Litter, such as plastics, not only ruins the natural beauty of our boating waterways and shorelines, it can also tangle boat props, clog intakes, and injure or kill aquatic life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Solid waste such as bottles, cans, fishing line, plastic bags and other refuse can injure or kill aquatic life and birds by trapping or entangling them. You, as a boater, can be an active steward of this valuable resource by implementing these basic practices:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Controlling Waste<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Marine debris and beach litter are serious problems. Many types of marine life, including fish, dolphins, whales and seabirds often mistake plastics and other trash for food. Commonly mistaken items include cigarette butts, six-pack rings, plastic bags, discarded nets, Styrofoam, bottle caps, fishing line, and other refuse. In addition to eating these items, birds and mammals often feed them to their young. Either way, the result is the same \u2013 starvation, suffocation, or poisoning. Some types of debris, such as discarded nets, fishing tackle, and plastics also cause death by entanglement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every year, hundreds of diesel and oil spills pollute our harbours and coastline. Most are quite small, but even small amounts of fuel and oil can be fatal to birds and marine life and cause damage to the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because most of these spills are of very light oil, they quickly spread out into a thin film. This oily film is toxic, smells bad, fouls other boats, and contaminates shellfish and marine farms. Most oil and fuel spills can be contributed to careless refueling or pumping oily bilge water overboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Facts about fuel contamination:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Refuelling your Boat<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Report spills immediately to the fuel station operator, marina operator and local Regional Council. The sooner the spill is reported the better chance there is of minimizing damage to the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many boat cleaning and maintenance products contain chemicals that are poisonous, corrosive, flammable and\/or chemically reactive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you purchase boat-cleaning products, take time to read the label. A signal word, such as \u201cdanger\/poison,\u201d \u201cwarning,\u201d or \u201ccaution\u201d can give you a general indication of the toxicity of a product. If you want more information on a product\u2019s contents, ask your retailer or contact the manufacturer for the \u201cMaterial Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).\u201d The MSDS will list any constituents considered to be hazardous substances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Greywater is the soapy water from boat galley sinks and showers, which is usually discharged overboard without treatment. The term is also used to describe the dirty rinse water created when washing a boat. The bleaches, detergents, and soaps used aboard may be the same as those you use at home. However, some boat cleaning products are even more caustic or corrosive than household cleaners. Liquid soaps and deck cleaners can contain a variety of toxins, including chlorine, inorganic salts, and metals. Greywater is often rich in phosphates, which pollute the water and encourage the growth of unwanted algae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though household and boat cleaning products may be similar, the environmental impact of boat-generated greywater is worse for one simple reason. Home-generated shower, laundry, and dish water is diverted to the sanitary sewer system for treatment prior to being released into local waterways (unless you have a septic system). Boat-generated greywater is not! Most boats do not have the technology required for containing greywater in order to prevent its discharge. So, to minimize the impact of greywater on the marine environment, follow these clean and green solutions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Responsible Refueling<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Cleaning and Greywater<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Antifouling<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are antifouling products?<\/summary>
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How do antifouling products affect the marine environment?<\/summary>
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Safe application and removal of antifouling products.<\/summary>
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