St. Martin's Island is a small island in the northeast portion of the Bay of Bengal, about 9 km south of the tip of the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf peninsula, and forming the southernmost part of Bangladesh. It is the one and only coral island in Bangladesh. It is about 8 km west of the northwest shore of Myanmar at the mouth of the Naf River. The native name of the island is "Narical Gingira", also spelled "Narikel Janjina/Jinjera", translated from Bangla, meaning 'Coconut Island'.
St. Martin's Island is a popular tourist spot. Presently, three shipping liners run daily trips to the island, including Sea-Truck and Keary-Sindbad. Tourists can reserve their trip either from Chittagong or from Cox's Bazar. The surrounding coral reef of the island has an extension titled Chera Dwip.
In the past 5 years St. Martin's visitor population has increased radically. Currently there are many efforts being put forth to preserve the several endangered species of turtles that nest on the island, as well as the corals. Pieces of the coral reef are being removed in order to be traded to tourists. Nesting turtles are now and then taken for food and their hatchlings are often distracted by the twinkling lights along the beach. Species of fish, a few just newly discovered, are being overfished. Each year the fishermen must venture further out to sea to get their catch. Most of them use boats without motor.
At high tide the island is about 3 miles around, and pinched in the mid. The island exists only because of its coral base, so removal of that coral risks corrosion of the beaches. St. Martins has lost roughly 25% of its coral reef in the last 7 years.
In the past 5 years St. Martin's visitor population has increased radically. Currently there are many efforts being put forth to preserve the several endangered species of turtles that nest on the island, as well as the corals. Pieces of the coral reef are being removed in order to be traded to tourists. Nesting turtles are now and then taken for food and their hatchlings are often distracted by the twinkling lights along the beach. Species of fish, a few just newly discovered, are being overfished. Each year the fishermen must venture further out to sea to get their catch. Most of them use boats without motor.
At high tide the island is about 3 miles around, and pinched in the mid. The island exists only because of its coral base, so removal of that coral risks corrosion of the beaches. St. Martins has lost roughly 25% of its coral reef in the last 7 years.
