitors at the start of their stay.
The Nature Foundation is encouraging visitors to enjoy St. Maarten’s beaches and coastal areas without removing marine life or other natural materials. Visitors are instead encouraged to take photographs and create memories while leaving shells and other marine organisms in their natural environment.
According to the Nature Foundation, shells play a role in coastal ecosystems by providing shelter for marine organisms and contributing to natural beach processes. Removing them, along with other marine organisms, can therefore affect the coastal environment.
There are also legal considerations surrounding the collection and transport of marine species. The Nature Foundation said many of the marine species confiscated at the airport are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and are subject to international trade regulations. Other marine species and organisms may be protected under local legislation.
As a result, taking marine life home as a souvenir can have legal consequences in addition to removing wildlife from its natural habitat. “We hope that the sign will serve as an early reminder that protecting St. Maarten’s natural environment is a shared responsibility,” a Nature Foundation representative said. “We want visitors to understand that our beaches and reefs are living ecosystems, not places to collect souvenirs.”
The representative said placing the message at the airport provides an opportunity to inform visitors before they visit the island’s beaches and coastal areas. The Nature Foundation thanked PJIA and the CITES Secretariat for supporting the initiative.
