ARS OF ECO GUIDANCE
identify their sightings, making them more aware of their presence. We hope this increased awareness will eventually lead our members to take more care of their habitat.” Macaronesia is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. Sailors visiting Puerto Calero in Lanzarote frequently observe whales and dolphins in an area where a third of the world’s cetacean species have been identified. After receiving requests for more data, the marina team worked with local and national conservation groups to produce an information panel describing nearby sensitive areas, species of interest and the most common threats to their survival. At Quinta do Lorde Marina in nearby Madeira, the team follows similar strategies of cooperation between marina, social and conservation stakeholders, promoting both the use of renewable energy and scientific studies on the area’s marine biodiversity via an association with the Department of Biology of the University of Madeira and MARE. Over in the Netherlands,
family-owned Jachthaven Wetterwille, run by managing director Mieke Vleugels CMM, was one of the first national sites to be awarded the Green Pennant for excellence in sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Jachthaven Wetterville repurposing vintage material. Over the last three years they have planted a green roof on top of an existing showroom as a camping ground for visitors, equipping a studio with 80% vintage and salvaged goods. This summer, the marina will debut an educational programme against plastic in the water, starting with a big clean-up event. “Staff will raise awareness
about plastic debris in the water and its devastating effect on local fauna and flora. Recycling bags will be handed out with each boat rental and those who return with a full bag of flotsam will get a free ice cream. Jachthaven Wetterwille firmly believes that small actions like these make a big difference and that marina, tenants and berth holders can work together for a cleaner and greener world.” TransEurope Marinas members
have also been inspired by UK- based initiatives, supported by TYHA and the RYA’s Active Marina Programme, consequently returning to work more closely with local sailing clubs and schools. Similarly, environmental sustainability initiative the Green Blue’s considerable success in marinas, helping to identify energy reduction opportunities and improve environmental management, has also had a very positive impact. Sustainability Officer Dan Reading described the project’s development: “In the past decade, The Green
Blue have found that the average boat owner is far better informed about their impact on the environment as well as the potential impact that is indirectly linked to their vessel. From practical actions such as marking all the surface water drains in the marina to creating recycling signage, the environmental footprint of the marina sector in the UK has improved in the last ten years. There is still more work to be done and schemes such as Blue Flag and Gold Anchor Scheme have been successful in embedding environmental sustainability criteria in their awards which promotes and rewards the marinas efforts.”
International Blue Flag Director, Sophie Bachet Granados, offered this inspirational message: “This year is a special one for Blue Flag International and we take the opportunity to look back on our achievements from the past 30 years. Many marinas have joined our network since 1987, including some from the TransEurope Marinas group. We have witnessed the development of great initiatives from hard-working marinas, which we are very proud of, and thankful for. Our international Blue Flag network enables us to share best practises globally, and we are currently investing in a tool which will also enable us to share with the public. We believe that international cooperation is a very powerful asset, and we encourage anyone, in or out of the Blue Flag network, to be proactive about environmental management and education.”
• To learn more about the Blue Flag, visit the website:
www.blueflag.global
• For more information on TransEurope Marinas – visit
www.transeuropemarinas.com
• Information on the Green Blue programme can be found here:
thegreenblue.org.uk
JUNE 2017 FORE & AFT 39
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