Point Marina/Marine Craft in Pamlico County recently became the 50th marina to join the North Carolina Clean Marina program.
The certification, which came in January, is administered by the state Division of Coastal Management. Clean Marina is a voluntary program in which participating marina operators must complete an evaluation form about their use of specific best management practices to protect water quality.
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To earn the certification, the facility’s owners must control boat maintenance activities and prepare spill prevention plans to protect water quality. Operators also are to incorporate safety and emergency planning for their marinas.
If a marina meets the criteria, it will be designated as a Clean Marina. The certified marinas can 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.
Clean Marina is a nationwide program 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 adopt Clean Marina principles to fit their own needs.
The North Carolina program is a partnership of the Division of Coastal Management, the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership, North Carolina Sea Grant, the U.S. Power Squadron, and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
For more information about clean marinas and how to apply for Clean Marina status, visit the division’s website.
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