In recent years the proliferation of “private” mooring buoys in almost every conceivable bay, inlet, anchorage and basins has become the scourge of recreational boaters and local governments, making anchoring or transiting many recognized anchorages almost impossible.
Transport Canada, the controlling body, has taken action in some anchorages but on an intermittent basis.
Local governments do not, in most cases, have any authority to regulate mooring buoys within their jurisdictional boundaries. However the demand for “Licenses of Occupation” from the provincial government is being requested but slow in being authorized.
Council has recommended to the British Columbia Ministry of Environment to seek amendments to the Navigation Act to give Local Governments control of mooring buoys within their boundaries