FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 17, 2019
DEP Designates Four New Clean Marinas
~Florida marinas recognized for commitment to environmentally responsible practices~
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection recently designated Ultimate Marina, Sweetwater Landing Marina, Coral Ridge Yacht Club, and Harbor View Marine as Clean Marinas, recognizing their commitment to environmentally responsible practices.
The Clean Marina Program, administered under DEP’s Florida Coastal Office, is a voluntary initiative that encourages marina facilities to adopt environmentally responsible business practices. These methods address critical issues such as sensitive habitats, waste management, stormwater control, spill prevention and emergency preparedness.
Florida’s newest Clean Marinas are:
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Ultimate Marina: Located on Destin Harbor, Ultimate Marina is a small facility with 11 wet slips, offering a sewage pumpout unit, monofilament recycling containers and a fish-cleaning table.
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Sweetwater Landing Marina: Located in Fort Myers on the Caloosahatchee River, Sweetwater Landing Marina is a full-service facility that offers fueling, repairs and pumpouts. It has 70 wet slips and 200 dry stack slips, in addition to a restaurant. Sweetwater educates boaters about clean boating practices and uses cleaning methods that prevent release of pollutants onto surface waters.
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Coral Ridge Yacht Club: Located in Fort Lauderdale on the Intracoastal Waterway and Sunrise Bay, Coral Ridge Yacht Club offers pumpout services and recycling. Coral Ridge also provides markers in shallow areas, posts daily tides, and has emergency hurricane plans in place.
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Harbor View Marine: Located in Pensacola on Bayou Chico, Harbor View Marine has been designated as a Clean Marina, Clean Boatyard and Clean Retailer since 2010. The marina recently earned the Clean and Resilient Marina designation, recognizing its emergency preparedness, proper signage, erosion control and living-shorelines maintenance. The facility features a pumpout unit, shore-side facilities, fueling, recycling and engine maintenance.
To earn the Clean Marina designation, marinas must – among other things – offer services such as sewage pumpout stations, recycling and proper disposal of hazardous materials. Among the benefits of acquiring the Clean Marina designation are discounts on state land lease fees, reduced pollution originating from marina operations, improved water quality in Florida’s waterways, and a possible reduction in environmental liability insurance premiums.
Started in 2000, the Clean Marina Program, along with the Clean Boatyard, Clean Marine Retailer, Clean Boater and Resilient Marina programs, are designed to create partnerships with local communities and businesses to protect natural resources and promote economic growth. There are now 310 Clean Marinas and 20 Clean and Resilient Marina designations in Florida.
To learn more about DEP’s Clean Marina Programs, Clean Boating, and Resilient Marinas, visit www.FloridaDEP.gov/FCO/Clean-Marina or call the program office at 850-245-2846.
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