The islands are administered by the French Government: île du Large has been off limits since 1999, for reasons of security, due to substantial erosion of the fortifications.
The Saint-Marcouf Islands are the only islands on the east side of la Manche. They lie in the Bay of Veys, 14 kilometres to the South of Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue.
Since 2003, with the French Government’s authorisation, the Association “les Amis de l'île Saint-Marcouf” has endeavoured to restore the island’s sea walls which have sustained severe damage from the sea. Each summer the association organises a restoration project alongside volunteers and businesses. The offshore island was included on the historical register in 2016 and then classified as a historical monument in 2017.
