Dec 18, 2018

The Clean Marine BC program, an eco-certification program run by Georgia Strait Alliance, began a ten-day tour of marinas in Central Vancouver Island on December 10 as a boots-on-the-ground invitation for boating facilities to participate in the program.

Georgia Strait Alliance is encouraging boating facilities in this region to participate in this program that works with recreational boating facilities to reduce their impact on the marine environment by conserving energy and water, and reducing the amount of pollutants that their operations allow to enter the surrounding waterways.

“This is an important opportunity for the Clean Marine BC program to gauge the awareness of boating facilities from Sayward to Nanaimo about their impacts on the water, while we support them in the implementation and improvement of environmental best practices,” says Michelle Young. “Our experience shows that marinas on Vancouver Island and around the Strait of Georgia are keen to commit and exhibit their leadership on keeping the marine environment as clean as possible—and our program helps to identify a path to achieving that.”

Clean Marine BC uses a five-anchor rating program that recognizes marinas and other boating facilities for their environmental best practices. Our Guide to Green Boating is available for distribution by boating facilities. It offers tips and education that helps boaters minimize their impact on our waters, and to reduce harmful interactions with wildlife, including new regulations for when they are in proximity to Endangered Southern Resident killer whales. 

This project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the federal Department of Environment and Climate Change.