Recreational vessels need to register in advance for long term moorage

Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - Recreational vessels are no longer permitted to moor at Cortes Island’s government docks for extended periods without prior approval from the Harbour Authority of Cortes Island (HACI).

“Just to clarify, it's recreational vessels that are looking for a month, three months or six months long-term moorage,” said Harbour Manager Jenny Hartwick 

Boats can still ‘sneak in’ and use docks overnight, at places like Squirrel Cove, providing there is room for them.

“We're incredibly lucky we have five docks on the island. I think it is highly unlikely that boaters will come to Cortes looking for longer term moorage and we will not be able to provide this. It may mean that you don't get moorage at your first choice dock. We're doing our very best to make sure that everybody who is looking for moorage on Cortes will find it somewhere on Cortes.”

HACI was forced to adopt this policy because of the increase in recreational traffic over the past few years. Possibly as a result of the emphasis on local tourism during COVID, boaters have ‘discovered’ Desolation Sound. Destination BC is promoting this area as one of the best marine tourism destinations in BC. At the high point last summer, boats were rafted four deep at the Cortes Bay Dock.

“This makes it incredibly difficult if you happen to be the individual on the inside and you're trying to get out to go boating for the day. Or you are a commercial user who needs to access their vessel to get to and from work. You have to move three vessels simply to get your boat out!” said Hartwick.

She explained that HACI leases the docks from Small Craft Harbours, a Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) program.

“ The docks were put in place to support the commercial fishing industry and to support aquaculture, so that is the number one priority at all of the government docks on Cortes,” said Hartwick.

“Second is to support commercial usage of those docks. So maybe not for vessels that are used directly in aquaculture, but group boats that are running regularly or water taxis, and other types of vessels that are used for commercial purposes on a regular basis.”

HACI’’s mandate is to provide moorage for those parties.

“After we have met the needs of those users, we can offer any additional space at the dock to recreational moorage in our community.”