Dear editor,
A benefit of our temperate Island climate is that boating can be enjoyed year-round.
However, boating carries inherent risks to our ocean environment: contamination from the discharge of pollutants, harm to marine and wildlife, and of course, the risk of an oil spill—no matter the size. And this is where marinas can play an important role and gain important support by joining our Clean Marine BC eco-certification program.
By making operational improvements that reduce the amount of contaminants that end up in the ocean and by helping boaters to choose low-impact alternatives, they can move the dial on environmental protection and stewardship.
This is the message that I have been taking to marinas on Vancouver Island this month, while also sharing our Green Boating Guide with tips on everything from waste disposal to sharing the waters with wildlife, including the new regulations for boating in proximity of endangered southern resident killer whales.
Michelle Young,
Georgia Strait Alliance’s Clean Marine B.C. co-ordinator