The Environment: Green Boating-for all of us

April-May 2000

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

by Laurie MacBride

 

Look for the 16-page Guide to Green Boating this summer, with tips on reducing impacts on the marine environment. The Guide will contain a map showing pump-out stations, new "no-discharge" zones and proposed marine protected areas in the region.

Estimates of the number of boaters (power and sail) on the BC coast range from 200,000 to 400,000 people, with the bulk of these around the Strait of Georgia (and many more in adjoining Puget Sound). Obviously, the continued enjoyment of boating depends on a clean marine environment-yet, like most of our other human activities, there are a number of environmental problems associated with boating.

These problems include sewage (particularly in environmentally-sensitive areas, or bays and inlets with little flushing action); bilge discharges that contain oil, diesel, antifreeze, gasoline and other toxic substances; fuel spills and routine discharge of oil by 2-stroke outboard engines; toxic anti-fouling paints (used to keep algae, barnacles and-worst for wooden boats-hull-chewing toredos from taking up residence on hulls). As well, some boaters-just like some paddlers-are not aware of their own disruptive impact on whales, marine birds and other animals.

Of course, these problems don't just affect the environment for boaters-they also impact kayakers. The two most popular destinations for British Columbia boaters are the Gulf Islands and Desolation Sound, which are also favorite areas for paddlers.

But boating doesn't have to be environmentally damaging or disruptive to others-there are environmentally sound ways to enjoy boats and ensure minimal impact on the marine environment. And paddlers and boaters can and should be natural allies in protecting the watery world that both enjoy so much. It's in all our interests to support "green" boater practices.

The Georgia Strait Alliance (GSA) is currently developing a 16-page Guide to Green Boating, which will address these problems and provide handy tips on environmentally-sound alternatives, including boat maintenance. The Guide will also contain a map showing pump-out stations, the new "no-discharge" zones and proposed marine protected areas in the region.

The Guide is partly the result of a survey carried out by GSA among recreational boaters last summer, on current attitudes, practices and what boaters perceived to be their greatest needs in doing a better job to protect the marine environment. While attitudes have improved in recent years (for example, very few boaters throw trash overboard now), the survey showed there are still improvements needed. For example, while about 70% said that encountering pollution reduces their boating enjoyment, only half said they had used oil-absorbent pads in their bilges during the past year.

But attitudes are changing. For example:

• over 70% of boaters surveyed said that environmental considerations influence their purchase of cleaning and maintenance products for their boats

• 75% said they have, or intend to install, a holding tank

• 63% said that government regulations should be stricter for boating activities that cause pollution, disrupt wildlife, or damage marine habitat

• over half said they would be willing to use marinas and haul-out facilities that had been certified with an "ecologo", even at a higher cost

• 70% said proof of competency licencing (soon a legal requirement for all motorized boat operators) should include knowledge of environmentally-sound boating practices We should all take heart from these survey results, as they demonstrate a growing willingness within the boating community to adopt practices that protect the marine environment. It's a trend we should all support. Besides GSA's Guide to Green Boating, there are a number of other positive initiatives underway around the region:

• The Canadian Power Squadron is now requiring environmental officers at all of its levels and is developing Green Boating materials for its courses (not insignificant, considering that 30,000 people take Power Squadron courses each year).

• Government agencies, industry and non-profit groups are combining forces to establish new sewage pump-out facilities (see the Clean Boating page of GSA's website for a list of all pump-out locations).

• A coordinated "Green Boat Working Group" of local and senior government agencies, marine industry and non-profit groups such as GSA, has been exploring potential "green marina" and other initiatives.

• GSA is providing an email "listserv" (discussion group) to help encourage communication, cooperation and sharing of ideas among those interested in working on green boating initiatives.

The popularity of recreational boating will continue to grow as the region's population increases and people seek to "get away from it all". This will put increased pressure on an already-stressed marine environment. If we are to have clean waters and a sustainable coast, we must ensure that all of us-boaters, paddlers and everyone else enjoying the great outdoors-are taking due care to protect our environment.

For more information contact GSA at 250-753-3459 or gsa@georgiastrait.org, or check out GSA's Clean Boating page.

Laurie MacBride is the Executive Director of the Georgia Strait Alliance