Seven St. Croix beaches are unsafe for swimming and fishing after testing found enterococci bacteria above the established threshold, the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources announced Friday. The affected beaches are Cane Bay, Grapetree Beach, New Ft. Louise Augusta, Princess (Condo Row), Prosperity Beach, Protestant Cay and Shoy’s Beach.
The October 16 advisory reflects water quality testing conducted at 31 designated beaches during the week of October 12–16, 2026. The other 24 tested beaches met water quality standards and were considered safe for swimming and fishing. DPNR did not collect samples at Water Bay on St. Thomas or at any St. John beaches, leaving their water quality unknown.
On St. Croix, the 11 beaches that met standards were Buccaneer Beach, Chenay Bay, Cramers Park, Dorsch Beach, Frederiksted Public Beach, Gentle Winds, Ha’Penny Beach, Pelican Cove, Rainbow Beach, Sprat Hall and Stony Ground.
The 12 on St. Thomas were Bluebeards Beach, Brewers Bay, Bolongo Bay, Coki Point, Frenchman’s Bay, Hull Bay, Lindqvist Beach, Lindbergh Bay, Magens Bay, Sapphire Beach, Secret Harbor and Vessup Bay. Honeymoon Beach on Water Island also met standards.
DPNR’s Beach Water Quality Monitoring Program evaluates popular swimming beaches weekly, testing for enterococci bacteria and turbidity, a measure of water clarity. The department warned that swimming in water contaminated by sewage or stormwater, or containing large amounts of sargassum, may pose an elevated health risk because of bacteria or other contaminants.
The agency advised avoiding water affected by sewage, stormwater runoff or large amounts of sargassum, as well as areas where the water is discolored or has a foul odor. Its runoff warning includes guts, puddles and drainage basins. DPNR said it would continue monitoring the affected waters.
