Description   

The bay of the town of Robert is a set of reefs located 3.5 km from the coast. It is almost closed, which allows it to protect the coast from the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. It is 6.5 km long and 3 km wide. 

In addition to the reef, Le Havre du Robert is home to 10 islets. The Ti-Piton and Chardon islets, although little known, form between them a passage between the ocean and the bay that is only 20 meters deep. The Chancel (“chœur”) islet is the largest (80 hectares) and forms part of the management perimeter of the Conservatoire du littoral. It is, like the islet Loup Garou (“werewolf”), the islet Boisseau (“bushel”) and the islet Madame (“lady”), under biotope protection orders, which regulate their access. Important elements of biodiversity that must be preserved: 

• Chancel Islet: Lesser Antillean iguana (Iguana delicatissima), an endemic species. 

• Loup Garou Islet: unique model of a primitive Caribbean beach, sandbank, nesting beach for sea turtles; access is prohibited from September to December 

• Boisseau Islet: Protected bird sanctuary, this islet is closed to the public year-round 

• Madame Islet: magnificent cove, with dense vegetation and rich in fauna 

Named Le Havre du Robert, the bay is home to sea phanerogams on its sandy bottoms, but also mangroves along the approximately 5,500 meters of coastline, the remainder having been formed from shoreline-dependent trees and shrubs. 
 

Biodiversity

Given its position between reefs, coasts, mangroves and forested areas, the biodiversity of Robert’s Bay is rich and varied. 

The reef is home to a variety of marine animals that depend on this environment, as well as the Thalassia testudinum seagrass known as turtlegrass, or even the seagrass known as manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme), also widespread in warm, shallow waters. 

In the mangrove are present the different species of mangrove trees as well as the rich fauna that moves there to nest, spawn or grow. 

Ecotourism potential

Le Havre du Robert doesn’t really have a beach, but its islets do. The tides and currents are very weak. In addition, the various islets that form beautiful white sand beaches welcome visitors and allow them to discover the seabed and “fonds blancs”, a particularity of Martinique. 

“Fonds blancs” are found in Martinique on the South Atlantic coast, from Sainte Anne to Robert. They are areas where the sea is shallow, although they are several kilometers from the coast, the sand is very clear, hence the name “white bottom”. 

Quieter than the white backgrounds of the François, the “fond blanc” of the Robert, is also known as the “Baignoire de Trapèze” (Trapezium Bath). 

As for the land part, the island’s first long-distance hiking trail, the “North Atlantic Coastal Trail”, was opened in 2020 after numerous renovations. With a length of 45 km, it is planned so that it can be done in 5 days. Without real difficulty, it turns around the coast, allowing you to discover its beauty and uniqueness, as well as examining the municipalities of Basse-Pointe and Robert.