Moorings

Moorings, which are typically comprised of concrete anchor blocks, chains, rope and floats, are anchored to the bottom of a water body in open water and away from the shoreline and are used to secure a boat or to hold a channel marker in place as a navigational aid. This Operational Statement applies to the installation and operation of moorings in freshwater and marine systems.

Moorings alleviate the need for boats to set temporary anchors and therefore reduce damage to the bed or bottom of a river, lake or ocean from shifting/dragging anchors. Mooring structures can be designed and installed in a manner to prevent disturbing the bottom substrate of the water body and better protect fish habitat.

Moorings can negatively impact fish and fish habitat by disrupting sensitive aquatic habitats and fish spawning areas through the physical placement of mooring anchors and associated boating activity. Moorings can disturb aquatic vegetation and bottom substrates if under-sized mooring anchors are used, if boat moorings are located in very shallow water or if materials to construct anchors are taken from the bed of the water body.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is responsible for protecting fish and fish habitat across Canada. Under the Fisheries Act no one may carry out a work or undertaking that will cause the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction (HADD) of fish habitat unless it has been authorized by DFO. By following the conditions and measures set out below you will be in compliance with subsection 35(1) of the Fisheries Act.

The purpose of this Operational Statement is to describe the conditions under which it is applicable to your project and the measures to be incorporated into your project in order to avoid negative impacts to fish habitat. You may proceed with your mooring project without a DFO review when you meet the following conditions:

• the project does not involve the installation or operation of a structure fixed to the bottom (for example, permanent navigational beacon, boat mooring bolted to the substrate), and
  
• you incorporate the Measures to Protect Fish and Fish Habitat when Placing Moorings listed below in this Operational Statement.

If you cannot meet all of the conditions listed above and cannot incorporate all of the measures listed below then your project may result in a violation of subsection 35(1) of the Fisheries Act and you could be subject to enforcement action. In this case, you should contact the DFO office in your area if you wish to obtain DFO’s opinion on the possible options you should consider to avoid contravention of the Fisheries Act.

You are required to respect all municipal, provincial or federal legislation that applies to the work being carried out in relation to this Operational Statement. The activities undertaken in this Operational Statement must also comply with the Species at Risk Act (www.sararegistry.gc.ca). If you have questions regarding this Operational Statement, please contact the DFO office in your area (see Manitoba DFO office list).

We ask that you notify DFO, preferably 10 working days before starting your work by filling out and sending the Manitoba Operational Statement notification form (http://www.dfo-mpo.ca/regions/central/habitat/os-eo/provinces-territories-territoires/mb/os-eo20-eng.htm) to the DFO office in your area. This information is requested in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the work carried out in relation to this Operational Statement.

Measures to Protect Fish and Fish Habitat when Placing Moorings

1. Avoid locating moorings in sensitive aquatic habitats such as known fish spawning areas.
2. Minimize disturbance to submerged aquatic vegetation when installing mooring structures on the bed of the water body.
3. Moorings (including anchors and floats) are to be made of clean material. If concrete anchors are used, they are to be pre-cast and cured away from water before use to prevent seepage of potentially toxic substances into the water body.
4. Locate moorings at depths that will allow vessels to remain afloat at the lowest possible water levels to prevent propellers from disturbing the bed of the water body.
5. Mooring anchors are to be adequately sized to secure vessels or structures and prevent the anchor from shifting or dragging along the bed of the water body. Prevent excess chain or line from collecting and disturbing fish habitat features on the bed of the water body.
6. Native beach material such as logs, sand, gravel, and boulders are important components of fish habitat and should not be used as mooring structures or taken from the bed or bank of the water body.
7. Mooring structures should be kept in good repair through a regular inspection and maintenance program.

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