Marine Conservation Programme

Marine conservation and management ensure habitat and species survival and provide for adequate fish stocks and enhanced visitor enjoyment while protecting delicate coral reefs.

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Since 1991, the National Parks Trust has been conserving coral reef environments from anchor damage, through the installation of mooring buoys at popular dive and snorkel sites throughout the BVI using the Halas System.

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Installation and maintenance of mooring buoys at premier dive sites throughout the territorial waters assist to conserve, maintain and aid in the restoration of coral reefs and sensitive marine elements. The Marine Conservation Programme is maintained by Marine Wardens who patrol the territory.

 

• MOORING BUOY SYSTEM

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The Halas System of mooring buoy installation uses a stainless steel pin that is cemented into the solid bedrock to ensure there is minimal disturbance to the marine ecology. At the surface, a pick-up line is attached to the buoy. Please check the integrity of the mooring, its pick-up line and down-line for safety before leaving the vessel. You are responsible for your vessel, even when tied to a National Parks Trust mooring buoy.

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NPT mooring buoys are frequently located in exposed sites, where seas are rough and unpredictable; or in the vicinity of shallow rocks and reefs. Therefore the moorings are for day use only and it is illegal to use them overnight.  

To use the mooring buoys you are required by law to purchase a National Parks Mooring Permit, either from your charter company, dive shop, or the National Parks Trust office in Road Town. Foreign vessels must purchase permits at Customs on Tortola, Virgin Gorda or Jost Van Dyke upon entry into the territory. This user fee is used for maintenance of the programme and the installation of new buoys in other areas.

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The buoys are 13” in diameter and are colour coded as follows:

Orange: non-diving, day use only

Yellow: commercial vessels only

Large Yellow (35”): commercial vessels between 55 - 80ft

White: diving only

Blue: dinghy use only

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There is a 90-minute time limit on all moorings and use is on a first come, first serve basis. Vessels between 55ft – 80ft are not allowed to use the regular moorings, but they can use the larger yellow buoys.

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These moorings should not be confused with the overnight moorings, which are found in most anchorages; these are white and are 18” in diameter.