NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) — The Bahamas government says it remains committed to moving forward with a process that includes broader stakeholder and public consultation after confirming that a seabed lease granted to a Bahamian-owned company to install moorings in the Exuma Cays had been withdrawn.

In a statement, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) said that the lease to Bahamas Moorings Limited had required the company to meet environmental and other conditions and that “when the company began to install some moorings in advance of meeting all such conditions, they were ordered to cease and desist”.

“The Office of the Prime Minister has since become aware that an employee of our office acted as a witness to the lease. We are conducting an internal review of the matter.”

The government said that the placement of moorings prior to the full set of approvals and the involvement of an OPM employee have raised concerns about the venture.

It said as a result, The Bahamas government and Bahamas Moorings Limited have agreed not to move forward with the agreement, with the company “voluntarily relinquishing their leases” and that “Bahamas Moorings will remove any moorings already installed, at their own cost”.

“We are grateful for their cooperation, and for the vision they shared with the government regarding how to manage moorings in our waters in ways which are consistent with marine conservation principles.

“It’s important that the Bahamian public has confidence that mooring rights are handled transparently and in a manner consistent with the national interest.

“We are committed to moving forward with a process that includes broader stakeholder and public consultation, including the convening of local government officials and representatives of the marine industry, in order to formulate a new policy structure for managing seabed leases,” the statement said.

The government had said that the US$2.5 million private investment represents a significant step forward in marine conservation and sustainable boating infrastructure, helping to protect The Bahamas’ delicate marine environment while ensuring responsible anchoring practices.

It advised the public that a request for proposal was not required, as the project is a private commercial venture, albeit in the national interest, not involving government expenditures.

The government said that for years, unregulated anchoring has significantly damaged coral reefs and seagrass beds — critical marine habitats supporting biodiversity and carbon sequestration.

“Recent research by Beneath the Waves, a leading marine science organisation, has documented a 20-30 per cent decline in seagrass coverage in parts of the Exuma Cays over the past decade, underscoring the urgent need for action. Installing these moorings will help preserve marine ecosystems while enhancing navigational safety by reducing anchor-related destruction and minimising seabed disturbance.

“The project will utilise eco-friendly moorings with helical anchors, a system successfully implemented in mooring fields at the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, Staniel Cay and Elizabeth Harbour, Georgetown.

“These moorings will help organise anchoring patterns, improve vessel safety and reduce the environmental impact of unregulated anchoring,” the government added.