Cristina Anne Costello
Be compassionate about sharing the waterways with other boaters and respectful to marine infrastructures like marinas.
Words by Michelle Young/Clean Marine BC Coordinator, Georgia Strait Alliance
Change is afoot. From gasoline for our boat engines to groceries for our families, it’s nearly impossible to escape the increasing prices of just about everything. These dynamics extend to our experiences on the water where navigating variable and often unpredictable weather patterns can impact boating behaviours.
Whether we like it or not, the impact of climate change plays a role in how and where we go boating. The positive in all of this is that we, as boaters, are adaptable and can take actions to maximize experiences while reducing the impacts on the marine environment and our pocketbooks.
Trip planning is one of the best practices we have at our disposal and it enables us to make better and smarter decisions. We can map out fuel-efficient routes with the winds and tides or leverage areas where strong breezes can fill our sails. Reviewing charts also support decisions about visiting ideal locations to anchor or dock. Here are a few suggestions for making the most of your trip planning:
Adam Adobe Stock
The coastline of Sooke, BC, was obscured by smoke and haze from the Oregon wildfires in 2020.
Excess Weight
The decisions we make impact what we need to bring. Reducing items and gear to only essentials with an appropriate quantity of contingency items can easily eliminate excess weight, thus improving fuel efficiency.
Monitoring Marine Forecasts
Monitoring weather forecasts is second nature to boaters but it’s becoming more important than ever with climate change. Weather conditions can change dramatically and quickly but now it’s even more important to consider the increased frequencies of extreme conditions. Floods, forest fires, heavy rain, wind storms, atmospheric rivers and drought-depleted waterways are unfortunately no longer one-offs. They may appear with minimal notice and cause long-term consequences on boating infrastructure, including marinas.
Georgia Strait Alliance
Satellite imagery from NASA shows a 942.5 millibar bomb cyclone approaching the Pacific Northwest in 2021.
Infrastructure Status
Be prepared for the possibility that a desired destination may have unanticipated issues such as maintenance or remediation work that could impede on the ability to use boating-designated areas. So, always consider availability and water levels for anchorages and shoreline tours, as well as the impact of climate change and extreme weather on other infrastructure like breakwaters, pumpout stations, fuel docks, water supplies, and boat launches.
Sharing the Water Ways
It’s a given that we navigate among the flora and fauna that inhabit lakes, oceans and rivers. As a result, brush up on marine mammals and fishing regulations to ensure that we’re being responsible boaters wherever we enjoy boating.
Also be mindful and compassionate about sharing the waters with liveaboards and reserve judgement about the reasons why they might be there, which ranges from the affordability of housing to lifestyle decisions (or any other number of reasons). Opt to channel empathy and recognize that climate change disproportionately impacts marginalized communities and is making the liveaboard way of life increasingly difficult.
4 Tips to Reduce Engine Emissions
- Maintain your engine(s) to reduce emissions and always consider emission levels and fuel consumption when upgrading onboard power.
- Eliminate excess weight to increase fuel efficiency.
- Check your route(s) in an effort to decrease your impact on destinations such as anchorages, the shoreline, even marine infrastructure like marinas, breakwaters, pumpouts and boat launches.
- Be respectful of Indigenous communities by using resources such as Indigenous Tourism BC to determine whether you are welcome in certain territories and always follow regulations and protocols.