Boating marinas and boaters need to work together to keep the water clean so that it can be enjoyed by boaters and also to protect the wildlife and plants. Many states and provinces have adopted a set of regulations for boating marinas and boaters that we will call clean boating practices. Some of them are guidelines, while others can carry a penalty or fine if they are not followed by the boating marinas or the boaters themselves. The better boating marinas are really trying to educate boaters and also provide boaters with the resources and information that they need so that we can protect the environment while still enjoying the water and recreational boating and fishing. Here are some clean boating practices that all boaters and boating marinas should follow:

Cleaning the Boat: As soon as a boater gets out of the water the first thing that they should do with their boat is to rinse it down with plain, clean water. This will rinse off any residue and dirt and will not harm the environment. Boating marinas should provide a source of water for boaters to do this. If this is not possible, or if the boat has been in the water for awhile, then you can find a gentle, environmentally friendly cleaner-such as a citrus-based cleaner. Read the labels for any warnings.

Disposing of Waste and Trash: It should be obvious that you should not throw any type of trash (paper, cans, Styrofoam, plastic, etc.) into the water or on the shore where it can end up in the water. Boating marinas should have lots of trash containers and even recycling bins for boaters in convenient places with signs to direct people to them. Fish waste should also be thrown in the trash not in the water. Human waste should be pumped out at a pumping or other specially designated dumping station in most boating marinas. Used oil and other harmful liquid waste should be put in covered receptacles.

Maintenance and Repairs: One of the common maintenance tasks at a marina is sanding and painting. Choose paint that is not harmful to the environment and paint and sand away from the water. There are special sanders which have vacuums to contain all of the dust and paint chips to prevent them from going into the air and eventually the soil and water. Any oil or fuel or other liquid spills should be wiped up with a rag, and any that spill into the water should be reported immediately so that they can be cleaned up properly. Do not put detergent on them-it can do more harm than good.