Baddeck Mooring Authority
Baddeck, Nova Scotia has a long and auspicious yachting history. Since before the founding of the Bras d’or Yacht Club in 1904, Baddeck has been a favourite both with local sailors and cruising yachtsman.
The growing popularity of Baddeck as a yachting centre has resulted in a great proliferation of moorings with the harbour. There continues to be a growing number of people wishing to gain access to the harbour for both commercial and recreational pursuits. The ability to accommodate an ever-growing demand has been a difficult struggle. In 1995 the province of Nova Scotia, through the Department of Natural Resources entered into discussion with the public concerning the future management of the harbour at Baddeck. The results of those meetings have been the formation of the Harbour Development Committee (BHDC) now the Baddeck Mooring Authority (BMA)
The Baddeck Mooring Authority has been mandated to ensure the efficient use to the harbour to the benefit of all interested users including those with out boats who wish to use the harbour for passive and active recreations. The BMA is combined of representatives from the commercial marine interests in the area, the recreational boating community, the Village of Baddeck, the Municipality of Victoria County, the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and the Bras D’or Yacht Club. The diversity of the committee ensures that any interested individual or organization has a representative to speak on their behalf.
The initial subdivision of the harbour resulted in the allocation of 111 mooring spaces sized 100’x100’. A maximum of 30% of spaces being designated as commercial. Commercial sites are permitted to rent or lease the mooring by the permit holder only, recreational sites must be used only by the permit holder. In addition, some of the sites have been designated as “riparian” being assigned without cost to the upland land owner. The distribution of sites made with substantial navigational channel through the harbour and has complied with the Provincial Governments requirement of a two-hundred-foot buffer zone between the mooring “Grid” and the shoreline.
In the period since the initial allocation of sites the committee has been forced to make several changes to the grid. The requirements of riparian owners, a commitment to ensure safe and efficient operation of the Lion’s club boat running to Kidston Island, obligations to commercial operators and the development of “Public Access” areas resulted in the grid being lessened to the present ninety-four sites.
The BMA charges a fee of one hundred twenty-five dollars to a recreational mooring permit. This money is used to fund operations including the services of a mooring master and an administrator as well as occasional surveys of the grid (above and below water), the purchase of speed buoys, insurance and payment of annual government licensing fees. Accounting is ensured by the presentation of complete financial statements to the general public during the Annual General Meeting held in May of each year.
The implementation of this committee has resulted in the local community having direct control over an important resource. It has served to ensure that everyone is represented at the table and has provided a tool to ensure that Baddeck continues to be a first-class yachting destination.