The government has imposed some new restrictions on travel to the coral island Saint Martin.

The Department of the Environment has issued a public notice declaring the island an ‘environmentally critical’ area.

St. Martin’s rare environment and biodiversity are on the verge of destruction due to uncontrolled tourism and unawareness, irresponsibility and anti-environmental behavior of tourists, the statement said.

In order to preserve the island, including the restoration of the environment and rare biodiversity, the Department has imposed certain restrictions on travel to St. Martin under Section 4 of the Environmental Protection Act 1995 (Amended 2010).