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4.3B – Education and Outreach for Marinas

Management Measure

Implement boater educational and training programs to promote awareness and increase the use of applicable marina and boating management measures and practices.

Management Practices

For Marina Owners and Operators

  • Communicate with Boaters to ensure that management practices are clearly communicated to boaters by providing educational and training materials in multiple languages, as appropriate. Make sure to use this encyclopedia as a guide in developing boater education and training programs. Use signs to inform marina patrons of appropriate clean boating practices and establish bulletin boards for environmental messages and forums for sharing leftover paints and varnishes. Hand out pamphlets or flyers, send newsletters, and add inserts to bill mailings with information about how recreational boaters can protect the environment and keep marina waters clean. Organize environmental education training, meetings, presentations, and demonstrations. For instance, hold clinics on safe fueling and bilge maintenance, invasive species control, proper use of marine sanitation devices, etc. Place signs in the water and label charts to alert boaters about sensitive habitat areas they should avoid including any No Discharge Zones (NDZ). Provide signage and pamphlets that list locations of nearest pumpout facilities and contact information for any local mobile pumpout services. Finally, insert language into facility contracts that promotes the use of clean boating and maintenance practices. Using a contract increases the likelihood that tenants will comply with the marina’s management practices and may limit Marina owners liability.
  • Training and Education of Marina Staff to do their jobs in an environmentally conscious manner and to be good role models for marina patrons. Have a clearly written environmental management practices agreement for outside contractors to sign as a precondition to their working on any boat in the marina. Promote recycling and trash reduction programs and provide pet waste bags. Tell your patrons what they can recycle and where to put recyclables. Provide information on local waste collection and recycling programs. Follow the management measures outlined in section 4.2 (Marina Operations) of this encyclopedia.
  • Provide Pollution Prevention Resources: MARPOL is the protocol resulting from the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, initially adopted in 1973 and revised in 1978 (for more information, visit). One of the provisions of the MARPOL protocol requires that boats carrying oil, noxious liquids, and harmful substances in packaged form display pollution prevention placards. These placards should be provided and phosphate-free, nontoxic cleaners and other environmentally friendly products stocked in the marina store.
  • Provide incentives such as recognition and reduced slip fees (or increased if a boater does not participate in training programs).

Programs

  • California Clean Marina Program is an ongoing endeavor, by a marina industry alliance, determined to provide environmentally clean facilities and protect the state’s coastal and inland waters from pollution through compliance of management practices.
  • Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Best Management Practices for Boatyards: Clean Boatyards Manual includes sections dealing with boat cleaning, boatyard storm water management, fire safety, hazardous waste management, hurricane information, hurricane preparation, liquid waste storage management, petroleum, planning for emergencies, sewage pumpouts and waste dump receptacles, and solid waste management.
  • Izaak Walton League of America, Clean Boats Challenge enter to win some great prizes and to test your clean boat savvy.
  • Marine Environmental Education Foundation, Bibliography of National Clean Boating and Clean Marina Websites provides links to manuals, pamphlets, action plans, educational materials, and other types of resources pertaining to clean boating and marinas from all over the Web, acting as a clearinghouse for management practices and policies to reduce pollutants from marinas and recreational boating activities.
  • Maryland Clean Marina Initiative recognizes and promotes marinas, boatyards and yacht clubs of any size that meet legal requirements and voluntarily adopt pollution prevention practices. We aim to certify at least 25 percent of Maryland's estimated 600 marinas as Clean Marinas. The program was developed as an alternative to additional regulations on the marina industry and all marinas and boatyards are encouraged to participate.
  • Michigan Clean Marina Program is designed to improve and maintain Michigan’s waterways by reducing and eliminating releases and discharges of harmful pollutants, sediments, nutrients, general refuse, and anything else that can damage aquatic environments. In order to receive official designation as a Clean Marina, participants need to complete a 10-step process, including training, a self-evaluation checklist, and a site visit and evaluation.
  • NOAA, Clean Marinas Initiative is a voluntary, incentive-based program that encourages marina operators and recreational boaters to protect coastal water quality by engaging in environmentally sound operating and maintenance procedures.
  • Ontario Marine Operators Association (OMOA), Clean Marine Partnership is a voluntary program of "Environmental Best Practices" for the marine industry that is recognized as the leader in North America. OMOA member marinas have been enrolling in the Clean Marine Program to ensure that their marinas are following these environmentally sound practices and protecting our waterways for all to enjoy.
  • Tennessee Valley Clean Marina Initiative addresses such activities as sewage management, oil and gas control, marina siting, and erosion prevention. The program certifies marinas that are in compliance with pollution-control standards and allows them to use the Clean Marina logo and flag. For marina owners, it makes good business sense to protect the resource on which their livelihood depends.
  • USEPA (2004) EPA-841-B-03-001. Shipshape Shores and Waters: A Handbook for Marina Operators and Recreational Boaters. Clean Marina Programs are based on BMPs identified in this handbook; such programs specify marina practices rather than boater practices, many of the marina practices influence boater practices, such as designating locations for maintenance work, recommending environmentally friendly products, and providing antifreeze and battery recycling.
  • Washington, Clean Marina Program was created in 2005 as an expansion of the EnviroStars program, which provides incentives for businesses to reduce and better manage their hazardous waste. Clean Marina Washington is an incentive-based certification program in which marinas assess their operations and implement improvements to better protect the environment. When they reach the qualification standards of Clean Marina Washington they earn the right to "fly the flag."

General Resources

  • Boat U.S. Foundation, Boater Toolbox provides information about boating safety and includes safe and clean fueling tips, information on marine sanitation devices, and litter prevention laws and requirements.
  • California Clean Boating Network is collaboration of government, environmental, business, boating, and academic organizations working toward clean boating education in California. The Website contains information on the organization’s publication, Changing Tides, and a variety of projects geared toward public education and the promotion of green boating practices.
  • California Coastal Commission, Boating Clean and Green Campaign, The Boat Maintenance Checklist assists persons conducting boat maintenance and repair or contractors in implementing management practices for minimizing the generation of hazardous wastes, discharges of pollutants to inland and coastal waters, and air pollution discharges. The checklist also addresses management practices that include methods for the proper disposal or recycling of hazardous and solid wastes.
  • California Coastal Commission, Boating Clean and Green Campaign, The California Clean Marina Toolkit is designed to help marina operators manage and operate their facility as a "clean marina." The Toolkit includes several components designed to assist marina operators in identifying clean marina practices and resources that will help them to implement those practices. The Toolkit has four sections: The first section, The California Clean Marina Guidebook, provides recommended practices for addressing particular pollution problems. The second section, Educating Boaters at Your Marina, is designed to assist marina operators in educating their customers to be partners in the clean marina effort. The third section, Environmental Strategies: Case Studies, examines a series of diverse marinas in California and what they have done to operate as clean marinas. The last section, Information and Resources, identifies sources for additional information on topics addressed in the Guidebook.
  • Earth 911, Clean Boating Information provides a database of boating-related recycling and disposal locations in California along with tips and suggestions for clean boating and links to other clean boating programs in California and beyond.
  • University of California Cooperative Extension and Sea Grant Extension Program, Clean Boating Guide provides basic information to help reduce marina pollution, such as guidelines for handling waste disposal and marine debris, and underwater hull cleaning.
  • University of California Cooperative Extension, Marina Pollution Prevention Manual describes important components of pollution prevention at recreational boating facilities. It covers pollution sources, hazardous waste management, spill response, marina staff procedures and training, San Diego County agency and service contacts, and publications for distribution among marina staff, contractors, and boaters.

References

USEPA. 2001. National Management Measures Guidance to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Marinas and Recreational Boating. EPA 841-B-01-005. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC. Retrieved on March 16, 2008 from http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/mmsp/index.html

 

(Updated 9/4/08)