§ 8-1. Legislative intent.

The bay and harbor bottoms of the Town of Brookhaven are an important natural resource which supports a diverse assemblage of benthic fauna. The commercial and recreational harvesting of shellfish continues to provide a livelihood and a means of recreation to the residents of the Town of Brookhaven. In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of boat moorings placed on Town-owned underwater lands. The unregulated, unplanned, and uncontrolled placement of moorings has resulted in use conflicts between the baymen, some recreational boaters and the mooring owners. By virtue of the Town of Brookhaven's ownership of the lands underwater, it is the intent of this chapter to regulate the placement of boat moorings to avoid use conflicts and provide for safe navigation and the protection of existing natural resources, public health and welfare, and to ensure that areas for water-dependent recreational activities are available to the residents of the Town of Brookhaven.