Environmentally-Friendly Boating

As summer approaches, here in the densely populated Northern Hemisphere, the planet is in for another overwhelming season of recreational boating.

Boats as a hobby and as a means of transportation are as old as civilization itself, but the fiberglass, gas-fuelled, engine-driven pleasure crafts of today generally have less to do with human sustenance and more to do with summer fun. Good for you for getting outside and enjoying yourself, but take note: your fun may be at the expense of the other plant and animal species that live in your watery playground.

Deep scars on the backs of large aquatic animals like seals, whales, and manatees have in recent decades made it palpably clear just how destructive a boat's propeller can be. Just because there aren't any whales in your quiet cottage lake doesn't give you free reign, though; your boating could still be causing some serious problems. Bear these four tips in mind when you get the boat out this year.

Fuel up away from the water. Oil and gasoline spills can be hugely disastrous to the tiny ecosystems that support the flora and fauna of your waterfront. Pour your fuel over a clean, flat surface on land and clean up any spills with a rag.

Don't import foreign species. If you're launching your boat into a lake for the first time, make sure to clear out all traces of other water systems: drain bilge water and scrub the hull to remove any critters you've picked up along the way.

Be gentle in shallow areas. Raise your propeller and keep your speed down. Shallows and shorelines are a prime location for nurseries and microscopic ecosystems. Even the wake of a boat passing at medium speed can be enough to stir up the riverbed and destroy the tiny life there.

Ditch the speedboat. This summer, opt for the canoe over the motorboat, the sailboat over the jet-ski. A smaller boat powered by gentler means will be less disruptive to your aquatic environment and will allow you to enjoy nature with more tranquility.

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