This Wednesday, July 24, the delegated prefect of the Northern Islands, Vincent Berton, held a press briefing on the issue of lifting obstacles along the seaward coast of Nettlé Bay. For the state representative, things are clear: “Everyone must be able to freely access the beach, including on private property”. The entire French part of the island is concerned by the State's action plan in collaboration with the Community aimed at enforcing the rules to guarantee free movement on the seaside. As manager of the maritime public domain except for areas placed under the authority of the Coastal Conservatory or the Nature Reserve, the Community must ensure respect for public enjoyment and access to the maritime domain. The prefecture, for its part, has environmental competence via its Department of Environment, Planning and Housing (DEAL). By choosing Baie Nettlé for this press point, the prefect underlines a uniqueness of Saint-Martin: “We have private land throughout Baie Nettlé where the State ceded public maritime domain in the 50s, therefore well before the promulgation of the coastal law in 1986” specifies Louise Davenne (UT – DEAL). Since then, a practice has been established over the years of fencing between each residence on the sea side, which is not permitted in the town planning code. From now on, at Nettlé Bay, free movement on the seaside has been restored, which is unfortunately not yet the case everywhere. As a reminder, private property or not, the seaside must be accessible to the public over a strip of three meters and no permanent construction is permitted there. The maritime domain can be privatized for a limited period only upon request for a temporary occupation authorization (AOT) and acceptance of the file. As Vincent Berton so well recalled: “The sea and the seaside are the property of those who do not have any. It is a right to which the State is very attached”. _Vx
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