Environmental Protection Measures
It is essential that we all respect and care for the marine environment to ensure it is sustained for the future. For all commercial fishers, this means the following guidelines should be followed:
Dispose your waste safely: Don’t throw plastic or synthetic fishing gear overboard, and don’t discharge untreated sewage into the sea close to shore, or in shallow water. Always take cans, bottles, paper and other rubbish back to shore with you. Only minimal amounts of food scraps, cut up into very small pieces, may be thrown overboard and as far out to sea as possible.
Maintain your boat: Take time to check that your boat is in working condition. Make sure that the engine does not leak oil or fuel, that the bilge is kept clean (if you have an automatic bilge pump, ensure there is never any floating oil in the bilge). Keep a piece of sorbent material underneath the engine to soak up accidental leaks.
Take precautions when refuelling: To minimise the chances of a spill:
- prevent an overflow by estimating the amount of fuel you need before you start refuelling
- plug up the scuppers and breathers on your boat with rags or sorbent material
- keep sorbent material on the deck of your boat and around the fuel filler to help mop up spills
- make sure you monitor the entire refuelling process
- do not let children or untrained people refuel your boat
- never leave the fuel pump unattended
- refuel at an approved area using a fuel pump
- avoid transferring fuel to your boat in containers
- if you must use a container, use a large funnel and poor slowly. Alternatively, you can buy a siphon hose with an integrated pump to reduce spillage
Take precautions with antifouling paint: Antifouling paints are useful for preventing a build-up of unwanted organisms on your boat. Antifouling paints, however, are toxic to the aquatic environment and have properties that are harmful to human health.If you are using antifouling paint, always read the product label before using antifouling paint, wear protective gear to avoid getting paint on your skin or breathing in vapours, and set up a controlled work area and post signs when you are applying antifouling paint and prevent overspray.
