There are simple things every boater can do to help protect the ocean. Water quality and marine resources are negatively impacted by boat sewage, gray water, cleaning products, spilled fuel, litter, introduction of invasive organisms and physical damage from boats and boat anchors. The majority of these impacts can be avoided by following best management practices on the water. In many cases US and local laws require these protective measures.

Boat collisions are one of the leading causes of manatee deaths in Florida. Aquatic vegetation and sea grass can be damaged by boat propellers and wakes. Damage to these areas leads to shoreline erosion, destroys refuge, nursery habitat and a food supply for marine life.  Sea grasses help maintain water quality and reduce erosion.

Actions you can take:

• Boaters should avoid chopping vegetation with outboard motor propellers.
• If you run into a grass bed, stop and tilt your engine. Use a pole or walk your boat out of the area.
• Read navigational charts for location of sensitive area and check with local authorities where applicable.
• Read the water. A grass bed may appear as a large dark area underwater.
• Observe and abey signs.
• Wear polarized sunglasses to reduce glare on the surface water
• Look but don't touch

In Florida: Report manatee, dolphin and marine turtle injuries, deaths, tag sightings or harassment to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-800-DIALFMP

Exotic plant and sea life may become attached to vessels and trailers and can accidently be introduced to waterways. Once introduced, exotics spread quickly and are difficult and expensive to control. When exotic plants and sea life spread, they contribute to the degradation of water quality and fish and wildlife habitat by outcompeting native species and by blocking light needed by submerged aquatic plants.

• Avoid chopping vegetation with outboard motor propellers.
• Check bilges, live wells and trailers at ramps to minimize spread of exotices to unaffected areas. Each of these should be empty or the water pumped out and treated for larvae/ spore removal by carefully rinsing and proper disposal into a sealed container.
• Remove all plant fragments from trailers, props, bait wells, fishing tackle, dive gear, ect., for disposal in an upland facility or receptacle.
• Flush raw water cooling systems and clean sea strainers before launching boats trailered or motored from other states or nations.

In Florida: report new infestations of nonnative plant and sea life species to the Bureau of Invasive Plant Management: 850-488-5631.

Species to watch out for include: Hydrilla, Water Hyacinth and Zebra Mussel.

Source: Clean Boating Habits, Clean Boater, Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Large quantities of fish waste where water circulation is restricted can deplete the water of dissolved oxygen, leading to water quality degradation and fish kills. This is a problem in marinas with a large number of fish landings or fish landings with poor flushing. “Fish feeding” with bait or cleaned fish similarly load basins with nutrients, but can also disrupt the feeding behavior of wild animals and spread diseases among them. Disposing of fish waste in the marina also may attract unwanted predators such as alligators.

What can you do?

• Practice sound fish waste management through a combination of proper fish-cleaning and disposal of fish waste.
• Dispose of unwanted bait offshore.
• Eviscerate (gut) fish and dispose of contents at sea.
• Use fish cleaning stations with trash receptacles and wastewater hookups.
• Observe local rules regarding fish that are required to be landed whole

Source: Clean Boating Habits, Clean Boater, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, www.dep.state.fl.us/cleanmarina

Cleaning products that contain chlorine, phosphates and ammonia have damaging impacts on water quality and marine life. Degreasers dry the natural oils fish need for the gills to take in oxygen. Cleaning methods that prevent and contain the release of pollutants to surface waters and the use of green cleaning products mitigate these impacts.

• Hydrogen peroxide can be used as an alternative to bleach.
• Mixtures of vinegar and water effectively clean floors, windows, and varnish.
• Baking soda is an effective head and shower cleaner.
• For cleaning aluminum - Try 2 tablespoons of cream of tarter in 1 quart of hot water.
• For cleaning chrome - Apple cider vinegar is effective.
• Baby oil works as a chrome polish
• To remove stains from fiberglass use a baking soda paste
• To remove mildew,  make a paste with equal parts of lemon juice and salt.
• For wood polish try 3 parts olive oil and 1 part white vinegar
• Avoid chemical drain openers; instead manually remove clogs.

If you still want to opt for premixed cleaning products, green labeled products exist. Look for products that are biodegradable and free of phosphorus, chlorine and ammonia.

Reduce, reuse and recycle.  Never let any trash go overboard. Federal laws prohibit any vessel from discharging plastics or garbage that contains plastics into any waters. Help clean up trash you do find in the water. Trash in the water can injure or kill sea life.

• Whenever possible use reuabe containers for drinks. Bring water in a SeaKeepers' reusable water bottle.
• For larger boats and longer trips - Machines that make water from air provide a good alternative to packing endless disposable water bottle supplies.
• Stowe all loose items so they don't blow overboard.
• Whatever you take out, bring back. Better yet, bring back more than you take out.
• Recycle materials whenever possible. Check the list of Clean Marinas and Blue Flag Marinas to find where recycling may be available onshore.
• Encourage your marina to provide recycling and trash bins.
• Dispose of monofilament line, hooks and other little in appropiate facilities.

Typical hazardous wastes generated by boaters include solvent paint waste, used batteries, mercury containing bilge pump switches, used oil, old gasoline and out of date flares.

What you can do:

• Place ignitable paint waste in old gasoline in closed containers so the waste does not escape into the air or create a fire hazard.
• Used oil should be put into a closed container that will not fill with rain and overflow into the water or onto the ground. Many service stations and automotive repair shops will provide free disposal of up to five gallons. Call 1-800-741-4337 for a list of locations, based on zip code, where used oil can be disposed of at no cost.
• Before you properly dispose of any leftover chemicals or paint, ask around to see if someone else can use them.
• Trade in a used battery for a possible credit toward a replacement battery.
• Out of date flares that have not been exposed to water or have other damage may be kept on the boat as long as the Coast Guard required number of in date flares are also onboard.
• When possible, use paints that are not solvent based.
• Buy bilge pump switches that do not contain mercury.
• Check with your marina on how to dispose of solvent paint waste, mercury containing bilge pump switches, old flares, used oil and old gasoline. If your marina does not provide this service, contact your local solid waste authority on proper disposal of household hazardous waste.

Untreated discharge from one boat puts the same amount of bacterial pollution into the water as the treated sewage of 10,000 people.  Not only does this discharge cause human health problems including: typhoid, hepatitis, cholera and gastroenteritis, but it wreaks serious havoc on ocean life.  Recent studies found human sewage is the direct cause white pox in Elkhorn coral.  The disease kills this listed endangered species at a rate of four inches a day.  Nutrient loads from sewage promote excessive algae growth in the ocean.  Sewage reduces oxygen levels in the water that fish and aquatic species need to survive. 

Find a pumpout station at a certified Clean Marina (US) or Blue Flag Marina (Internationally).  Encourage marinas to participate in these programs and install pumpout stations.

Recommendations to reduce sewage discharge:

A single gallon of fuel can contaminate over a million gallons of water.