13 Tips for Environmentally Friendly Yachting

Environmental protection of the ocean is one of the major challenges facing our society today. Jeanneau Yachts has put together 13 tips for boat owners to help protect the ocean and are simple to remember and put into place in order to limit the environmental impact your boat has on the ocean.

At sea, waste and polluting substances can have harmful effects on ocean life and the development of marine species. Whether at anchor, while cruising or in port, preserve our environment by adopting these habits and best practices.

PREVENT POLLUTION

You can adopt the following best practices to limit your environmental impact on ocean life and aquatic environments.

1. Fuel up early in the morning with a moderate flow.

In the morning, the fuel is cold, which is less dense, and if you fuel up using a moderate flow, this enables you to minimise vapours and evaporations.

2. Install an anti-splashback system.

Spilling fuel while fuelling up is frequent. To avoid this accidental and unnecessary pollution, there are anti-splashback systems that are simple to install.

3. Wait several hours to fuel up after a stop by the tanker truck.

As tanker trucks refill the fuel pumps, this stirs up residual deposits that can pollute our oceans. In order to avoid putting these residual deposits into your fuel tank, wait several hours before fuelling.

4. Use the facilities at port and biodegradable products.

Use the facilities at port (WC, shower, dishwasher), and use biodegradable cleaning and hygiene products. More and more ports are equipped with facilities to evacuate black water from your boat.

5. Never discharge black water into sensitive zones.

At sea, never evacuate black water in sensitive zones, such as marine protected areas, areas for swimming and mooring, and bodies of water with limited tides and currents.

6. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Household waste, and notably plastic, contributes heavily to the problem of water pollution and poses a danger to aquatic animal life.

Remember the rule of the three R’s: reduce, reuse and recycle.

Before leaving, avoid plastic wrapping as much as possible and buy loose or bulk items; favour recyclables and reusables (glass, tins, cardboard); banish forever single-use containers.

Organise a selective sort of recycling and waste and communicate to the crew the measures that will prevent loss due to wind and movements of the boat.

Once again at port, dispose of sorted waste and recycling in the appropriate containers, respecting local recycling guidelines.

7. Choose water-soluble creams and sunscreens over oils.

Oil-based sunscreen products form a film on the sea surface and diminish the photosynthesis that is indispensable to life. To avoid this, choose water-soluble protective lotions and skin products.

8. Adopt eco cruising.

A few easy-to-follow principles to limit the impact of cruising:

• Do not leave the engine running when not needed.
• Do not cruise at full throttle.
• Respect the optimal cruising speed of your boat. Reduce speed by several knots to conserve fuel and reduce pollution.
• Use shorepower and leave the genset turned off.
• Install equipment to produce additional renewable energy (wind generator, solar panels, hydrogen, etc.).
• Limit the use of air conditioning to the hottest moments and ensure that your boat is well insulated.

9. Reduce speed in protected natural zones and near beaches.

Noise from the engine and hull can disturb aquatic flora and fauna. In marine protected areas, areas near beaches, and in any sensitive zone, reduce your speed to limit noise pollution.

RESPECT THE FLORA AND FAUNA

Adopt best practices to respect the natural world in order to avoid harming sensitive zones, reproduction and nesting sites of local fauna.

10. Choose mooring buoys over anchoring.

Whatever type of anchor you use, prefer sandy bottoms (clear zones) and ensure sufficient chain length. Use a buoy line, and always raise the anchor while placing yourself in line with the boat. There are also ecologically designed anchors. Prefer mooring buoys to anchoring, when these are available, as this avoids causing damage to the ocean floor and marine resources.

PRACTICE SUSTAINABLE FISHING AND SMART SEAFOOD CONSUMPTION

Acting in an environmentally responsible way is also for those who love fishing. Here are a few tips for practicing marine fishing without negative impact on coastal and aquatic environments and for smart consumption of seafood products.

11. Cruise at over 150 m, with fishing gear marked by buoys and flags.

Respect zones for commercial fishing by cruising at over 150 m with fishing gear marked by buoys and flags.

12. Respect the rules of recreational and sport fishing.

Use authorised materials and equipment. Respect catch sizes, as well as officially authorised seasons and zones for fishing. Never keep juveniles and fish under the minimum size limits.

13. Consume responsibly by doing the following:

Favour sustainably caught fish, indicated by the French label, “Pêche Durable” or the international label “MSC – Marine Stewardship Council” (respectful fishing techniques, no overfishing, no bycatch, no destruction of marine floors), avoid overfished species and banish the consumption of deep-sea species.

WHAT IS THE LIFESPAN OF YOUR TRASH?

Disposable facial tissue - 3 months

Toilet paper - 2 weeks to 1 month

Matchstick - 6 months

Newspaper - 3 to 12 months

Cigarette butts - 1 to 5 years

Chewing gum - 5 years

Candy wrapper - 5 years

Motor oil - 5 to 10 years

Wooden debris - 13 to 15 years

Aluminium tins or cans - 50 years

Soda can (aluminium or steel) - Up to 100 years

Plastic bag - 450 years

Plastic bottle - 100 years to 1,000 years

Fishing net - 600 years

Glass - Up to 5,000 years