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There’s no question that advances have been made in boating technology in recent years. Boats are going further on less gas and creating less and less in the way of harmful byproducts. Still, there are some aspects of boating that are woefully lagging behind. One of these is the state of marinas.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association aims to change that. They’re currently promoting a project known as the Clean Marina Initiative. This NOAA program is designed to help move vulnerable marinas and waterfront recreation areas to a more clean state.

It doesn’t take much looking around at a typical marina to see why this is necessary. You’ll find floating garbage on top of a toxic mixture of diesel fuel, oil and gas. While some marinas are definitely worse than others, most seem susceptible to this kind of pollution.

This hasn’t happened by accident, of course. There are so many activities at a typical marina, including basic things like boat maintenance activities and even refueling, that are predisposed to making a negative environmental impact.

Further complicating the situation is the fact that many areas just don’t have the kinds of strict regulations required to keep a marina and the surrounding area clean. Some areas, like the San Francisco Bay, have seen severe ecological damage from marinas.

Fortunately, there are a number of things you and the owners of your local boat yard can do to help clean up your marina. There are greener products that can be used in a marina, for example. Waste water filtration systems, as well, can help get a marina clean and keep it that way. Even the use of ecologically friendly cleaning agents and paints that are copper free will help the process.

The Clean Marina Initiative is one way you can help make a difference. The program encourages recreational boat owners as well as marine operators to practice operating and maintenance procedures that will have a smaller impact on the environment. Boat owners benefit, as well, in that their boats will be exposed to fewer and fewer environmental hazards that could, ultimately, lead to damage to the boat and a boat insurance claim.

There are benefits for the marina itself, too. For one, a cleaner marina is more attractive to boaters and will ultimately be more profitable, especially in a market where there’s significant marina competition. The NOAA also recognizes participating marinas for their environmental concern. They also provide free technical assistance to marinas in the program. Waste disposal costs will also go down, because there’s less waste produced.

If you’re concerned about your local marina, talk to the marina owner today and introduce them to the Clean Marina Initiative.