SECTION 4: Management Measures

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4.15. PUBLIC EDUCATION

Management Measure for Public Education:

Public education, outreach, and training programs should be instituted for

boaters, as well as marina owners and operators, to prevent improper

disposal of polluting material.

Management Measure Description

Public education is one of the most effective

ways to reduce pollution in and around marinas

and from recreational boating. A boating public

that understands the causes and effects of

pollution is more likely to want clean waters and

healthy aquatic environments. If the public is told

about the simple and effective ways that they can

reduce their impacts on the environment, they are

usually happy to do their part. One of the primary

factors in the success of any pollution prevention

program is widespread support for the program by

an educated public.

Public education is a low-cost, effective, proven

method to improve and reinforce environmentally

conscious behavior in all segments of the public,

including the boating public. The availability of a

variety of public education materials on virtually

all environmental issues and for all segments of

the public makes this management measure easy

to implement, and creating an education program

with a message that is consistent from the state

level through the local level to the level of the

private or public marina is an excellent way to

ensure that the right message is reaching as wide

a public as possible.

Many states, localities, public and private agencies

and organizations, and marina owners are using

public education as a tool for combating pollution.

This management measure supports efforts

already being made and encourages others to join

the educational campaign with public education

programs of their own. A state might target

registered boat owners, an organization might

target its membership, and a marina might focus

on its patrons. Numerous examples of public

education materials are available from national

organizations like the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the National Clean Boating

Campaign organized by the Marine Environmental

Education Foundation, Inc. (or MEEF)

(www.cleanboating.org), the National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration’s Sea Grant

program (www.nsgo.seagrant.org), and EPA’s

Office of Water (www.epa.gov/OW). There is no

reason to reinvent the wheel! Instead, time and

effort can be saved by using available materials to

create a program that focuses on a particular

situation.

The EPA web site offers a couple of ways to find

out who is involved in environmental activities in

your watershed. One is from the homepage of

the Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds

(OWOW), <www.epa.gov/owow>. A listing of

specific groups involved in actions for watersheds throughout the United States can be found

at the Surf Your Watershed homepage,

<www.epa.gov/surf>. At this page, do the

following:

• Click on Locate your watershed.

• Click on Search by Map.

• Select your state from the map.

• Within the state map, click on the watershed

you’re interested in.

The subsequent web page will tell you the name

of the watershed you’ve chosen and the U.S.

Geological Survey’s cataloging unit number for it.

Near the bottom of the page will be a section

titled People that provides links to groups involved
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with watershed protection activities in that

watershed.

Another way to find out who is involved in

activities in your watershed from EPA’s

homepage (www.epa.gov) is by clicking on the

Concerned Citizens option. One of the options at

the Concerned Citizens page is Acting Locally.

This option provides links to national organizations

active at the local and watershed levels.

If you find that there are no groups listed as

working in your watershed, try following the first

three steps above, and at the Watershed Information page, under Working in Your Watershed,

click on either How can I get involved in my

watershed? or How do I start a watershed

team? to find out how you can get yourself and

others involved.

EPA publishes many documents and fact sheets

on topics of interest to boaters. A list of publications related to a specific topic can be obtained

from the EPA homepage (www.epa.gov). At the

homepage, select Publications and then browse

and search the National Publications Catalog

using keywords such as “boat,” “storm water,” or

“discharge” to find what you are interested in.

Some of the documents are available on the

Internet, or they can be ordered on-line from the

Publications web site. Most are free of charge.

The National Sea Grant Program encourages the

wise stewardship of marine resources through

research, education, outreach, and technology

transfer. Sea Grant is a partnership between the

Nation’s universities and the National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Congress passed the National Sea Grant College

Program Act to create Sea Grant in 1966. Today

29 Sea Grant Colleges are focused on making the

United States the world leader in marine research

and the sustainable development of marine

resources. Sea Grant produces and makes

available a wealth of information on marine

topics—from public school curriculum materials to

the most advanced scientific research. Visit the

Sea Grant homepage (www.nsgo.seagrant.org) to

see what publications are available, where the

Sea Grant programs are located, and what kinds

of research and activities they are involved in.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) homepage at

<http://www.uscg.mil> offers a link to the USCG

Marine Safety and Environmental Protection

page. Links to other programs from the USCG

can be found most easily by clicking on the link to

Services We Provide and then choosing what is

of interest on the subsequent page. For example,

the Sea Partners Campaign is an environmental

education and outreach program focused on

communities at large to develop community

awareness of maritime pollution issues and to

improve compliance with marine environmental

protection laws and regulations. A link to listings

of publications of the USCG is also provided at

this web page.

Searching through an Internet search engine, such

as Infoseek or Altavista, on clean boating should

produce a number of links to sites with information on campaigns and organizations involved with

clean boating issues. A few of the pages likely to

appear as a result of the search are:

• California Clean Boating Network (CCBN)

homepage, <www.coastal.ca.gov/ccbn/

ccbndx.html>.

• Marine Environmental Education Foundation

National Clean Boating Campaign,

<www.cleanboating.org>.

• California Department of Boating and Waterways, <www.dbw.ca.gov>.

• Sea Grant Extension (San Diego) Boating

Pollution Prevention Section,

<commserv.ucdavis.edu/CESanDiego/

Seagrant/coastour.htm>.

• Save Our Shores dockwalkers,

<www.saveourshores.org/dockwalkers.html>.

A portion of funding from the Clean Vessel Act

can be used for educational outreach regarding

the effects of boater sewage and what boaters

can do to avoid improper sewage disposal. Public

awareness campaigns occur annually, and marinas are encouraged to participate in the National

Clean Boating Campaign (Figure 4-25). Visit the

campaign’s web site at <www.cleanboating.org>.

Major national CVA educational products produced by the joint effort have included a poster

for distribution to more than 22,000 marinas, press
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and training packets, and various public service

announcements for radio, television, and print

media. States have also held similar events and

are producing their own educational products.

These efforts are also geared toward informing

boaters and marina operators of sewage disposal

problems, educating them about the use and

advantages of pumpout and dump stations, and

where it is best to locate such stations. Boaters

and anglers can call 1-800-ASK-FISH, a toll-free

number established by the Sportfishing Promotion

Council, to find the location of pumpout and dump

stations near them and to report malfunctioning

facilities.

Signage is an important element in any public

education campaign, both to remind the educated

to practice what they know and to educate the

unaware of what they can do to reduce their

impact on the environment. Short, simple, positive

messages should be prominently posted wherever

they will be helpful.

Applicability

This management measure is applicable to all

groups and entities involved in boater education.

Effective education programs can be implemented

by states, organizations, or marina managers.

Best Management Practices

♦ Use signs to inform marina patrons of

appropriate clean boating practices.

Interpretive and instructional signs placed at

marinas and boat-launching sites are a key

method of providing information to the boating

public. Boater cooperation can be substantially

increased at modest expense by using signs.

In a Rhode Island best management practice

demonstration project, the use of signs was

ranked by boaters as the best method to inform

them about best management practices in the

marina. It ranked second in terms of its effectiveness for getting boaters to use best management

practices. Signs can be more cost-effective than

other methods of education because they need be

installed only once, and once in place they are

effective for a long time. Inexpensive yet effective signs can be produced by a marina employee

with a little artistic talent. Common topics for

marina signage include solid waste disposal, liquid

waste disposal, pumpout locations and instructions, and spill response instructions. Figure 4-26

shows an example of wording on a sign in Ponaug

Marina (Rhode Island).

In areas where boaters are of various ethnic and

cultural backgrounds, publishing education materials in the various languages appropriate to the

region is encouraged.

♦ Establish bulletin boards for environmental

messages and idea sharing.

Bulletin boards are a form of signage, and they

allow marinas to post recent or new information

The Cap Sante Boat Yard (Washington)

uses a materials exchange sheet in the

harbor master’s office that encourages

sharing leftover varnishes, paints, and

other boat maintenance products

instead of discarding them. People

with materials left over after a project

list what they have on a sheet, and

anyone who needs them can contact

the person on the sheet (USEPA, 1996:

Clean Marinas— Clear Value).

Figure 4-25. National Clean Boating Campaign logo.
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for the benefit of their patrons. They are convenient places to post notices about the availability

of dustless sanders for rent, environmentally

friendly cleaners and antifouling paints, new

practices and programs at the marina for reducing

pollution, water quality monitoring results, how to

maintain an engine to keep emission output low, or

any other positive clean boating message. Marina

patrons can be invited to post notices about

leftover products (for example, varnish or paint)

they have for sale or tips on practices they’ve

found to be easy and effective for protecting the

boating environment.

Bulletin boards are noticed more often if their

contents are moved around or changed often and

if the location of the bulletin board is changed

occasionally as well.

♦ Promote recycling and trash reduction

programs.

A New Jersey marina encouraged recycling by

giving its patrons reusable tote bags with the

marina’s name printed on the side. The patrons

used the bags to temporarily store recyclable

glass, cans, and plastics from their boats for

proper disposal later at a recycling collection

point, and occasionally for grocery shopping.

Promoting recycling is an effective way to reduce

the quantity of solid and liquid waste placed in

marina and surface waters.

♦ Hand out pamphlets or flyers, send newsletters, and add inserts to bill mailings with

information about how recreational boaters

can protect the environment and have clean

boating waters.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation

Commission designed a multifaceted public

education program that encourages the use of

marine sanitation devices and pumpout facilities,

discourages impacts on shellfish areas, and

provides information to boaters and marina

operators about environmentally sound boat

operation and maintenance. The commission

prepared written materials, gave talks to boating

groups, participated in events such as boat shows,

and developed signs for placement at marinas and

boat launches. Printed materials included maps of

pumpout facility locations, booklets explaining how

boats pollute, pamphlets on the dangers of plastic

debris in the water, and articles on the environmental effects of improper boat operation.

Marina owners can do the same on a smaller

scale. Written materials can be made available at

a marina’s office, its supply store, or other places

frequently visited by boaters or included with bills

mailed to patrons.

Fact sheets ranked second among boaters for

informing them about best management practices

in a University of Rhode Island demonstration

project. Fact sheets had the highest effectiveness

rating and ranked first in getting boaters to

actually use best management practices, but

boaters generally didn’t pick up educational flyers

where they saw them. An important lesson from

this demonstration project was that boaters cannot

be expected to voluntarily take the information:

brochures should be placed directly into their

hands. Inserting fact sheets and information in

newsletters or monthly mailings or handing them

out with slip lease agreements are effective ways

to do this.

♦ Organize and present enjoyable environmental education meetings, presentations,

and demonstrations and consider integrating them into ongoing programs.

Presentations at local marinas or other locations

are a good way to discuss issues with boaters and

marina owners and operators. Boater workshops

can also be a useful tool for introducing new

environmental practices at marinas, but this

HARMFUL MATERIALS COLLECTION SITE. To ensure proper disposal, deposit harmful materials

below. Liquids such as solvents, fuels, engine oils, and toxic antifreeze should be bottled and

capped to prevent spillage. Keep incompatible liquids such as oil and antifreeze separate. Label all

containers noting their content and origin. Oil filters and other absorbent materials should be

packaged so as to prevent leakage. Thank you for helping to keep our marina and the boating

envionrment clean.

Figure 4-26. Sign with instructions to patrons on proper disposal of materials.
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method was ranked last among methods for

informing boaters about best management practices. Conducting successful formal workshops

requires a considerable investment of time and

resources. One of the best methods to inform

marina patrons about best management practices

is a walking tour of the facility with demonstrations of products and procedures so that participants see the benefits of management practices

first-hand and gain hands-on experience in using

the practices. Incentives for participation like door

prizes, coupons for free pumpouts, or discounts at

the marina store help bolster attendance.

♦ Educate and train marina staff to do their

jobs in an environmentally conscious

manner and to be good role models for

marina patrons.

Marina staff who are fully educated and trained

on all of the environmental management practices

used at a marina—from how to use a pumpout

station, where the recycling bins are located, and

what can and can’t be recycled to how storm

water is treated and where it goes—can set an

excellent example for patrons. Marina staff are

the first people boaters will ask about a marina’s

environmental practices. An informed staff

presents the image of an environmentally proactive marina, whereas an uninformed staff could

make patrons think a marina is not concerned

about environmental matters.

♦ Insert language into facility contracts that

promotes tenants’ using certain areas and

clean boating techniques when maintaining

their boats. Use a contract that ensures that

tenants will comply with the marina’s best

management practices.

When a marina has established procedures for

keeping the grounds and waters clean, cooperation from patrons is absolutely essential. The time

and money spent to establish a clean marina can

be negated by patrons who either don’t share an

enthusiasm for clean boating or mistakenly don’t

think it is their responsibility to keep the grounds

and water clean. Language in slip contracts or

other documents, such as dustless sander rental

agreements, make them take notice and realize

that the marina is serious about maintaining a

clean marina, and clean boating in general. Some

patrons might elect to dock their boats at other

marinas, but most boaters are glad to cooperate

with a good cause.

♦ Have a clearly written environmental best

management practices agreement for

outside contractors to sign as a precondition to working on any boat in the marina.

A facility is often legally responsible for pollution

problems created by negligent outside contractors.

Because of this significant liability, outside contractors need to be provided with information that

clearly explains the facility’s pollution prevention

policies and best management practices and

clearly states the contractor’s responsibility to

operate in accord with the marina’s policies.

♦ Participate with an organization that

promotes clean boating practices.

Public and private organizations are available to

assist in developing or providing educational

materials. These materials can be tailored to suit

an individual marina or yacht club or to be used as

public service announcements. Some marinaoriented organizations that might be able to

provide assistance with environmental education

efforts are listed in Appendix E.

Public Education Practices Applicable to

Specific Management Measures

Some public education strategies specifically

geared toward individual management measures

are suggested below.

♦ Provide MARPOL placards.

International MARPOL law requires all boats of

25 feet or more in length to have a visible sign

about trash disposal regulations posted where

garbage is stored. Most boat retail stores and

marinas have standard MARPOL signs available

for sale to customers who need to comply with

this legal requirement.

♦ Paint signs on storm drains.

Painted storm drains grab people’s attention at a

marina and help control disposal of solid and liquid

wastes in inappropriate places. Cap Sante Boat
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Haven (Washington) stencils its storm drains with

pictures of crabs and fish and the words “DUMP

NO WASTE – DRAINS TO BAY/LAKE/RIVER.”

♦ Establish and educate marina patrons

about rules governing fish cleaning.

Marinas can issue rules regarding the cleaning of

fish at the marina, depending on the type of

services offered by the marina and its clientele.

Marinas not equipped to handle fish wastes can

prohibit fish cleaning at the marina; those that host

fishing competitions or that have a large fishing

clientele can establish fish cleaning areas with

specific, enforceable rules for their use. Signs can

be used to attract fishers to fish cleaning stations

and explain the rules for their use.

♦ Educate boaters about good fish cleaning

practices.

Some boaters need to be educated about the

problems created by discarding fish waste into

marina waters, proper disposal practices, the

ecological advantages of cleaning fish at sea, and

discarding wastes into the water where the fish

were caught (if allowed). Signs posted on docks

(especially if fish cleaning has typically been done

there) and talks with boaters during the course of

other marina operations help educate boaters

about marina rules governing fish cleaning, waste

disposal, and cleanup.

♦ Provide information on local waste collection and recycling programs.

Information on used oil recycling and collection

programs for used products that are contaminated

with oil or other petroleum products can be

inserted in monthly newsletters or monthly bills or

provided with slip leasing contracts. A clause

requiring the use of fuel/air vent spill preventors

and bilge absorption pads on all boats can be

added to contracts.

♦ Hold clinics on safe fueling and bilge

maintenance.

During special clinics on environmental practices

or general clinics of interest to boaters, demonstrate the proper use and disposal of bilge oil pads

and other petroleum control devices.

♦ Teach boaters how to fuel boats to minimize

fuel spills.

Boaters need to understand that whenever they

spill even a few drops of oil or fuel, the environment is harmed. There are simple steps boaters

can take to prevent fuel loss: use an oil absorption

pad to catch drops when the fueling nozzle is

removed from the boat; install a fuel/air separator

on the air vent line; and place an oil-absorbing pad

in the bilge. Teach boaters that when they top off

a fuel tank from an underground storage tank, the

cool fuel expands as it heats up and will overflow

through the air vent onto the water if there is not

enough expansion space in the fuel tank. Spills of

this type are even more dangerous when boats

are placed in dry rack storage in buildings, where

the fuel is a fire hazard. Antisiphoning valves can

be installed on the engines of larger boats on the

fuel line near the fuel tank to prevent fuel from

draining if the fuel line breaks during an accident

or fire.

♦ Stock phosphate-free, nontoxic cleaners and

other environmentally friendly products.

Marinas can stock, advertise, and promote the use

of phosphate-free, nontoxic cleaners and other

environmentally safe products.

♦ Place signs in the water and label charts to

alert boaters about sensitive habitat areas.

Many harbors establish and mark no wake zones

near marinas or in narrow channels using floating

marker buoys. Signs and buoys could also be used

to designate sensitive environmental areas where

boaters should exercise particular caution. As

with other public education materials, these signs

should be in multiple languages if appropriate to

the region.

♦ Educate boaters to thoroughly clean their

boats before boating in other waterbodies.

The spread of many exotic and invasive aquatic

species can be controlled by ensuring that they

are not transported from one waterbody to

another on trailered boats. See section 4.3,

Habitat Assessment, for further information.

BMP Summary Table 15 summarizes the BMPs

for Public Education mentioned in this guidance.
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