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Be a Responsible Boater
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Learn about and use environmentally safe
products and practices
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Freely share environmentally responsible
information with others
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Reduce, Reuse & Recycle (3 R's)
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Ensure nothing is ever thrown
or gets blown overboard
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Obey laws governing
speeding, littering & discharge
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Support environmentally responsible marinas
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Encourage all boating facilities to
provide trash cans, recycling bins & pumpout services
Contain Trash
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If
trash blows overboard, retrieve it (use opportunity to practice “person-overboard”
procedures)
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Pack
food in reusable containers
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Buy
products without plastic or excessive packaging (plastic is deadly
to fish & birds)
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Do
not toss cigarette butts overboard (filters are cellulose acetate - plastic)
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Purchase refreshments
in recyclable containers
Recycle
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Recycle cans, glass,
plastic, newspaper, antifreeze, oil & lead batteries
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Call 1-800-4-RECYCLE
for locations or visit
http://www.mde.state.md.us/was/
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Bring used
monofilament fishing line to recycling bins at your marina or tackle
shop
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Recycle Used Shrink Wrap removed from
boats, watercraft, RV's, etc..
The Marine Trades Association of Maryland (MTAM) in
partnership with Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Cecil, Kent, Talbot, and Queen Anne's
Counties are working to provide convenient
recycling locations!
Fuel Management
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Check fuel level before heading
out (follow 1/3 rule - 1/3 out, 1/3 return & 1/3 reserve for emergencies)
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Use oil absorbent
material to catch drips from fuel fill & overflow vent
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Fill portable fuel
tanks ashore (spills less likely to occur & easier to
clean up)
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Conserve fuel by operating at two-thirds (2/3)
throttle (saves money & helps the environment)
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Add fuel conditioner (stabilizer)
to tank if engine used infrequently
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Never top-up fuel
tanks (fuel expands as it warms up)
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If you fill tanks on
return, fill tanks only to 90%
Bilge Oil Management
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Place oil absorbent
pad under engines
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Maintain engine - keep well
tuned & fix leaking seals, gaskets or hoses
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Keep oil absorbent
sheets or bioremediation log near bilge pumps
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Never discharge bilge
water with a sheen - it is illegal
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Check oil absorbent
materials regularly & replace or clean as needed
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Check fuel lines for
damage (be sure hoses are alcohol / ethanol resistant)
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Secure fuel hoses to
prevent chafing & leaks
Oil Absorbent Sheet/Pad/Log Management
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If
saturated with gas, allow to air dry. Reuse.
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If saturated with diesel or oil, double bag it in plastic -
one bag sealed inside another. Dispose in regular trash.
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Do not seal bioremediation materials in plastic
bags - microbes need oxygen to function. Discard in regular trash.
Clean Gently
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Wash your boat
frequently with a sponge and plain water
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Use detergents
sparingly
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Use phosphate-free,
biodegradable and non-toxic cleaners
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Wax your boat--a good
coat of wax prevents surface dirt from becoming ingrained
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Clean wood with a mild
soap powder and a nylon brush--not harsh chemical cleaners
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Conserve water--put a
spray nozzle on your hose
Maintain Your Vessel
Wisely
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Collect all paint
chips, dust and residue. Dispose in regular trash.
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Share leftover paint
and varnish
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Bring used solvents
and waste gas to local hazardous waste collection day
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Keep your engine clean
so you can spot leaks
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Slip a plastic bag
over used oil filters before they are removed to capture drips
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Use premium two-cycle
engine oil
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Use alternatives to
toxic bottom paints
Sewage
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Never discharge raw sewage
Maryland Pumpout Facilities
charge $5.00 for up to 50 gallons + $0.10 a gallon over 50
During boating season on-the-water Pumpout service available:
West/Rhodes Rivers - Thursdays through Mondays from 9:00 AM
to 6:00 PM by calling 410-533-9002 or using VHF Ch 71 to hail the "Honey Dipper"(maybe FREE)
Severn River/Spa Creek - Daily 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
by calling 410-263-7973 or using VHF Ch 9 or 17 to hail the "Annapolis Pumpout Boat"
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Use restrooms on shore
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Under way, use
approved Marine Sanitation Devices (MSDs)
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Discharge Type I or II
MSDs only in allowed off-shore waters - avoid discharging in over oyster bars
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Establish regular
maintenance schedule for your MSD based on manufacturer’s
recommendations
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Pumpout and rinse hold
tanks regularly
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Use enzyme based
products to control odor and reduce solids in holding tanks
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Avoid holding tank
products that contain quarternary ammonium compounds (QAC) and
formaldehyde
Dispose of Fish Waste
Properly
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Do not throw fish
waste into marina waters
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Use fish cleaning
stations where provided on docks or at marinas
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Discard waste over
deep water or in the trash
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Save waste and use as
chum or bait
Protect Sensitive Habitat
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Proceed slowly in
shallow areas
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Do not disturb
wildlife
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Avoid contact with
submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV)
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Watch your wake--it
can lead to shoreline erosion and disturb wildlife
Funded in part by National
Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Award No. NA670Z0302
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