Clean Marine BC Conducting 10-Day Marina Tour

The Clean Marine BC (British Columbia, Canada) 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.

Clean Marine BC is a program that works with recreational boating facilities throughout British Columbia 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.

Clean Marine BC uses a five-anchor rating program that recognizes marinas and other boating facilities for their environmental best practices. Certifications are valid for three years, but can be upgraded at any time. There are 29 certified members and another 23 facilities that have adopted the Clean Marine BC policy and are working toward certification.

Marinas are also offered the Guide to Green Boating to distribute at their facilities to educate boating customers on ways to minimize their impact on the waters and reduce harmful interactions with wildlife, including new regulations regarding proximity to endangered southern resident killer whales.

Formed in 1990, Georgia Strait Alliance is a conservation group working to protect and restore the marine environment and promote the sustainability of Georgia Strait, its adjoining waters and communities.