Stonington — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that Sandy Point Island beach passes are now available for purchase.

They can be purchased online at bit.ly/rirecaccess or by mail at USFWS Headquarters, 50 Bend Road, Charlestown, R.I. 02813.

A Sandy Point Island beach pass is required for all individuals age 18 and older visiting the island between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The fees for the beach passes are as follows: An individual season pass is $25; a senior citizen season pass for those age 62 or older is $15; and a daily pass is $10. For a family wishing to purchase beach passes, only adults age 18 and over will need an individual season or daily pass. Anyone with questions can call the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex at (401) 364-9124.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages the natural resources at Sandy Point Island as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, in collaboration with the landowner, Avalonia Land Conservancy Inc. The fees collected are used for the management of the island, in addition to paying for administration of the fee program. The goal is to manage the island for nesting and migrating shorebirds, while maintaining its availability to the public for passive recreation and wildlife observation.