The Green Blue Program
Concern for the Environment Second Nature for Clean Boating Group
Aug 15, 2008
Designed to create environmental awareness among boaters, the United Kingdom Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (defra), British Marine Federation (BMF) and the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) joined forces in 2005 to establish an educational initiative known as The Green Blue.
Project goals are to promote good environment practices within the recreational boating industry by highlighting practical projects that promote sustainable operation and good stewardship. To that end, The Green Blue offers a comprehensive web site that contains numerous resources for boaters and trade managers. Sponsors of the effort seek to encourage self-regulation in recreational boating by taking incremental and proven steps to reduce ecological impacts.
The Green Blue's Environmental Program Area Concerns
Areas that the program is concerned with focus on six impact areas. The Green Blue's outreach is geared to those that enjoy the waterfront or make their living from it. Program topics are addressed through academic research, distribution of information, and demonstration projects that show practical application of best practices. The impact areas are:
- Oil and Fuel Use
- Vessel Cleaning and Maintenance
- Use of Anti-fouling and Marine Paints
- Waste Management Practices
- Improving Resource Efficiency
- Identifying Effects on Wildlife
The Green Blue's Project Objectives
Objectives for this environmental project are concerned with providing the best available information on the ecological impacts of boating, communicating to boaters effective mitigation measures to lessen these impacts, encouraging responsible operation and maintenance practices, and to promote actions to that ensure boating remains a sustainable recreational activity. Project sponsors are interested in developing partnerships among natural resource agencies, industry, and the boating public. Efforts aimed at raising awareness are geared to both inland and coastal waterways in the United Kingdom. Material presented by The Green Blue easily transfers in application to other countries.
The Green Blue's Sponsors
The BMF and RYA sponsor The Green Blue effort through governmental and industry partner grants.
- The British Marine Federation is a trade association that represents the recreational boating industry, with 1,500 members in the United Kingdom and Europe. Its members include boat builders, marina operators, and chandleries.
- Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the national body in the United Kingdom that is concerned with recreational and competitive boating activities. The RYA is the governmentally recognized public body able to negotiate on the behalf of UK boaters. Membership in the organization is estimated to represent 500,000 boat owners nationally through affiliated clubs and class associations.
The Green Blue has been in existence for some three years and has racked up some significant accomplishments. It has gathered more than 600 research papers available in a searchable database, distributed more than 500,000 pieces of literature like leaflets and brochures, and routinely reaches a thousand boaters through its monthly e-newsletter. The Green Blue is an excellent resource for those interested in clean boating and their website is definitely worth a visit.
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