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Purple Martin nesting boxes at Ladysmith Maritime Society Museum.
Michelle Young photo
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Christianne Wilhelmson, Executive Director of Georgia Strait Alliance, accepts the President's Award on behalf of Clean Marine BC from Carlos da Ponte of the Environmental Managers Association of BC.
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West Vancouver Yacht Club receives their Clean Marine BC Certification. Left to right Phil Aldrich (Rear Commodore), Michelle Young (Clean Marine BC Program Coordinator), Christianne Wilhelmson (Georgia Strait Alliance Executive Director), Bruce Chan (Commodore), Chris Skeans (Vice Commodore).
Gary Wildman photo
By Michelle Young
If you’re in Ladysmith, you might spot Purple Martin swallows
Through the award-winning Clean Marine BC program, Georgia Strait Alliance partners with marinas and boatyards to protect the waters that we love by assisting in the implementation of environmental best practices that reduce contaminants from entering the water. These marinas create some incredible – and tangible – spinoffs, like the return of the almost-extinct Purple Martin swallows to the Ladysmith area.
The BC Purple Martin Stewardship & Recovery Program cooperates with the Clean Marine BC-certified Ladysmith Maritime Society Marina where nest boxes are attached to dock pilings in anticipation of the spring arrival of Purple Martins. The adult birds are counted and the nestlings are banded.
Last year 1,100 pairs of Purple Martins raised 4,000 young at 90 colony sites in BC – an incredible achievement compared to the mere five breeding pairs in 1985. Witnessing the birds flying about and feeding their young in the nest boxes at the marina is truly a warming and hopeful experience – and knowing that a Clean Marine BC marina had a hand in conserving this large North American swallow makes it even sweeter.
This is one incredible story among many as more and more marinas are hopping on board to fly the Clean Marine BC flag. Boaters are also participating in record numbers to protect our cruising waters. GSA has distributed a remarkable 90,000 Guides to Green Boating over recent years, and you can get yours at GeorgiaStrait.org. In the meantime, here are some practical tips to utilize - Down at the Dock!
7 Tips for Fuel Efficiency & Cleaner Boating:
- Slow down, enjoy the ride - Reducing speed while travelling and shutting off your engine instead of idling saves you fuel and money.
- Every drop counts - Fill carefully! To prevent overfilling your tank, don’t rush fueling. Take an extra minute or two, and have fuel absorbent materials handy. All spills are harmful to marine life, so handle fuel carefully and report spills, no matter how small, to 1-800-OILS-911.
- Battle of the bilge - Use oil absorbing pads to soak up the oil, but not the water, in your bilge. These pads keep your bilge and the environment clean. Ask your marina where you can dispose of used bilge pads, and oily bilge water if you need to pump your bilge.
- Baby your bottom - Keep your boat’s bottom smooth and clean to reduce friction and maintain optimal fuel efficiency. Use environmentally-friendly, non-fouling or hard antifouling paints on your hull.
- Pump, don’t dump - It is illegal to dump sewage in much of our cruising waters. Use pumpouts when available, and never dump illegally.
- Swabbing the decks - Choose non-toxic, chlorine-free, phosphate-free products, or incorporate safe cleaning products in the galley, such as vinegar or baking soda.
- Mind the marine life - Take extra care around sensitive marine habitats such as eelgrass and kelp beds, shellfish areas, and bird colonies. Help protect endangered Southern Resident orcas and other marine mammals, and follow Be Whale Wise Wildlife Guidelines.
Additional information on these green boating tips and more can be found at www.GeorgiaStrait.org
Michelle Young is Georgia Strait Alliance’s Clean Marine BC Program Coordinator. She would be happy to speak with your marina, yacht club, or harbour authority about joining the 27 members of Clean Marine BC, a voluntary eco-certification program. Presentations on green boating, eco-certification, and marine conservation can be tailored to suit your needs. GSA also provides practical resources, such as the Guide to Green Boating and the Marina Best Practices Handbook: cmbc@georgiastrait.org or 250-753-3459.