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10
Environmental Best Practices for Fishing & Boating
By Stacey Atkinson
Photo Credits:
David Atkinson |
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You eagerly
bait the hook and cast out into the vast morning air. The bait hits
the slick water’s surface and your eyes follow the sinking lure through
the sun’s refracted rays. The loons call back and forth to one another.
The smell of nutrient rich water fills your nostrils. You patiently
wait for that first morning bite on the end of the line. |
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Fishing has
a way of taking you inside nature, and outside of day-to-day life.
It’s more than a sport; it’s a lifestyle. It’s one of those things
that you always say you’re going to do if you ever strike it rich,
or find a way to have more free time.
Fishing is an addictive pleasure in life and definitely a top priority
for those retirement years. So if you’re planning on investing some
serious time into fishing, you owe it to yourself to ensure that
the resource is well conserved. You can reduce your ecological footprint
on nature by following these ten environmental best practices, which
show you how to minimize your impact on lakes, fish, and surrounding
areas when you take your boat out on the water.
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Environmental
Best Practices for Fishing & Boating |
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1. Approach
shorelines slowly, and carefully choose where to dock your boat.
Did you know that most shoreline erosion is caused by waves? Shoreline
erosion impacts on property use, sensitive shoreline vegetation, increases
soil distribution into the water, and impacts on fish and bird habitats.
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2. Help
ensure stable fish stocks by obtaining a fishing permit and following
designated catch and size limits, staying away from protected species,
and returning unwanted fish to the water carefully and quickly. |
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3. Choose
lead free fishing sinkers and jigs. Did you know that each
year in Canada, an estimated 500 tonnes of lead from sinkers and jigs
are lost in the water and kill thousands of birds each year? For more
information on lead free alternatives, visit Canadian Wildlife Service
Fish Lead
Free website. |
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4. Fishing
line left in the water can kill fish, birds and wildlife – so clean
up! Many tackle shops now offer fishing line recycling services,
so ask about these services next time you’re out buying supplies.
5. Minimize the risk of fuel spillage by filling your tank
onshore or in port. Did you know that 1litre of oil is
capable of contaminating 2 million litres of water?
6. Bring all litter back to shore and dispose of it properly
in recycle/waste bins. Six-hole pop can rings are notorious
for entangling and killing birds. Also, butt out in your boat and
not in the water. Birds, fish and animals can ingest cigarette butts,
which contain tar and chemicals.
7. Avoid cleaning your boat and equipment in the water.
If this is unavoidable, then plan ahead and purchase detergents
and cleaners that are phosphate-free and biodegradable. For a complete
list of alternatives to toxic cleaners for your boat, visit the
Canada
Coast Guard website.
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8. Reduce
air pollution emissions by keeping your engine clean and serviced,
and using the right combination of oil/gas mixture for your two-strike
engine. Bring out the periodic table from high school chemistry
class because here’s a list of what your engine emits: nitrogen oxides
(Nox), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulphur oxides (SOx), carbon
monoxide (CO), greenhouse gases, fine particulate matter, benzene,
1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and other toxic substances.
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9. Avoid
releasing hazardous materials into the water when servicing your boat.
These harmful materials include antifreeze (glycol), paint, thinner,
oil, filters, bilge water, batteries, gasoline, and oily rags. Dispose
of hazardous waste properly by calling your municipality and asking
for the nearest hazardous waste drop off location.
10. Lastly, and most importantly, teach your children about
sustainable fishing and boating practices! A great way
to get your kid’s learning about conserving the environment is by
visiting Natural Resource Canada’s NRCat
website for kids and Environment
Canada’s Great Lakes for Kids website.
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Sources:
Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada web site 2003, http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/fishing/index_e.cfm
Canada Coast Guard, Fisheries and Oceans Canada website 2003, Protecting
the Aquatic Environment: A boater’s guide at http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/obs-bsn/pubs/pme/main_e.htm
Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority, Waste disposal web site 2003,
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/key_issues/tourism/waste_disposal.html
Great Lakes for Kids, Environment Canada web site 2003, http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/greatlakeskids/glk-home-e.html
NRCat, Natural Resources Canada website 2003, http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/kids/index_e.html
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Boaters Guide
2003, http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/watercraft/brochures/recycling.html
Pollution Prevention at Marinas, Environment Canada web site 2003,
http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/pollution/fpd/prevention/6600-e.html#i
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