A Few Easy Ways to Support a Clean Marine Environment

We don’t have to convince anyone of the importance of clean water. Whether you’re fishing, cruising or swimming, it’s important to be responsible stewards of our environment. But what does that mean? What can we do to keep our lakes, rivers and oceans pristine? We have a few great ways you can get started. If you have any questions visit The Harbor (Boat & Yacht Sales). We’re located in Branson, Missouri, and we serve Springfield and Kansas City, Missouri.

Police the Waters

When we enjoy the outdoors, we should take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints. That means that anything we take onto the water comes back to the shore. That includes food containers, cigarette butts and any other waste. If you have any biodegradable waste, save it for your compost pile at home. As the captain you’re responsible for anything that goes overboard, and that includes trash. Anything washed or blown overboard must be retrieved without any exceptions. You only have to turn the boat around once to prove your point to any landlubbers who are onboard for the first time. In addition to the litter being bad for the environment, you can also be fined. 

Dispose of Wastewater Properly

If you’re using portable toilets, you should follow all proper sanitation and disposal procedures once you’re ashore. Use environmentally friendly chemicals and cleaning products when you’re cleaning up your boat in the slip. If you’re disposing of grey water on a longer voyage at sea,  be sure that you’re far away from reefs and islands.

Recycle at Home

In addition to sorting your recyclables from your garbage, there are many other creative ways to improve the quality of our air and water. A compost bin makes great soil for a small vegetable and pollinator garden and it’s a great way to teach your kids where their food comes from and where it goes. Use your own shopping bags, ride your bike to work on nice days and install a programmable thermostat.

Lead by Example

Once you make the commitment to sustainability, you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make a few simple changes. But you’re just one person, and the only way we can make a true impact is to spread the word. Join clubs, organize shoreline cleanups in your community and patronize companies that commit to sustainable manufacturing practices. If we all make a few simple changes, we can make a huge global impact!

For more information and to see our current inventory of new and pre-owned boats for sale, visit The Harbor (Boat & Yacht Sales) in Branson, Missouri. We serve boating enthusiasts in Springfield and Kansas City, Missouri, and the surrounding areas.