Contact: Michele Walker, 919-733-2293, ext. 229 Three sites certified, 14 others recertified as N.C. Clean Marinas RALEIGH – Three coastal marinas have been certified as North Carolina Clean Marinas, a designation given to marinas that go beyond the state’s environmental regulations. The Joyner Marina in Carolina Beach, River Dunes Marina in Oriental, and Manteo Waterfront Marina earned the status as North Carolina Clean Marinas. The Clean Marina program illustrates how marina operators can help safeguard the environment by using management and operation techniques that exceed environmental requirements. To earn the certification, the marina’s owners prepare spill prevention plans and conduct safety and emergency planning. Marina operators also control boat maintenance activities to protect water quality. Marinas must complete the recertification process every two years in order to retain their certification as a North Carolina Clean Marina. In addition to the three newcomers, 14 coastal marinas have been recertified as North Carolina Clean Marinas. They are: Bayliss Boat Yard, Wanchese Caspers Marina, Swansboro Cypress Landing Marina, Chocowinity Deatons Yacht Services, Oriental Duke University Marine Lab, Beaufort Harbor Village Marina, Hampstead Masonboro Yacht Club and Marina, Wilmington Matthews Point Marina, Havelock NOAA Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research, Beaufort New Bern Grand Marina, New Bern Northwest Creek Marina, New Bern Radio Island Marina Club, Beaufort Seapath Yacht Club, Wrightsville Beach Town Creek Marina, Beaufort
N.C. Clean Marina is a voluntary program that began in 2000. Marina operators who choose to participate are evaluated on their use of specific best management practices. If a marina meets criteria developed by the N.C. Division of Coastal Management, it will be designated as a Clean Marina. Such marinas are eligible to fly the Clean Marina flag and use the logo in their advertising. The flags signal to boaters that a marina cares about the cleanliness of area waterways. In addition to the 17 certified marinas mentioned above, the Cape Fear Marina/Bennett Brothers Yachts in Wilmington and Southport Marina have also been certified as Clean Marinas. The Clean Marina program was developed by the National Marine Environmental Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works to clean up waterways for better recreational boating. The foundation encourages states to adapt Clean Marina principles to fit their own needs. The North Carolina program is a partnership between N.C. Boating Industry Services, the N.C. Marine Trade Association, the Division of Coastal Management, the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program, N.C. Sea Grant, the U.S. Power Squadron, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and N.C. Big Sweep. For more information, contact Pat Durrett with the N.C. Division of Coastal Management at (252) 808-2808. ### |
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