The lighthouses are owned by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), which compiled a list of surplus lighthouses, as part of the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act. The intent is to have new owners apply to have them declared as heritage assets and commit to their proper maintenance.  Under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act, individuals, municipalities or non-profit groups may apply to Parks Canada for heritage designation of the properties. A written commitment to acquire ownership and protect the lighthouse must be accepted by the DFO, in order for it to achieve heritage status. This commitment must be accompanied by a business plan demonstrating the proposed use will be economically viable over the long term, and that the owner has the capacity to manage the property. Friends of the Port Colborne Lighthouses is a not-for-profit organization formed to preserve and protect the two Port Colborne Lighthouses and to provide public access to them both for the enjoyment and education of the public and as a revenue-generating tool for preservation of the structures. Our mission is to save our lighthouses which are monuments to our navigational and maritime history.  We anticipate forging several beneficial relationships with various organizations to assist us with the task of preservation and ownership.