Environmental Impacts of Boating Pollutants

 

 

 

 

 

 

Environmental Impacts of Boating Pollutants

  

(Unless otherwise stated, material is from Connell and Miller 1984) Pollutant	Sources and Characteristics	Environmental Activity	Environmental or Human Health Effects
Detergents	 Most cleaning agents, detergents and soaps  Oil spill dispersants 29  Breaks down oils and greases on boats	 Accumulates in sediments  Broken down by microorganisms	 Toxic to marine plants and animals  Impairs breathing in fish 18  Reduces amounts of oxygen in affected waters  Produces unsightly foam on the water surface
Marine debris	 Commercial and recreational boating 11  Plastics, food wastes, packaging, lines, nets, fish cleaning wastes 3  Plastics degrade very slowly  Some wastes become nutrients (see "Nutrients")		 Can choke / strangle sea animals 3, 11  Ghosts nets, and traps endanger divers 3  Can transport harmful non native species 11  Snagged by props and engines 3  Ruins recreational beaches 11
Acidic & Alkalis Substances	 Battery acid, lye and other strong acids or bases in vessel cleaning products 13  Dissolves easily in water	 Increases natural acidity or alkalinity of water by decreasing or increasing pH respectively	 Toxic to marine plants and animals  Increases the toxicity of other toxic substances, metals, other pollutants and chemicals  Can irritate or damage skin
Metals	 Paint particles from hydro washing, metal shavings from engine wear, and consumer products containing metals  Dissolves according to water conditions	 Accumulates in sediments, marine plants, and animals  Persistent in the environment  Some metals broken down by microorganisms	 Toxic to marine plants and animals  Changes the food web in the marine environment by eliminating certain species
Copper (Cu)	 Used as a toxic agent in antifouling paints  Dissolves according to water conditions	 Accumulates in sediments, marine plants, and animals  Persistent in the environment	 Very toxic to fish when combined with zinc sulfates 16  Long term toxicity to marine plants and animals
Tributlytin (TBT)	 Still used as a toxic agent in antifouling paint on aluminum hulls, outboard motors & lower drive units 4, 16	 Accumulates in sediments, marine plants, and animals 16  Persistent in the environment	 Toxic even in small amounts to marine plants and animals, especially bottom feeders 16  TBT contaminated shellfish are dangerous to

Zinc (Zn)	 Anticorrosive zincs and paint pigments  Dissolves according to water conditions, which can make Zn more available to marine organisms 16	 Persistent in the environment	 Toxic to marine plants and animals, even small amounts 15
Oil / Fuel	 Normal boat operation, fueling, engine maintenance, spills, runoff, and bilge discharge  Dissolves slowly in water, clings to particles and sediments in marine environments	 Broken down by sediment microorganisms22  Accumulates in sediments, marine plants, and animals  High accumulation in estuaries and intertidal areas	 Some components toxic to marine plants and animals even at low concentrations 24  Some components cause cancer, mutations and / or birth defects  Behavioral changes in shellfish and fish 24  Discoloring and bad taste in flesh of fish 20, 25, 26
Dusts and sediments	 Vessel scraping and sanding, erosion during construction and urban runoff  Heavy metals, nutrients, hydrocarbons, etc. adhere to dusts and sediments	 Sediment bound contaminants released to water if disturbed	 General lowering of water quality  Burial of habitat, food and / or organisms
Nutrients	 Runoff, sewage, erosion, garbage & detergents containing (P)hosphorous or (N)itrogen	 Used by marine plants and organisms for food (P,N)  Accumulates in sediment (P)	 Increase in algae growth which decreases light and oxygen in the water (eutrophication)  (N) can be toxic in higher concentrations
Solvents	 Vessel maintenance & repair activities  Paints, varnishes, paint removers and lacquers as well as degreasing agents  Does not dissolve in water 13	 Sink in water until they reach an impervious surface  Acetone lingers in air and is transported to sediment & water	 Large amounts can cause dizziness, disorientation and unconsciousness in the user 2
Anti-freeze	 Used as engine coolant and freeze prevention during winter storage  Improper use & storage creates leaks or spills 13	 Fate similar to solvents 13	 Ethylene glycol is deadly to humans, pets & marine organisms in low doses 2  Propylene glycol (orange/pink color) is less toxic than ethylene glycol (blue/green color) and is preferred for use in boats 7

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SHORELINE EROSION CAUSED BY BOAT WAKE:

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SHORELINE EROSION CAUSED BY BOAT WAKE:

 

EROSION AND BOAT WAKE

 

 

Shoreline erosion is a process that occurs along all watercourses. There are many natural

causes (wind-generated waves, water levels, ice, slope of the bank, absence of

vegetation), as well as human (deforestation of shorelines, wave action from passing

boats). Wake is the wave action, produced by the wash of passing ships and boats, that

strikes against the banks of rivers or channels. The extent of erosion varies (Figure 1) and

is closely linked to the nature of the shoreline substratum. In the most severely eroded

areas among the archipelagos in the Montréal – Sorel sector, the average shoreline

recession rate has been estimated at 1.65 m/year, from 1964-2002 (Lehoux, 2004,

personal comm.).

 

 

THE CONSEQUENCES OF EROSION

 

 

Shoreline erosion has many consequences on the aquatic environment, including habitat

destruction, an increase in sedimentation and in turbidity of the water, and the release of

nutrients (phosphorous and nitrogen) that promote algal blooms. As well, shoreline

erosion can result in the loss of land and affect shoreline property values.

 

The significance of each factor varies and may depend, among other things, on the

size of the watercourse. In larger channels, boat wakes have relatively little

impact compared with streamflow, as they make up only 2% to 5% of the

annual energy dissipated against the banks. The opposite is true in smaller

channels where wake accounts for between 95% and 98% of the energy (Hill

et al., 2002). Recreational boating in small channels, then, has a considerable

impact. Where craft navigate is therefore very important. However, it is important

to keep in mind tha t other factors may increase the impact of erosion.

The magnitude of the waves generated by  a boat depends on different factors,

 

particularly the boat’s speed, its size, passenger/cargo

loading, the shape of its hull, distance from shore and water depth. Wave height is one of

the most important factors in shoreline erosion. Observations made by the Minnesota

Department of Natural Resources have shown that a wave that is 12.5 cm high (the height

of a compact disk case) does not cause significant shoreline damage. Waves of this height

are created by boats operating at speeds generally under 10 km/h—a speed that is

considered reasonable when operating close to sensitive shores. A wave that is 25 cm

high is five times more destructive than a 12.5-cm wave; 62.5-cm high waves are 30

times more destructive. For example, a small motorboat produces a wave that is 25-cm

high when at planing speed, whereas cruising yachts and other craft that do not plane can

generate waves that can easily reach heights of 62.5 cm and more.

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO

 

 

It is difficult to apply a universal rule for all boats because of their variable configuration

and behaviour in the water. As such, the surest approach is to observe the wake produced

by your boat.

 

Watch your speed

 

 

By observing what happens when changing speed, boat operators can control their boat’s

wake. Observations made by the Oregon State Marine Board have shown the effects of

three speed zones:

 

Displacement speed – This is usually the slowest speed for most motor boats. It also

 

creates the least wake. The boat operates with the bow down in the water.

 

 

Transition speed – As you increase the power while attempting to get on plane, the bow

 

rises, causing the stern to plow through the water. This speed creates the largest wake.

 

 

Planing speed – At planing speed, the bow drops back down and only a little of the hull

contacts the water. This speed creates less wake than transition speed, but more than

displacement. Many large craft are not designed to reach this speed.

 

 

 

 

Boaters can reduce the impact of their boat's wake on sensitive shorelines by checking the

wake being produced, particularly when they navigate near the shore.

 

WHY BOATERS MUST PAY ATTENTION TO THE WAKE THEY CREATE

 

 

A Canadian Wildlife Service study (Daup hin, 2000) revealed that, in the case of the

sensitive, ecologically valuable archipelagos between Montréal and Sorel, wave action

from passing commercial ships might be a major factor in shoreline erosion. In the fall of

2000, the shipping industry adopted a voluntary speed reduction measure within the

framework of the Navigation Committee of the St. Lawrence Vision Action Plan. The

aim of the reduction in ship speed was to reduce the height of the wave produced. More

than 80% of ships complied with the prescribed speeds. After three years of monitoring,

it is noticed that the shoreline recession rate decreased by 45% in certain areas—results

that convinced the shipping industry to maintain the speed reduction measure in the

sectors identified by the Canadian Wildlife Service (press release SODES/St. Lawrence

Ship Operators Association - April 2004).

Since erosion is the cumulative effect of each contributing factor, recreational boaters can

also help in conserving the shorelines and sensitive areas of the St. Lawrence River by

reducing the wake produced by their boats when operating near shorelines and in small

channels. This voluntary action will also promote a more harmonious co-existence

between shoreline property owners and other users of the river.

 

 

http://www.marinfo.gc.ca/Doc/Erosion/Erosion_des_berges_En.pdf

 

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Copyright 2015 © Boat Nut Media, Toronto, Ontario. All rights reserved. No part of this information/publications may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or reproduced in any way, including but not limited to photocopy, magnetic, or other record, without prior agreement and written permission of the publisher, Boat Nuts Media ©™ No liability is assumed with respect to the information provided

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