Eleven New Jersey marinas recently completed a rigorous review under the New Jersey Clean Marina program to maintain "Clean Marina" certification from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. As a certified Clean Marina, these facilities limit their environmental impact and ensure a clean and safe environment for customers by closely following the program principles which cover staff training, customer education, robust recycling efforts, spill prevention, waste wash water treatment, energy conservation efforts and more.
Once a marina has achieved Clean Marina Certification it must be reevaluated every three years in order to retain its status designation. There are currently 47 marinas throughout the state that have successfully completed the certification process. Mike Danko of the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium (NJSGC,) who works with the NJDEP to implement the Clean Marina Program, evaluates the marina’s conservation and environmental efforts and reviews their compliance with federal and state regulations.
"I’m impressed by the way these marinas have all embraced the Clean Marina Program and we’re hoping their success and enthusiasm for it will encourage others, particularly fresh water marinas, to participate.” said Danko.
The marinas which have maintained their Clean Marina status include: Baywood Marina, Brick; Brennan Boat Works, Brick; Bridge Marina; Brown’s Boat Yard, Inc., Parlin; Green Cove Marina, Brick; Hagler’s Marina, Brant Beach; Morrison’s Beach Haven Marina, Beach Haven; Ocean Gate Yacht Basin; Inc., Ocean Gate; Sherman’s Boat Basin; Brick; Silver Cloud Harbor Marina, Forked River; Southwick’s Marina, Beach Haven Gardens; and Lake Hopatcong (the first and only freshwater marina in New Jersey to be designated a Clean Marina by the NJDEP).
The NJ Sea Grant Consortium is an affiliation of colleges, universities and other groups dedicated to advancing knowledge and stewardship of New Jersey’s marine and coastal environment. NJSGC meets its mission through innovative research, education and outreach programs. For more information about the organization and its activities, visit the NJSGC website at www.njseagrant.org, or check out its social media portals at facebook.com/NJSeaGrant and twitter.com/NJSeaGrant.