Northeast Boaters: Weigh In On Proposed Buoy Removals

The U.S. Coast Guard has reopened public comments on proposed changes to Aids to Navigation in its Northeast District (formerly District 1) through Nov. 15, 2025. BoatU.S. urges boaters to find out if you will be affected, and if so, share your local knowledge with the agency.

The reopening of comments follows strong reaction to the agency’s initial buoy reduction proposal in May that drew about 3,000 public comment as well as letters from U.S. senators, BoatU.S., and other marine groups that stressed AtoN removal poses a risk to boating safety.

As a result of the feedback, the revised proposal has changed for more than half of the original Coastal Buoy Modernization Proposal (CBMP) buoys: 121 aids were removed from the discontinuation list, 71 AtoNs remain up for removal but with supporting changes to nearby buoys, and 162 buoys remain proposed for discontinuation without additional proposed changes.

The Coast Guard’s stated objective with the CBMP is ensuring long-term buoy system sustainability at the most navigationally critical locations for mariners while better understanding how navigation practices are changing with the widespread use of GPS, radar, AIS, electronic charts, and navigation apps. The update is aimed at balancing the use of physical aids with other navigation tools, according to the agency.

Look for an in-depth report on the issue in the November/December 2025 issue of BoatU.S. Magazine. In the meantime, visit the visual map of changes at bit.ly/BuoyProposal. BoatU.S. urges boaters to check for local buoys listed for removal, and if you know one to be important for safe navigating, submit your opinion to: D01-SMB-DPWPublicComments@uscg.mil. Refer to: Project No. 01-25-015 in the subject. When providing feedback, include the size and type of your vessel, how you use the buoys to navigate, and the distance at which you start looking for and using it. The Coast Guard urges all recreational boaters to become familiar with the Coast Guard’s redesigned Navigation Center webpage. There you can follow updates down to individual buoys.