Two more Mooring Buoys are anticipated at the Half Moon Archaeological Preserve!

The Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) is implementing the Miami-Dade Pilot Mooring Buoy Program. This program will establish a system of mooring buoys for recreational vessels to protect natural and artificial reefs from damage caused by boat anchors.

Mooring buoys are being installed at various offshore locations, from Sunny Isles Beach south to Key Biscayne. When completed, 37 individual moorings will be located at nine different sites throughout Miami-Dade County. These sites include popular natural and artificial reef sites, as well as an archaeological preserve.

• Locations of the mooring buoys
• Instructions on how to properly use a mooring buoy

Funding for the installation and first-year maintenance for the initial 20 mooring buoys (located at the natural reef sites) was provided by DERM in partnership with:

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection Coral Reef Conservation Program, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (Award No. NA06N0S4190100).
See also: Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida Boater Improvement Program (Grant Agreement 06074).

Funding for additional buoys provided by these Adopt-a-Buoy participants:

• Jose Cuervo: 2 buoys.

The two buoys at the Half Moon Archaeological Preserve are expected to be installed and operational by summer 2010. These and future buoys will be made possible by the Adopt-a-Buoy program in collaboration with local schools, companies and non-governmental agencies.

The remaining 13 permitted buoys will be installed when the appropriate funds are raised. Learn about our Adopt-a-Buoy program if you would like to help!

View the brochure .

Have you used the Mooring Buoys?

DERM is gathering information on current usage patterns of the Mooring Buoy system in order to properly maintain and enhance the program. Please complete the survey below to offer your input.

• View the Mooring Buoy Usage Survey