The fortunes of the once-prosperous Port of Poole, then run by rich merchants and the Corporation of the Town of Poole, declined rapidly during the latter part of the 19^th century. The decline in revenues led to the abandonment in investment in quays and, more importantly, the dredging which enabled the port to compete with naturally deep water ports such as Southampton to the east. Matters came to a head in 1895 when the commercial users of the port rebelled against what they saw as 'profiteering' and the neglect. In the same year an Act of Parliament entrusted the care of the Harbour to the 'Commissioners' decreeing their duties to conserve, regulate and improve both Port and harbour.

The Port of Poole is a Trust Port. It is not subsidised and no money is paid to shareholders although the Port trades in a similar way as an ordinary private company and is liable for Corporation and Business Taxes. Any surplus funds, after taxes have been paid, is retained by the Port Commissioners for use in future Harbour and Port activities.

The Commissioners annual income in an average year amounts to some £10 million of which about 10% comes from leisure users of the harbour and fishermen - the remainder being from the port's commercial activities.

The Poole Harbour Commissioners employ about 170 people at a total annual cost of about £4.2 million. As well as those directly employed by the Commissioners, about a further 450 jobs in the area are, directly or indirectly, related to the port and harbour activities.