In 1978, the Virgin Islands Legislature enacted the Virgin Islands Coastal Zone Management Act as a means of regulating development and managing coastal resources in the Territory. The Virgin Islands Coastal Zone Management Program (VICZMP) was established to carry out the mandates and objectives of this Act.

One of VICZMP’s goals is to protect, preserve and, where feasible, enhance and restore the overall quality of the environment in the coastal zone.

VICZMP works, coordinates and partners with various local and national government agencies to develop and implement a variety of projects and programs, including review, processing and enforcement of minor and major development permits in the first tier of the coastal zone.