March 3, 2026
Oak Harbor Marina. Photo courtesy of Embrace Whidbey and Camano Islands
Washington Clean Marina is proud to announce Oak Harbor Marina’s renewal as a certified clean marina for another three-year period. The prestigious Clean Marina certification, a program administered by Washington Sea Grant (WSG), requires marinas to undergo a rigorous assessment of their environmental practices and plan improvements for the future.
Located in the city of Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island, between Seattle and the San Juan Islands, Oak Harbor Marina is a popular spot for boaters on Puget Sound. The marina first became certified through the Clean Marina program in 2008, and has remained committed to doing its part to protect protecting our shared waters.
“Oak Harbor Marina is a great example of what it means to be a clean marina in Washington,” says Washington Sea Grant boating specialist Aaron Barnett, who manages Clean Marina Washington.
Washington’s Clean Marina program is a voluntary and goal-driven self-auditing program that helps marinas and port facilities become better environmental stewards. Examples of process improvements that Clean Marina may recommend include management of hazardous waste, using environmentally friendly cleaning practices, and promoting sustainable boating practices.
Through the Clean Marina recertification process, Oak Harbor Marina staff identified goals to pursue during the three-year renewal period. They include sponsoring an event related to the environment, installing level 3 EV chargers, and pursuing the possible purchase of EVs.
“The Oak Harbor Marina is proud to continue its Clean Marina certification and is looking into implementing greener initiatives in the future, including looking into adding level three electric chargers both upland and dockside,” says Alyce Henry, Oak Harbor Marina harbormaster.
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. Washington Sea Grant is one of 34 Sea Grant programs supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in coastal and Great Lakes states that encourage the wise stewardship of our marine resources through research, education, outreach and technology transfer.
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