The Negril Marine Park was officially declared on March 4, 1998.  The Park covers a total area of approximately 160 km2 and extends from the Davis Cove River in the Parish of Hanover to St. John’s Point in Westmoreland (Map of Negril Marine Park). 

The boundaries of the Park begin at high water mark on shore to approximately two miles (3.2 km) out to sea.  The Negril Coral Reef Preservation is currently managing the Negril Marine Park’s day-to-day activities through enforcement of the Marine Park Regulations with Ranger patrols, zoning and other activities including meetings and workshops.

Since November 2002 the Negril Coral Reef Preservation Society (NCRPS) has been delegated by the Government of Jamaica to manage the Negril Marine Park. 

Natural resources within the park include coral reefs, sea grass beds, mangrove communities and a variety of commercially important fisheries resources and other organisms.

Through funding support from the European Union, a new building housing the Marine Park Headquarters, Visitor Centre and Gift Shop was completed in 2003.
 

Negril Marine Park Zoning

There are six fish replenishment zones located in the Negril Marine Park in which there should be absolutely no fishing, no swimming, no jet skis, or any other type of water sport activity.  These areas are marked with orange buoys.

There are eleven buoys marked with red tops identify the entry lanes for watercrafts to access the beach areas.

Within the swimming areas, which are marked with white buoys that have a red band around the diameter, motorized crafts are not permitted. This swimmers lane comprise one hundred and fifty five of these buoys in a line extending from Rutland Point to the South Negril River. Swimmers are strongly advised to stay within the designated area.

Forty five dive and snorkel sites are marked with white buoys having a blue band. The white and blue buoys serve two purposes: (1) to inform the divers and snorkelers of popular dive sites and (2) to provide a docking point for boats to secure themselves without dropping anchors onto the corals.

Red buoys, located parallel to shore approximately 50m farther out from the swimmers lane buoy, are to mark the start of the non-motorized craft zone.  From these red buoys with a white strip along the diameter all the way to shore, no motorized crafts are permitted to be motoring, unless in an entry lane.