Why are marinas and boats a concern?
A marina has docks, moorings, supplies, and other facilities for privately-owned recreational boats. Because marinas are located at the water’s edge, pollution created by boats, marinas, and water runoff can enter the water directly. The growth in recreational boating has increased the impacts of marinas and boats on coastal resources. Potential pollutants from marinas and boats include oil, gas, diesel, antifreeze, detergents, and cleaning solvents. These can be released when refueling, doing boat maintenance, or pumping out bilge water that collects in the bottom of a boat. Heavy metals used in boat maintenance include arsenic and chromium in paints and wood preservatives; zinc to prevent corrosion of engines and hulls; and copper in antifouling paints that prevent barnacles from growing on boat bottoms. Boat sanding and painting can create dust and paint drippings at marinas. Boat engines also release air pollutants that contribute to ground-level ozone and smog. Dumping untreated s
