Mooring Information

EelGrass  & Conservation Moorings

The Portland Harbor has implemented a Conservation Mooring policy to protect the Eelgrass beds as follows:

Beginning in the 2021 boating season, any new mooring to be installed in an Eelgrass bed must be a Conservation Mooring.

Beginning with the 2022 mooring season, all moorings currently in eelgrass will need to be converted or removed.

Portland Harbor Master Definition of a Conservation Mooring

To prevent and mitigate damage to essential marine habitat caused by mooring bottom tackle, the Portland Harbor Master requires that all moorings in designated Eelgrass Conservation Areas use approved conservation tackle. Mooring tackle appropriate for Portland Harbor shall be defined and approved by the Portland Harbor Master.

The Harbor Master for Portland Harbor defines an approved conservation mooring as any mooring that does not use bottom chain, heavy line, or other component or system that scours the bottom and that is, at the same time, appropriate for the vessel to withstand adverse mooring field conditions. Further, no mooring system may create an entanglement hazard at any tidal stage.

All non-approved moorings must be removed from eelgrass areas. No non-approved moorings may be installed in eelgrass areas. All new moorings in eelgrass conservation areas must be installed and inspected by an approved mooring inspector and documented, with current coordinates, in the mooring holder’s Online Mooring account. Moorings found in eelgrass conservation areas that are not so documented will be removed by order of the Harbor Master at the last known mooring owner’s expense, to include the cost of hauling and storage, and the mooring permit will be revoked.

The image below shows the extent of eelgrass conservation zones (outlined in red) in lower Casco Bay.