Dear Editor:

In case you missed it, the US Coast Guard is proposing to remove hundreds of navigation buoys up and down the coast. Several markers in the Boothbay Harbor area are on the hit list, including buoys at the mouth of Damariscove harbor, off Newagan harbor, the Cuckolds, South Bristol, and Fisherman’s Passage. Many small boats that go to these local areas don't have GPS navigation. For them, and even for boats with GPS, entering places like Damariscove would be treacherous without The Motions buoy, even in good weather. Further east, dozens of go-to buoys are proposed for elimination. Here is a Map link of proposed markers to be removed. The Local Notice to Mariners for District 1 04/08/2025 has the full list of each NavAid to be discontinued.

If you’re concerned about the proposed removal of navigational markers in the area, you can make your voice heard. The U.S. Coast Guard is accepting public comments, and feedback from mariners and local communities is critical in shaping final decisions. To share your perspective, email DPWPublicComments@uscg.mil with your observations, concerns, or support regarding specific markers. They are taking public comments until June 13. To make your comments as effective as possible, please include the type and size of your vessel (recreational or commercial), how the aid supports your navigation, and the distance at which you typically begin to rely on it. Also, you can of course write your political representatives.

Steve Saudek

Boothbay Harbor