A Recreational Boater’s

Point of View Sheet

Puget Sounders own more than 165,000 power

boats; 21,500 sailboats; 45,000 canoes, kayaks,

sailboards, and inflatable boats. After reading the

following questions and this selection, discuss

these questions from the point of view of a

recreational boater:

How do recreational boaters contribute to Puget

Sound’s environmental problems?

How could you help solve the problems in

Puget Sound?

Which solutions would you find hard to live

with and why?

What are the benefits you get from a healthy

Puget Sound?

Point of View:

Recreational Boater

A Recreational Boater’s Viewpoint

Thousands of people around Puget Sound own

boats and enjoy motoring or sailing them on the

Sound. Many people who live here have jobs

building, repairing, or selling boats. Boating is

important to us in many ways, but it can also be

very damaging to the Sound. Boaters sometimes

harm Puget Sound as they maintain and use

boats. These poor boating practices damage the

water that we enjoy playing in, on, and around.

Most boaters are aware of problems in the Sound

because they see trash, oil, and sewage in our

waters. They want to protect Puget Sound for

future generations and to continue enjoying it

themselves.

Lesson 15

Examining a Real Environmental Problem

Resource: Ecosystems Teachers Guide Pgs.160–172

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Boaters Can Hurt Puget Sound

Boaters are another group of peole who contribute

to problems in Puget Sound:

Toxic chemicals are often used to clean and paint

boats. When boats are scraped clean, these

chemicals are released into the water where they

pollute and kill aquatic life.

Phospate soaps used to clean boats encourage

the rapid over-growth of algae that take oxygen

from the water and smother aquatic animals.

Dumping human sewage into the water can

spread disease as well as “fertilize” the water and

create algae growth that may kill fish.

Fuel is frequently spilled as it is poured into the

tank. This is toxic for fish and other aquatic

animals and plants.

Trash such as beer cans, styrofoam cups, plastic

bags, and fishing line entangles, traps, and injures

wildlife. It also is unpleasant for people to see.

Boats that travel very fast close to shore can

create waves that erode the shoreline. Shoreline

property owners lose land, and plants and

animals also lose habitat they need to survive.

How Can Boaters Protect Puget Sound?

•

Consider carefully all the paint, soap, and other

materials used on your boat. Read labels and

avoid those materials that are toxic to wildlife.

Wash boats with phosphate-free soap and

control the runoff of soap into waterways.

• Use approved pump-out stations to get rid of

human sewage. Dumping untreated sewage

into the water is illegal and can result in state

fines of up to $2000. The Coast Guard can fine

up to $10,000 for dumping bilge water or for

adding phosphate detergents.

•

Keep trash on board until you reach port then

properly dispose of it on land.

• Respect the shoreline by slowing down and

reducing your wake when within 500 feet of

shore.

Changes and Tradeoffs

What tradeoffs must you make in order to help

protect Puget Sound?

How do you think these solutions might help

Puget Sound?