Law Commons^™

"Take Back The Beach!" An Analysis Of The Need For Enforcement Of Beach Access Rights For U.S. Virgin Islanders, Aliya T. Felix

Florida A & M University Law Review

Part I of this paper defines the traditional use of the beaches in the U.S. Virgin Islands and includes a personal anecdote as evidence of a trend toward restricting beach access in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Part II provides a legal framework of public beach access rights through an analysis of the general public trust doctrine, the U.S. Virgin Islands Open Shorelines Act, and the U.S. Virgin Islands’ case law. Part III examines case studies involving private entities blocking beach access to the public in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Part IV offers a proposal for reform to ensure protection of …