Virtual Meeting to Cover Topics Concerning Boaters

Vivian Matuk of the California State Parks and California Coastal Commission writes to advise us of an upcoming virtual meeting. The topics will interest sailors and other waterway users.

“Join us, the California Clean Boating Network, on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, for a free and exciting educational virtual meeting,” announces Matuk. “Learn directly from California experts about top tier subjects impacting our waterways.”

Topics Include:

• The state of the microplastics science in California, how the EPA plans for monitoring and managing them, and some common misconceptions.
• The importance of monitoring sewage pumpouts and how it impacts boaters statewide.
• The impacts of expired marine flares. What California is doing to properly and safely dispose of these flares. What reusable options are available to reduce hazardous waste generation.
• The whales that reside off the coast of California. Their importance to our marine ecosystems. Challenges these whales are facing. Resources the public has to help with reporting and research.

“We look forward to sharing this knowledge with you and offering you plenty of time to ask questions.”

When and How:

• Date: Wednesday, November 9, 2022
• Time: 10 a.m. to approx. 12:15 p.m.
• You must register in advance for this meeting here. Register today to secure your virtual spot. Meeting capacity will be capped.
• After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from Zoom containing information about joining the meeting.

Details About Each Topic:

1. All the Small Things: Microplastics Monitoring and Management (Scott Coffin, Ph.D. State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water). California’s Environmental Protection Agency is the first government body in the world to require testing for microplastics, including in drinking water, marine waters, animal tissue and sediments. Dr. Coffin will discuss the state of the science and the agency’s plans for monitoring and managing microplastics. He’ll dispel some common misconceptions along the way.
2. Priming the Sewage Pumpout: Why We Monitor and How It Impacts Boaters Statewide (Georgia Tunioli, The Bay Foundation and Liz Juvera, San Francisco Estuary Partnership). Discharging sewage overboard creates environmental and human health problems, especially in a state with more than four million recreational boaters. To reduce the negative impacts of discharging sewage overboard, boaters are encouraged to use sewage management facilities, including pumpout and dump stations, floating restrooms, and mobile pumpout services. California’s Clean Vessel Act Education and Outreach teams in Northern and Southern California produced two reports this year on sewage pollution prevention: the CVA Pumpout and Dump Station Performance Report, and the Boater Sewage Disposal Survey Report. Tune in to hear about key findings and top takeaways.
3. Collaboration for Conservation. Whales off the California coast are experiencing unique challenges. Resources are available to allow anyone to become a citizen scientist and help (Danielle Tentschert, Education Manager, Ocean Connectors). This presentation will discuss the whales that reside off the coast of California, their importance to our marine ecosystems, challenges these whales are facing, and the resources the public has to help with reporting and research.
4. Expired Marine Flares in California (Vivian Matuk, California State Parks and California Coastal Commission, Yalin Li, California Product Stewardship Council and Cristian Centeno, Port of Los Angeles). Learn about the impacts of expired marine flares and what California is doing to properly and safely dispose of these flares, and what reusable options are available to reduce hazardous waste generation.

Register here, sooner rather than later.