Joint Letter from Barnstable County Commissioners and Assembly of Delegates Opposing Coast Guard Buoy Removal
On June 12, 2025, the Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners and the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates submitted the following joint letter to Rear Admiral Platt of the U.S. Coast Guard. The letter expresses strong opposition to the proposed removal of navigational buoys in the Cape Cod region under the District 1 Buoy Modernization Plan, citing concerns for public safety, maritime navigation, and the regional economy.
Date: June 12, 2025
To: Rear Admiral Platt, U.S. Coast Guard
Dear Rear Admiral Platt,
On behalf of the Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners and the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates, we submit this joint comment in strong opposition to the U.S. Coast Guard’s proposed removal of navigational buoys in the Cape Cod region, as outlined in the District 1 Buoy Modernization Plan.
Local harbormasters and the Cape & Islands Harbormasters Association have conveyed urgent concerns regarding the proposed elimination of more than 30 essential physical aids to navigation. These buoys provide critical support in waters characterized by dense fog, fast-moving currents, and rapidly shifting shoals. Many vessels navigating these waters — particularly smaller recreational and commercial craft — still depend on these visual, audible, and radar-reflective markers for safe passage.
Removing these physical aids would significantly increase the risk of maritime accidents, weaken emergency response capabilities, and undermine the safety of both mariners and coastal communities. This also poses threats to Cape Cod’s commercial fishing fleet, tourism economy, and public confidence in navigational safety.
We urge the Coast Guard to retain all buoys identified by our region’s harbormasters as vital and to thoroughly evaluate the public safety implications of any proposed removals.
Thank you for your consideration. Please confirm receipt of this comment. We would welcome the opportunity for continued dialogue.
Sincerely,
Sheila Lyons
Chair, Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners
Randi Potash
Speaker, Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates
CC:
- Senator Elizabeth Warren
- Senator Edward J. Markey
- Congressman William R. Keating
