July 1, 2024
Thirteen Washington marinas have recertified under the state’s Clean Marina program so far in 2024.
To become a certified Clean Marina, a marina must meet a set of minimum pollution prevention requirements, identify sustainability goals and activities, and create a plan to achieve them over a three-year period. For example, a marina may plan to maintain or expand their marine sewage pumpout stations or increase outreach to boaters on topics like invasive species management or small oil spill prevention. While marinas are already bound by regulations around pollution and hazardous waste, marinas who pursue Clean Marina certification take it a step further and surpass what’s legally required of them.
“Washington’s Clean Marina program works to acknowledge those boating facilities willing to go above and beyond the minimum requirements for hazardous waste pollution prevention,” says Aaron Barnett, Washington Sea Grant (WSG) boating program specialist.
The 13 marinas recertified this year are: Gig Harbor Marina and Boatyard; Island Marine Center; Port of Skagit County, La Conner Marina; Point Defiance; Tacoma Yacht Club; Peninsula Yacht Basin; Olympia Yacht Club; Port of Port Townsend, Point Hudson Marina; Port of Port Townsend, Boat Haven; Port of Port Townsend, Herb Beck Marina; Port of Friday Harbor; Roche Harbor; and Stimson Marina. Lakewood and Leschi marinas received their Clean Marina certifications for the first time.
Foss Harbor Marina in Tacoma is one of dozens of certified Clean Marinas in Washington state.
These marinas are just a few of more than 80 certified Clean Marinas in Washington state doing their part to keep Washington’s waters clean. Created in 2005 as an expansion of the EnviroStars program, Clean Marina Washington helps boaters and marinas leave a healthy wake. Through this incentive-based certification program, marinas assess their operations and make improvements to better protect the environment. When they reach the qualification standards set by the Clean Marina program, they earn the right to fly the Clean Marina flag.
Washington Sea Grant has been involved since the program’s founding and took over leadership of the program in January 2022. Other partners in the program are the Northwest Marine Trades Association, Washington Department of Ecology, Puget Sound Keepers, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Envirostars Collective, Recreational Boating Association of Washington and Washington State Parks Commission.
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Washington Sea Grant, based at the University of Washington, helps people and marine life thrive through research, technical expertise and education supporting the responsible use and conservation of coastal ecosystems. The National Sea Grant College Program is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.
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JUL
2024