The mooring buoy concept is simple: install a mooring buoy close to or over a site where boats traditionally anchor.
Instead of anchoring, boaters tie off to the mooring.
Anchors pose a threat that can easily be seen by recreational divers: they simply rip coral reefs apart.
Popular SCUBA and snorkeling sites generally show varying degrees of damage caused by anchors dropped and dragged across coral reefs
or boats tying up to coral heads
One of the easiest and yet most effective means to protect living coral reef is through the installation of day use moorings.
In Hawaii, the American Reef Coalition is working with government agencies, other nonprofits and commercial operators to acquire new
state permits for day-use mooring installation and create a mooring maintenance program to ensure that the moorings we currently have
are in top condition.
