Responsibilities

As a boat user, you are in a position to make a valuable contribution to positive environmental practices. The Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (PoEO Act1997), in particular Section 120, is very clear in its legislation. It says:

Prohibition of pollution of waters
120 Prohibition of pollution of waters

(1) A person who  pollutes any waters is guilty of an offence.

(2) In this section: "pollute" waters includes cause or permit any waters to be polluted.


What the BIA recommends to boat users

The BIA has a Code of Practice, which identifies boat user responsibilities. The Code states as follows:
Protecting the environment comes naturally to most boaters because clean water is the foundation of enjoyable boating. BIA Members encourage their customers and boat owners to be environmentally responsible by following these guidelines:-


Your Role in Preserving the Environment

Having regard to environmental responsibility, boat owners:-

When dealing with any of the boating industry groups, look for the current BIA membership certificates and signage which indicates the members understanding and active involvement in practising the Code and encouraging environmental preservation.

[Back to top of page]

---

Other Information

In the next few months, this page will start to include specific user friendly tips for boaters that will include:

• How to clean your boat
  
• How to avoid the introduction of marine pests
  
• What to do when fuelling
  
• What to do about bilge oils
  
• How to manage waste (includes food, fish and other waste)
  
• How to recycle and re-use
  
• Sewage management in NSW
  

Invasive Marine Plants and Recreational Boating
 
Recreational boaters can help the environment by taking care not to disturb plants such as Caulerpa Taxifolia (C.Tax), when leaving/returning to their moorings, anchoring, using boat ramps and generally when in waterways that have been invaded by C.Tax. There is a short list of suggestions under the title of “What you can do.”
 
For more information about this plant and how to prevent it’s progress, visit the NSW Department of Primary Industries/Fisheries website at:
 
http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/threatened_species/general/content/caulerpa
 
Below you will find some information taken from the Fisheries’ website.


Caulerpa taxifolia

The invasive marine plant Caulerpa taxifolia threatens marine ecosystems in NSW. By growing quickly, it can potentially overrun native seagrasses and alter marine habitats. Caulerpa was first discovered in cool temperate waters of NSW in 2000 (Port Hacking). Since then Caulerpa has spread rapidly and is now recorded in 12 estuaries and lakes in NSW. Because of the threat it poses, Caulerpa taxifolia is listed in NSW as noxious marine vegetation.
 

Photo: Alan Millar, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney

Caulerpa taxifolia (Caulerpa) is a bright green seaweed normally found in warm to tropical waters, including northern Australia. It has a characteristic 'creeping' stem called the stolon. The stolon can measure over 1 m in length and is fixed to the bottom by the 'roots' called rhizoids. The stolon bears 'leaves' or fronds. The fronds can be 5 to 65 cm in length.
 
Caulerpa can be very fast growing and small pieces can fragment and grow into large beds. It is thought to be transported through fishing, recreational boating, wind and wave action, and in the past by the aquarium trade. Caulerpa has the potential to impact native seagrasses and possibly reduce fish stocks.
 
For more information on Caulerpa please visit http://www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au/threatened_species/general/content/caulerpa or http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/seaweed.html
 
Please report any suspected Caulerpa sightings on the aquatic pests line 02 4916 3877.
 
What you can do
• Avoid boating near Caulerpa taxifolia outbreaks. Propellers cut the plant into many fragments that can drift into areas only to grow into new outbreaks.
• Inspect anchors, ropes and chains before leaving an area.
• Inspect fishing equipment; nets, traps and fishing lines before use.
• Inspect dive gear such as wetsuits bags and other equipment before use.
• Collect fragments of Caulerpa you have accidentally picked up. Seal the pieces in a plastic bag and dispose of them in a bin where they can not re-enter a waterway.
• Collect information on where you have seen Caulerpa. An accurate map, size of the outbreak, depth, habitat type (seagrass, bare sand, rocky reef) are important details.
 
CLICK HERE to download brochure



Leave Only Water In Your Wake

Sensible environmental practices in using and maintaining our boats on and around the water will go a long way to preserving the aquatic environment for future generations.

Here are some suggestions on how to enjoy the experience of boating and help to safeguard the quality of our fragile environment.

• Make sure your boat and its engines are in good working order - regularly check seals, gaskets, hoses and connections for leaks and drips.
  
• Take care when filling your fuel tank to avoid spillage into the water. If you overfill your fuel tank, wipe the spill up with a rag. Do not hose the fuel into the water.
  
• Install a holding tank (on small craft this could be as simple as using a portable caravan/camping toilet) or an approved on-board sewage treatment system. Dispose of contents at waste receiving facilities at boat ramps and marinas.
  
• Limit the amount of water you use in sinks and showers. Use low or non-phosphate soaps.
  
• Wipe cooking utensils and plates clean with a paper towel before washing-up.
  
• Take care where you anchor, and avoid seagrass beds as these are important fish habitats.
  
• Travel at speeds that avoid excessive wash that may cause bank erosion, disturbance to sensitive river or seabed environments, or annoyance or danger to others.
  
• Keep your bilges clean to prevent pollutants being discharged overboard. Use an absorbent pad in the bilge to clean up oily water and always dispose of the absorbents appropriately.
  
• Understand and obey the restrictions for engine noise and amplified music that apply to your type of vessel. Consider noise in relation to the time and area in which you are boating.
  
• Prevent the spread of exotic aquatic weeds such as caulerpa taxifolia. Remove all plant fragments from trailers, props, anchors, ropes, chains and fishing tackle. Collect all pieces in a plastic bag, seal it and put the bag in a bin.
  
• Collect all your rubbish on board and dispose of it properly ashore - this includes cigarette butts.
  
• When possible, remove your boat from the water and clean where debris can be captured and disposed of properly.
  
• When your boat is being scraped or sanded, use a vacuum sander or place a drop sheet underneath to catch paint scrapings and dust dispose of these carefully.
  
• When painting your boat’s hull, use the right paint for the job and be sure to carefully follow the application instructions. Check with a marine painting professional to determine if there are alternatives and choose the most environmentally friendly products.
  

Tread softly. Take only memories. Leave nothing behind.

The boating community in New South Wales is fortunate to have an abundance of beautiful waterways and foreshores to enjoy.

As we come to realise the limits that these environments can tolerate, and how close we are to those limits, it becomes essential for each of us to follow the best possible environmental practices in using and maintaining our boats on and around the water.


For further Information

Further information is available by contacting the Waterways Authority as follows:

• Info Line on 13 12 56 (open 7 days a week 8.30am to 4.30pm)
  
• Your local Waterways Authority Service Centre

[Back to top of page]

---

Sewage & Other Discharge from Vessels

Under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act), it is an offence to pollute any waters unless permitted under a licence issued by the Environment Protection Authority. Waterways Authority officers can issue on-the-spot infringement notices of $750 to an individual, or $1500 to a corporation where cases of pollution from vessels are detected.

The POEO Act is complimented by the Marine Pollution Amendment (Waste Discharge and Oil Spill Response Plans) Regulation 2003, which came into effect on 1 July 2003.

This new Regulation is designed to improve the management of sewage pollution from vessels and simplify the capacity requirements for sewage holding tanks.


Current Requirements
 
Specific provisions of the new Regulation include:

• the prevention of the discharge of untreated sewage from vessels into navigable waters, except into a waste collection facility such as a pump-out or on-shore toilet;
  
  
• the prevention of the discharge of treated sewage from vessels into certain environmentally sensitive waters (so-called 'no discharge zones [more infomation];
  
  
• requirements for Class 1 (passenger carrying) and Class 4 (hire and drive) vessels to be fitted with toilets and toilet waste holding tanks or to have an approved plan of management for the disposal of waste;
  
  
• requirements for certain commercial vessels (essentially those built after January 1 2005 and used on the Murray River or Sydney Harbour, or those belonging to either the passenger carrying or hire and drive classes and built after that date) to be fitted with grey water tanks; and
  
  
• requirements for marinas in the Sydney Harbour locality (regardless of size) to provide adequate and accessible vessel waste collection facilities.
  

No Discharge Zones

The above measures will help protect human health and sensitive marine life, taking into account the risks related to certain waterways, activities and vessel types. A key aspect of this risk-based approach is the designation of certain areas as 'no discharge zones'; for treated sewage. These include all inland waterways, intermittently opening lagoons, Aquatic Reserves and Marine Parks, and all waters within 500 metres of aquaculture, bathing, mooring and anchoring areas, persons in the water, beaches and marinas.


Pump-out Facilities

The contents of vessel sewage and galley waste holding tanks must not be discharged into the water, but must be discharged at a pump-out facility.


Recreational Vessels

There are no specific requirements for recreational vessels. However, all vessel operators must ensure that they do not pollute. The Authority recommends the installation of holding tanks, but owners of smaller vessels can use a portable toilet instead. Planning your trip to take advantage of shore amenities is another way of preventing sewage from entering the waterways. A map of amenities adjacent to Sydney Harbour can be viewed here.

Further information on any environmental issue is available by contacting the NSW Maritime Authority as follows:-

Do you need an environmental audit? If yes, contact Roy Privett privett@bia.org.au with your request and you will be provided with a competitive quote by an industry that understands your requirements. 

[Back to top of page]