Summer 2026 recap
~ by Eden Dale
This summer, I worked for the Georgia Strait Alliance as an assistant with their Clean Marine BC (CMBC) program. I was excited to be part of this incredible team, as Georgia Strait Alliance has been dedicated to advocating for environmental justice and community action within the Salish Sea for the past 35 years.
The CMBC program started in 2000 and works to educate boaters on reducing pollution and minimizing disturbance in coastal waters. The program expanded in 2007 to include eco-marina certification, with 44 BC facilities now certified. Through ongoing in-person and online outreach reaching over a thousand boaters annually, the program actively reduces fuel spills, toxic pollutants, plastic pollution, sewage discharge, invasive species spread, and wildlife disturbance in the Salish Sea.
As a passionate environmental educator with four years of experience working on boats in the Strait of Georgia, I’ve often witnessed problematic environmental practices firsthand. I was therefore grateful to contribute to this organization’s work and support CMBC’s ongoing efforts.
What I Did
The Clean Marine BC assistant role turned out to involve a mix of communications work and behind-the-scenes support. Rather than focusing on just one area, I worked on different projects depending on what the program needed most.
A key component of my role was assisting the marina eco-certification program’s transition to a new digital platform. I spent considerable time testing the system and entering data to help streamline the certification process. Once completed, this work will give the program more capacity and make it easier to track the long-term accomplishments of certified facilities.
I also focused on creating social media content and updating the program’s webpages. This included writing a new webpage on eelgrass-friendly boating, refreshing older CMBC content, creating educational social media posts, and promoting events. The work involved researching current boating practices and Georgia Strait habitat, then translating that research into clear, accessible environmental tips for both social media and the website.
Another significant project involved planning a webinar series—brainstorming topics, considering potential speakers, and thinking through logistics. While I won’t be with the organization when these events happen, I’m hopeful they will raise awareness and support for pressing marine conservation issues.
I also compiled a comprehensive contact map for the eco-marina certification program, tracking down information for marinas, yacht clubs, and boatyards across BC. This involved documenting their current relationship with the program and identifying potential new participants. With 44 facilities currently certified, the goal is to continue expanding that number.
Perhaps most rewarding were the opportunities to interact directly with boaters during outreach events and through CMBC’s dock-walking program. I would spend time around marinas chatting with boaters about green boating practices while distributing clean boater kits containing pamphlets, oil spill socks, and absorbent pads. I loved engaging with the community and (in a friendly way) testing their knowledge of best practices and laws regarding wildlife interactions, eco-safe anchoring, oil spills, pump-outs, invasive species, and more through our boater surveys.
What I Observed
Most boaters I encountered seemed to genuinely care about protecting the water. However, some weren’t sure about best practices, while others noted struggles in accessing services like pump-out stations. The program effectively bridges this information gap through both direct outreach and partnerships with certified marinas, highlighting where there’s a systemic need for more education, resources, and services.
The certified facilities truly take their environmental commitments seriously. The program operates on a three-year audit cycle with both self-assessment and external verification. Through visiting these marinas and entering years of their environmental data into the new system, I could see how important it is to acknowledge their successes and continued dedication to marine stewardship.
Reflections
This experience provided me with hands-on involvement in boater outreach, database work, system testing, project planning, graphic design, writing, and relationship building with marinas. I’m significantly more confident in these skills than I was at the beginning of my term, and I’m grateful to have contributed to such an impactful program.
What struck me most about the organization’s approach was its focus on making better environmental practices more accessible and understandable. Instead of taking a confrontational stance, the program provided practical information and convenient options for people who already wanted to do the right thing. This strategy felt both effective and sustainable.
For anyone interested in getting involved, boat owners can find useful resources on the CMBC website, and marina operators might want to explore their certification program. The experience reinforced how much thoughtful behind-the-scenes work goes into creating meaningful environmental change and how rewarding it is to be part of that effort.