A national strategy for abandoned boats that empowers community leaders, led by local knowledge, is within reach *Originally published in the Vancouver Sun on December 5, 2023 Abandoned boats are a familiar sight in coastal communities. Also familiar is the feeling those communities have of not always knowing who the boat belongs to, or who … Continue reading
Read more »Category Archives: Clean Marine BC
Introducing our summer 2023 team
We’re thrilled to have five youths join GSA for eight weeks over the summertime. Having this additional capacity means that GSA can be present in more communities, listening, learning and amplifying the concerns, and also the solutions, that emerge from within the diverse communities connected to the wondrous Salish Sea. Byron Lee, Megan Raitt, Shubhdeep … Continue reading
Read more »Bigger buffer zone for orcas, but not in Canada
Washington State signed new legislation that requires boats to keep 914 metres from orcas, more than doubling the current requirement, beginning in January 2025. Unfortunately, Canada isn’t following suit. Originally published in PostMedia’s The Province on May 18. Endangered southern resident orcas are on the verge of getting a lot more space, but not if … Continue reading
Read more »Boater Survey Results
How much do recreational boaters know about clean boating regulations? As part of our Clean Marine BC program, nearly 200 recreational boaters participated in a survey to test their knowledge about clean and safe boating – and the results surprised us in good, and not-so-good, ways. The good news is that most respondents know to … Continue reading
Read more »Boating in a changing climate
The impacts of climate change are becoming more prevalent and, as boaters, we need to be prepared for the consequences out on the water. As extreme weather events increase, boaters are more frequently encountering and having to navigate drought-depleted waterways, fires, changing weather patterns, severe wind storms, atmospheric rivers, and floods. We need to expect … Continue reading
Read more »Spills Aren’t Slick: no matter how small
Clean Marine BC helps boaters and marinas prevent and clean up spills For more than 20 years, GSA has run the Clean Marine BC program which works with boating facilities to reduce the impact of recreational boating on the Salish Sea and beyond through the implementation of improved environmental measures, including waste reduction, water and … Continue reading
Read more »Recycle your oil?
Do you personally change the engine oil on your boat or watercraft? If the answer is ‘no’, your mechanic is already recycling your used motor oil so there’s no reason for you to know about BC Used Oil Management Association. But if you’re changing your vessel’s oil, are you disposing of it correctly? Dumping of … Continue reading
Read more »UNDRIP & the Environmental Movement
Do you know the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and why it is crucial to the environmental movement? Adopted in 2007, UNDRIP is an international legal document that affirms the rights of Indigenous peoples and constitutes the minimum standards for their survival, dignity and well-being. Canada initially voted against endorsing … Continue reading
Read more »Getting boaters safely to shore
Those anecdotal accounts about a spike in boat purchases over the past two years, coinciding with the onset of the continuing pandemic, are true! According to C-Tow Marine Assistance, which provides on-call help to boaters on the water, there are a lot of new – and also inexperienced – recreational boaters who have taken to … Continue reading
Read more »Addressing Problem Vessels
Abandoned, derelict and wrecked vessels (ADVs) are an ongoing problem globally, and one that boaters in B.C. are all too familiar with. ADVs in the Salish Sea pose environmental contamination and safety risks. They are also visual eyesores. Untended vessels end up adrift, washed ashore, sunk, or broken apart, releasing fuel and other toxins into … Continue reading
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