In some of our countries, holding-tanks and pump-out facilities are mandatory but in many, they still aren't.
Sewage contaminates the water, promotes the spread of viruses and bacteria such as E.coli, can reduce the amount of oxygen in the water by promoting species such as mucilage (or 'sea snot') to grow, as well as being unsightly and smelly.
Let's provide pump-out facilities in our marinas, giving boat-owners and borrowers a place to process their blackwater and reduce sewage contamination in our seas.
It's also important for us to educate boat users, owners and bertholders on the health dangers of pumping boat sewage into our waters.
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Over 90% of all oil and fuels spills in our global waters coming from every-day filling up of tanks and leaky engines.
We as marinas, ports and harbours are best placed to help ensure cleaner, safer refuelling and to help educate boatowners and users on refuelling and engine maintenance.
There is a whole world beneath our pontoons and boats. Seagrasses, mussels and oysters in particular favour safe, shallow UV light rich waters in which to live and grow.
Not only are these species highly important in preserving our marine ecosystem and food chains, they are great at filtering and oxygenating our waters - keeping them rich, healthy and full of life.
Our waters are incredible - home to millions of species, all over the world. Our marinas are safe-havens, not just for sailors and seafarers but also for many amazing creatures that use our marinas as a home, a feeding ground, a mating ground, or a playground!
From pelicans and walruses to seahorses and jellies, investigating and celebrating our local marina species and letting bertholders know what cool creatures are living alongside their boats is great for education, conservation and marina reputation.
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From deck-cleaner and washing-up liquid to sunscreen, most of what is used on and around boats ends up in our waters, whether directly overboard or through grey water.
Offering low-toxicity, ocean-friendly product recommendations to berthholders can really help reduce the chemical content of our waters and pollution in our marinas, meaning a cleaner environment for us all to enjoy.
If you have a chandlery or marina store on-site, why not sell low-tox, ocean-friendly products there, too!
]]>Using, maintaining and servicing our boats creates waste.
Connecting with local waste and recycling facilities is incredibly important to make sure that landfill, recycling (for glass, cardboard, plastic, paper, aluminium and tin) are set up in and around our marinas.
Hazardous waste points for paint, oil, fuel and other chemicals are also a must-have, to prevent these substances ending up in landfill, our groundwater and our oceans.
And, don't forget a compost bin!
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Our seabeds are the largest carbon storehouse on our planet, so it's vital we preserve and protect them. Designated areas for anchoring and mooring helps to limit the impact our boats have on the seabed.
Anchors in particular can cause huge damage to seagrasses and corals, destroying these structures which are anywhere between a few years to a few thousand years old.
Pontoon moorings, advanced mooring systems and mooring buoys all help to restrict such damage to as small an area and as specific an area, as possible.
With 10million plus tonnes of plastic heading into our waters each year, there is a lot to clean-up. As safe-havens of slow waters and limited tides, waste can collect quickly in our harbours and marinas, and often.
Whilst it's incredibly important to prevent waste from entering our waters, it's also necessary to clean up what is already there.
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Antifoul paint is unfortunately a very toxic substance, full of chemicals and microplastics.
Studies now show that in our inshore waters and sheltered seas, ship and boat coatings are the principle source of microplastics pollution.
Let's make sure we keep these toxins out of our seas!
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Trees, plants and wild flowers are incredibly important for our keeping our global ecosystem balanced, healthy and cool, not least because they absorb carbon dioxide. They are also home to a whole host of creatures and insects that keep our food chains and global food production running, and help to reduce the risk of soil erosion and flooding.
Being surrounded by plants and trees is hugely important for our wellbeing and mental health, too.
Plant and re-wild flowers and trees around your marina or harbour, whether in pots, beds, baskets or the ground and work to ensure that plant and trees are protected.
Remember to keep the local ecosystem in mind and plant vegetation native to your local area.
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