Vineyard Haven Harbor

Over its 350 year history Vineyard Haven Harbor has been known as “Nobnocket,” Holmes Hole and by its current official name, Tisbury.

Today, despite its increasing popularity, the island’s largest port of call with major year-round ferry traffic to the mainland remains a very sensitive part of our marine environment. It’s an important spawning and feeding ground for several species of fish and is an excellent harbor for swimming. It is critical to safeguard its health for all its users.

Since our founding in 1989, TWI has worked feverishly to keep the harbor clean beginning with its initial project, spearheading the dredging of the inner harbor channel. We funded the first pumpout boat, installed a demonstration garden at Owen Park and a stormwater management bioswale near the beach on Owen Little Way. We also wrote and published an informative brochure for arriving boaters, providing them with cultural options as well as where to find boating necessities and ways to help protect this special area. Our brochure is available from the Harbormaster.