PROTECTING MARINE ENVIRONMENTS
Cleaning Our Oceans Starts With Awareness
Spending time on the water gives you a unique perspective. When you operate a boat, you don’t just travel across the ocean — you become part of it. With that privilege comes responsibility: to protect marine environments, remove trash when possible, and stay aware of how our actions affect the water around us.
The Reality of Ocean Trash
Plastic bottles, fishing line, food packaging, and other debris don’t always start in the ocean — but they often end up there. Currents carry trash far from shore, where it can damage ecosystems, harm wildlife, and impact navigation.
Why Boaters Play a Critical Role
Boat operators are often the first to see trash offshore and in remote areas. That puts us in a powerful position to make a difference.
Cleaning trash out of the ocean doesn’t always require organized cleanups or large efforts. Sometimes it’s as simple as:
- Safely retrieving floating debris when conditions allow
- Properly disposing of trash back on shore
- Securing items onboard so nothing blows overboard
- Setting an example for passengers and fellow boaters
Small actions, repeated consistently, add up.
Awareness on the Water Matters
Being aware of your surroundings goes beyond navigation and safety — it includes understanding how your presence affects marine life and habitats. This doesn’t just get limited to the ocean, if you see any trash laying around shore – mālama the ‘āina, which means to take care of the land.
Doing Our Part, Together
The ocean gives us freedom, adventure, and opportunity. Keeping it clean requires collective effort and daily awareness.
Every piece of trash removed matters. Every mindful choice on the water counts. And every boater who takes responsibility helps ensure that our oceans remain navigable, beautiful, and alive.
Because protecting the ocean isn’t someone else’s job — it’s all of ours.