Green Boating Guide

Protect habitat

In sensitive areas THROTTLE BACK!

Shallow or poorly flushed bays, narrow channels, river and stream estuaries, eelgrass beds and shellfish areas are extremely sensitive to pollutions or boating activity.

  • Keep all pollution out of these waters (e.g. oil, soap, sewage etc.). Avoid running motors in shallow waters.
  • Enclosed bays and narrow channels experience very little exchange of water and tend to accumulate pollution.
  • Estuaries are used by up to 80 percent of BC’s wildlife at some part of its life cycle. These areas are especially impor¬tant to juvenile and spawning salmon and marine birds.
  • Eelgrass and kelp beds are key habitat for juvenile fish, crabs and shorebirds. Anchors can damage these areas. Use fixed moorings instead where possible.
  • Shellfish areas, mussels, clams and oysters, are an important economic resource on the coast. These and other filter feed¬ers are very sensitive to pollution. Never discharge sewage or other pollution in these areas. Take care to not damage shell¬fish beds with anchors, dinghies or other activities.

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