Mooring Information

EelGrass  & Conservation Moorings

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

The requirement for the 2021 boating season is any new mooring to be installed in an Eelgrass bed must be a Conservation Mooring.

If a present mooring in Eelgrass needs new bottom chain it too must be converted to a Conservation Mooring.

Moorings presently in eelgrass do not need to be changed this season. ( may be changed voluntarily)

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

A Conservation mooring is simply a mooring that is designed to minimize habitat impacts, primarily by reducing contact between the mooring components (i.e., chain or rope) and the sea floor.

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