The Man of War Shoal National Marine Park, established in 2010, covers 31 km2 (3,100 hectares) and is located off the southern shore of the island of Sint Maarten. The park protects a range of habitats from globally threatened coral reefs and seagrass beds to open water. Visitors must purchase a Marine Park entrance tag and income generated through the sale of the tags goes directly towards the management of the marine protected area.

Studies conducted by the Sint Maarten’s Nature Foundation have shown that biodiversity in the park area, particularly coral reef coverage, is high. The coral reefs are diverse with coral reef pinnacles, patch reef and fringing reef. The park is home to many types of reef fish, sea turtles, numerous species of shark, lobsters and the rare Queen Conch (Lobatus gigas). It also is a migratory stopover point for many marine mammals, including whales and dolphins. In 2013, the first ecological assessment was conducted within the Man of War Shoal Marine Park and showed that fish populations, including butterfly fish, grunts, snappers and parrotfish, have increase by 10 to 20% since the park’s creation. There is also a marked 20% increase in grouper in general and Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus striatus) more specifically, which indicates a reduction in fishing threats.