Top 10 Tips for Responsible Boating
As we travel through British Columbia’s coastal waters, it is our collective responsibility to protect, preserve, and travel respectfully. By dedicating ourselves to exploring the coastal waters of BC responsibly, we can all play a part in protecting communities and ensuring that marine lands and waterways stay pristine for future boating enthusiasts.
How can you boat responsibly? Consider the following tips:
- Know Before you Go: Before embarking on your tour of BC waters, plan where you’re going to stop for fuel, supplies, moorage, etc., and double-check that the places you are planning to stop at are open and have availability. (Resources: AHOYBC’s Interactive Map and Moorage Finder)
- Respect Closures: Pay attention to closures and research ahead of time. Protecting sensitive environments sometimes means giving the ecosystem time to regenerate. If you missed your opportunity this time, plan to come back!
- Familiarize Yourself with Local Customs: British Columbia is home to over 300 First Nations groups, and there is a vast diversity of languages, customs and protocols. Understanding the various customs and protocols is imperative and a great starting point is this Travel in First Nations Traditional Territories article.
- Respect Communities: Some communities are not ready to accept a large number of visitors just yet. Please respect local wishes and boundaries.
- Plan for the Weather: You’re a boater. You know how quickly conditions can change from glassy calm to squall conditions. Make sure to monitor weather reports and plan ahead if weather is rolling in.
- Know the Laws: Beyond the legal requirements of how to operate your vessel, there are laws regarding how close you can get to marine wildlife, how to report to customs, and many more local regulations. Be sure to research ahead of time and know what is required.
- Know How and When to Ask for Help: If your boat has a mechanical issue, call ahead to the closest moorage/dock if you can make it. If you’re not going anywhere, there are services for that, such as C-Tow.
- Be a Marine Steward: Leaving nothing but a small wake is easy! Learn how to interact responsibly with local wildlife and what you can do to ensure you aren’t negatively impacting sensitive environments.
- Take Out What You Bring: Limit the stress on community/park infrastructure by packing out what you carry in.
- Be Safe!: If there’s an emergency, know how to contact help and be ready to assist responders.
By undertaking the above responsible boating practices, we can ensure a safe and enjoyable summer boating season for all in British Columbia.
