The UK’s marine industry supplies the boats, equipment and services which enable 5 million UK citizens to enjoy every type of boating and watersports activity on inland and coastal waterways. UK CEED worked with the British Marine Federation (BMF), the industry’s trade association, for a number of years from the inception of the Federation’s environment programme in 1991.
Amongst the projects completed by UK CEED in conjunction with BMF were:
- A comprehensive environmental review of the industry – the first in the UK both to examine an entire industrial sector and also to look at one comprised predominantly of small and medium-sized companies (SMEs). The review covered everything from craft construction through marina development to the use of craft. It identified potential impacts arising both directly from the manufacture and provision of marine goods and services and also indirectly from the use of the products.
- Environmental code of practice – drawn-up for marine industry companies followed by a continuing information and training programme. To address the potential impacts arising from the use of marine industry products, an innovative producer responsibility programme, Navigate with Nature, was developed.
- Navigate with Nature – a national environmental education programme designed to encourage boat users to be aware of their interaction with the local environment and to respect bye-laws and waterspace management strategies. Funded by the BMF, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, under the Environmental Action Fund, the RSPB, Marina Developments Ltd, and Perkins, the project targeted users of all craft, including sailing and motor boats, sailboards and personal watercraft. Since 1996, over 70,000 boat users have received leaflets providing information on various topics including marine habitats and wildlife, waste management, noise and craft maintenance. The project also involved the provision of environmental information for the back of navigation charts in Plymouth and in tide timetables in Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. In 2000, the project was expanded into the Irish Sea region through European Interreg funding. A Watch your Waste leaflet was also produced with an insert for the River Hamble providing information on waste reception facilities. An insert was also produced for the Yarmouth Harbour guide. Stickers, guides to engine lay-up and other materials have also been produced.
- Boat facilities – during 1999, UK CEED distributed over 20,000 leaflets direct to boat users and also launched the Solent’s first sewage pump-out facilities together with comprehensive recycling facilities Warsash under a unique partnership programme between Navigate with Nature, the Environment Agency and the Onyx Trust. A further pump-out facility was launched in 2001 under the same scheme at Yarmouth Harbour on the Isle of Wight. A seperate project is looking to develop a low cost method for removing heavy metals from antifoul run-off in boat wash down areas. This project is taking place at Hamble Point Marina on the River Hamble with the support of Marina Developments Ltd.
