Boating Education
REPLACE

Let's Go Green!!

BoatU.S. Foundation - Boating Safety and Clean Water

Ten Actions YOU Can Take to Stop Marine Debris!

  • Use canvas boat and rigger bags on your boat rather than plastic bags.

  • Choose “reusable” items as oppose to disposable items.

  • Safely stow ALL trash you accumulate until you reach “proper” receptacles and dispose of trash and recycling items responsibly.

  • Properly dispose of unused monofilament fishing line in trash containers, or better yet, recycle all of your unused line. Various companies convert recycled monofilament fishing line into tackle boxes, and lures.

  • Replace your monofilament fishing line annually as this will help reduce the chance of breaking the line and causing damage to marine mammals, birds, and their habitat.

  • Keep parking lots, storm drains, and streets clear of debris as they empty into our oceans.

  • Use reusable beverage containers on your boat rather than plastic bottles.

  • Organize local “Waterway Clean-Up” Days collecting all types of marine debris.

  • Promote educational programs on the dangers of marine debris through your boating organizations

  • Like all solid waste, the primary strategies for effectively managing plastics are reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Marine Debris Causes Major Problems in our Waterways!

  • The Ocean Conservancy’s annual listing shows a variety of debris that has washed up on our shorelines: cigarettes/cigarette filters, bags/food wrappers, caps/lids, fishing line/monofilament, fishing nets, Styrofoam cups, plastic six-pack rings, diapers, syringes, plastic ups/plates/utensils, straws or stirrers, balloons, and plastic beverage bottles (2 liters or less).

  • Sea turtles mistake plastic bags and balloons for jellyfish (a favorite food) and die when the plastic chokes them or clogs their digestive systems.

  • Scientists recently found a sperm whale with over 400 pounds of fishing gear in its stomach. Pygmy sperm whales and dolphins have also fallen victim to plastic bags and balloons that they mistake for squid.

  • Seabirds have been known to eat plastic pellets, bottle caps, string, cigarette butts, and other small pieces of trash.

  • Trash moves from land to sea, i.e. a plastic bag blows off a picnic table, washes down a storm drain, flows into a river, gets carried out to sea, and is then eaten by a sea turtle.