...IT'S YOUR ENVIRONMENT...

THE FOLLOWING IS A SAFE BOATING MESSAGE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT WILMINGTON, CENTER FOR MARINE SCIENCE.

THE COASTAL OCEAN RESEARCH AND MONITORING PROGRAM, LOCATED AT UNCW, WOULD LIKE TO REMIND BOATERS TO BRING ALL OF THEIR TRASH BACK INTO LAND AT THE END OF THEIR BOATING DAY. GARBAGE BAGS, CANS, BOTTLES AND PLASTIC ARE ALL DETRIMENTAL TO THE OCEAN ECOSYSTEM HEALTH, FISHERIES POPULATIONS, AND MARINE MAMMALS. LARGE FLOATING DEBRIS, SUCH AS TRASH BAGS, FISHING LINES AND OLD ANCHOR LINES MAY BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD TO BOATERS. THIS DEBRIS CAN BECOME TANGLED IN BOAT PROPS, CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINES AND PROPS.

OUR EFFORTS TO KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL SHOULD EXTEND TO OUR OCEANS TOO. WE ARE ALL PARTNERS IN THE EFFORT TO PROTECT OUR RESOURCES. PLEASE PICK UP ANY FLOATING TRASH THAT MANY MARINE MAMMALS MISTAKE FOR FOOD AND BE SURE TO PLACE A CONTAINER ON YOUR BOAT SPECIFICALLY FOR GARBAGE SO THAT YOU CAN DISPOSE OF IT PROPERLY WHEN YOU RETURN TO SHORE. LET'S ALL WORK TOGETHER TO KEEP OUR COASTAL OCEAN CLEAN SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO USE IT FOR RECREATION AND AS A SOURCE FOR FOOD.

THIS MESSAGE WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT WILMINGTON CENTER FOR MARINE SCIENCE.

 ...YOU'RE IN COMMAND. BOAT RESPONSIBLY!...

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