Finally, some good news regarding anchoring restrictions

[LarryandSusanMacDonald]

If you own and use an anchor on your boat, you need to read this. It tells us that ONLY the Federal government, NOT states, counties or municipalities, can regulate “navigation,” AND anchoring is very much a part of “navigation.”

Here's the link: Cruiser's Net » Blog Archive » Florida Anchoring Regulations – The FEDERAL Dimension

[klem]

Interesting. That certainly sounds like good news. So how would this affect mooring regulations that are generally administered by harbormasters?

[LarryandSusanMacDonald]

Don't know the legal stuff - but it would make sense to me if there is a mooring field that sensible restrictions would apply. However, I wonder if permits for mooring fields should be issued by federal? One comment I saw after the article said that federal had relinquished a lot of authority to states - but he said he wasn't a lawyer - only played one in his corner bar.

[BubbleheadMd]

The Federal government has abdicated it's responsibility in these matters. Not formally, but they aren't actively enforcing federal laws, and they aren't prohibiting states from passing anchoring and mooring legislation.

I wouldn't look for help from the federal government.

[ImASonOfaSailor]

So what does all that mean? are they saying you can not anchor in a channel? If so that is correct! I'm not understand all that law talk?