Can preventing pollution save money? Since 1993, we've been talking about how to prevent pollution from boats and boat maintenance. Boaters understand that every little bit of pollution adds up. Taken as a whole, this pollution can affect the beauty of the water and the health of the fish and birds that make boating (and fishing from boats) a grand experience.
So what about a return on the pollution prevention investment? High property values near lakeshores, coastlines and wetlands illustrate the value of clean water and abundant fish and birds. Here in San Diego County, California a coastal house is a multi-million dollar investment and even a coastal-view condo is beyond most budgets.
Saltwater sportfishing is often overlooked when we talk about boaters. Yet, coastal anglers spent $3 billion dollars in California during 2006, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service. About $2 billion stayed in California and the other $1 billion benefited other states.
Government benefited, too, receiving $317 million in federal taxes and another $216 million in state and local tax revenues just from coastal angling in California. (Can we fish our way out of government deficits?!?)
Seafood quality depends on clean water and sediment (bottom mud). Halibut and white seabass are popular foodfish -- California commercial landings were worth $3.44 million in 2009. These fish live in bays when they are young.
Harbors need regular dredging to maintain depth for navigation. Clean sediments are much cheaper to dredge and dispose. The Santa Cruz Port District calculated back in 1994 that, if the 10,000 cubic yards they dredged each year were disposed as hazardous waste, slip rental rates would rise by $1.50 per foot of boat length. Because toxicants from hull paints and maintenance products contaminate harbor sediment, preventing pollution can save marina tenants money.
For more information on the economics (and environmental impacts) of boating pollution download our newly updated fact sheet: "Boating Pollution Economics and Impacts," from the Boating and Marina Pollution Prevention page or the Publications page of our website.