Pollution Prevention and the Marine Industry

Clean Marina Program

Beautiful waterways and seven miles of breathtaking beaches surround the City of Fort Lauderdale.  Both residents and tourists flock to the City’s waterways for recreational activities, one of the most popular is boating. 

Boating is one of the City’s top industries and each year its popularity grows.  In addition, the annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show draws more boaters to our sunny, warm paradise where they can enjoy boating year round.

As Fort Lauderdale boating numbers continue to increase so does the impact on our natural aquatic resources and marine life.

Boaters and local marinas can help reduce this impact by adopting best management practices outlined in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Division's Clean Marina Program (CMP).

Marine-related environmental and operational problems are typically addressed after they happen.  The aim of the Department’s CMP is prevention and education. Marinas and boaters may not be aware of the environmental laws, rules and jurisdictions to which they must comply.

Clean Marina Designation

Part of the CMP is the Clean Marina Designation.  This designation informs boaters about the local marinas that have followed the necessary steps and training to become a Florida Clean Marina.  

The City of Fort Lauderdale made history when it became the first city to have three designated Clean Marinas by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection: New River Marina/Downtown Docking, Las Olas Marina, and Cooley’s Landing Marina.

These environmentally friendly marinas adhere to or exceed program criteria, including Marina Environmental Measures or MEMs, which are simple, innovative solutions to day-to-day marina operations that protect the environment. The MEMs have been developed through examination of best management practices around the country and the partnership of Florida’s marinas, boatyards, boaters and government.

If you are a marina owner who is interested in becoming certified as a Clean Marina or a boater interested in learning more about protecting the City’s waterways, please visit DEP’s website.

Clean Boater Program for Recreational Boaters

Florida’s Clean Boater Program encourages boaters to adopt environmentally friendly practices that safeguard our waterways. Some of the program’s best management practices include:

• Disposing of waste by utilizing a pump out station.  Never throw waste overboard.
• Use bilge socks and fueling collars
• Be aware of navigational and environmental signs such as shallow waters, no wake zones, sea grass beds, manatee zones and other endangered species habitats
• Implement Best Management Practices for Boat Cleaning and use environmentally friendly products

Using these practices, as well as others, will help protect our waterways and keep them clean.