New rules for moorings

by GBRMPA on 17 Dec 2013 To help protect fragile reefs in high-use areas, new moorings rules are in place from November 2013 clarifying what is considered a misuse of public moorings and infrastructure.

Public moorings are available to all vessel operators and have been installed by the managing agencies at popular locations.

Buoys attached to the moorings are blue with a Marine Parks label explaining the class (vessel length), time limits and maximum wind strength limits that apply to the mooring.

These public mooring and anchoring brochures contain information about moorings in the Marine Park, including locations and conditions of use:

Protecting coral in the northern Great Barrier Reef [PDF 910KB]
Protecting coral in the Townsville-Hinchinbrook Area [PDF 950KB ]
Protecting coral in the Whitsundays [PDF 1.12MB]

Legal requirements for the use of public moorings
To ensure fragile reefs are protected in high-use areas, new rules are in place from November 2013 to prevent misuse of public moorings and infrastructure such as reef protection markers or signs.

Public moorings are available to all vessel operators and are installed at popular locations, particularly the Whitsundays. These moorings provide reasonable access, while minimising or eliminating impacts from anchoring.

While there have always been rules around the use of moorings, the new rules outline what is considered misuse of public moorings. This includes:

- exceeding time limits
- attaching more than one vessel to a public mooring
- 'rafting-up' – attaching multiple vessels in a chain when one vessel is attached to the mooring
- altering the mooring
- not following the instructions on the mooring.

Please familiarise yourself with the new regulations. Anyone found to be misusing a public mooring or public infrastructure may be issued with a penalty infringement notice.

The framework for appropriate use of public moorings in outlined in Regulation 102 of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Regulations 1983.

For more information, contact the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Tourism and Stewardship section (07) 4750 0868 or email GBRMPA website