Our thanks to Bob Mackie of SY Hedonism for this update:

For cruisers, what does this mean?

Well, a couple of things; there are now DESIGNATED areas where to anchor and moor. ALL other areas are OFF LIMITS and subject to hefty fines. ($100.00 plus $5.00 per day for the first offense, $250.00 for the second).

See Zones map at

http://waittinstitute.org/bluehaloinitiative/barbuda/ [BROKENLINK]

All possible anchorages are shown on the map, but since they overlaid them with other zones, they can be difficult to see.  Here is a pdf with maps of the individual areas, including a large scale map of all of the anchorage zones as well as a description.

I don’t think they got any input from boaters when they set the zones.  For example, the White Bay zone (west of Spanish point) is so tight to shore (i.e. shallow), only small catamarans would be able to get in that far.

You cannot “Drag a vessel across a sandbar, seagrass bed, or other substrate”. The bar between the lagoon and Low Bay is specifically in the legislation. The fine is: $250.00 for the first offense and $500.00 for the next.

The National Park Authority has now been established.

There are large areas where fishing is now prohibited with appropriate fines as well as specific “no net zones”. Fishing by foreign vessels is a real problem here as well.

All and all, this is a good thing and sorely needed.  Other islands at risk are following in Barbuda’s footsteps, namely Montserrat and Curacao.

The foundation is also funding children’s education, a PATROL BOAT and operation thereof, training of enforcement officials, a communications system and so on. Observation posts on land as well observations moorings are to be placed. This is a work in progress but it is progressing. The Patrol Boat is not here yet.

So, if heading to Barbuda you may want to take a look at the link below.

http://waittinstitute.org/bluehaloinitiative/barbuda/ [BROKENLINK]

The legislation also provides for charging “mooring and anchoring fees”, although I don’t think that is going to start anytime soon – I can’t blame them. They need some funds to save this island.

I guess I can’t anchor north of Cedar Tree Point anymore…

Bob Mackie

sv HEDONISM