Petroleum entering North American waters from 13 million recreational vessels each year is estimated at 15 times the Exxon Valdez spill. Another significant influx comes from gasoline and motor oil washed off millions of streets via storm drains which empty directly into harbors. As BP’s disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has dramatically shown, regulations will seldom halt pollution. Yet businesses and individuals can by consciously choosing to protect the irreplaceable.

Dodson Boatyard in Stonington, CT is a leading example. In the early 1990s, they began implementing simple practices to avoid polluting the harbor. By 2004, Dodson was the first working boatyard in Connecticut to become a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) certified “Clean Marina,” recognized for “operating at environmental standards above and beyond” regulations. Each year it implements the latest DEP guidelines for mechanical activities, fueling, hazardous waste disposal, painting, fiberglass work, hauling and storage of boats, and facilities management.