The Green Blue

The Green Blue is an exciting new environmental awareness initiative by the British Marine Federation and the Royal Yachting Association whose aim is to promote the sustainable use of coastal and inland waters by boating and watersports participants, and the sustainable operation and development of the recreational boating industry.

The Green Blue hopes to educate and inform the recreational boating community about environmental impacts, emphasising how to avoid or minimise these impacts by taking a few incremental steps.

The programme consists of academic research, information provision and practical projects, focusing on 6 impact areas:

• Oil and Fuel
• Cleaning and Maintenance
• Anti-fouling and Marine Paints
• Waste Management
• Resource Efficiency
• Effects on Wildlife

The Green Blue objectives are:

• To provide more readily available information to industry and users about potential environmental impacts of recreational watersports and effective mitigation measures.
• To raise awareness of how users can purchase, maintain and use their craft and equipment in an environmentally responsible manner.
• To promote sustainable boating so that increases in participation figures and the size of the recreational marine industry are achievable while minimising environmental degradation
• To encourage the design and production of innovative environmentally friendly products, facilities and processes within the recreational marine industry
• To raise awareness of the interaction with the local environment amongst providers of marine services and amongst watersports participants
• To work with partners, authorities and managers to raise awareness and appreciation of coastal and inland water environments