New state-of-the-art mooring systems were being installed in Elizabeth Harbour and the Moriah Harbour Cay National Park in 2023. (Bahamas National Trust)
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune News Editor
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE government is reviewing mooring policies in The Bahamas as it prepares to modernise regulations and strengthen oversight of mooring fields across the country, days after a controversial Exuma-wide mooring deal was scrapped.
In a statement yesterday, the Office of the Prime Minister said officials are assessing existing leases, technological developments, and enforcement mechanisms as part of efforts to update longstanding policies. A key objective, according to the government, is ensuring that Bahamians manage and operate mooring fields, keeping the economic benefits within the country.
The review follows the cancellation of a 21-year lease granted to Bahamas Moorings Company, which would have given it control over 49 mooring and anchorage sites across the Exuma Cays. The deal, signed by Prime Minister Philip Davis in his capacity as minister responsible for Crown Land, was halted after public outcry over the lack of transparency and consultation. The government’s decision to lease seabed areas to a single private company, granting it the authority to charge mandatory fees, had drawn sharp criticism from marina operators, environmentalists, and local businesses.
Despite the lease’s cancellation, the government has not addressed key concerns surrounding how Bahamas Moorings Company was able to move forward without necessary approvals. Exuma’s administrator ordered the company to cease and desist its mooring installations after it was revealed that critical environmental and port clearances had not been obtained.
The government has also remained silent on the involvement of OPM officials connected to the project.
The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) has called for stronger regulations before the government considers similar agreements in the future, warning that an improperly managed mooring system could create environmental risks and financial liabilities. The organisation said the country lacks a regulatory framework to impose accountability on mooring operators and that proceeding without sufficient oversight would be “unfathomable”.
The BNT also pointed to waste management and environmental concerns, saying any new system should include measures to protect critical habitats such as seagrass beds and coral reefs. The organisation highlighted its existing mooring programmes in Moriah Harbour Cay National Park and Elizabeth Harbour as examples of sustainable models that prioritise conservation. It warned that a privatised system without clear regulatory standards could undermine marine protection efforts and disrupt local economies that rely on visiting boaters.
As part of the government’s new review, officials will assess whether existing mooring fields have the necessary approvals, including seabed leases, environmental clearance certificates, and port permits. They will also examine whether mooring operators are compliant with tax and fee obligations.
The government is encouraging public participation in shaping its new policy approach, inviting stakeholders—including local government officials, island residents, community groups, commercial fishermen, recreational boaters, marine tourism operators, and environmental scientists—to register for consultations via email at opmcommunication@bahamas.gov.bs.
