Fishing Creek Landings Marina Is 25th Certified Clean Marina

Calvert County's Fishing Creek Landings Marina in Chesapeake Beach has earned the distinction of being named the 25th certified Clean Marina in Maryland. The Clean Marina designation indicates that Fishing Creek Landings Marina has met the rigorous pollution prevention standards established by Maryland's Clean Marina Committee and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as part of the agency's Clean Marina Initiative (CMI).

Dave and Pam Sisson purchased Fishing Creek Landings Marina in 1995, and have been busy making improvements ever since. For example, their staff routinely places a square of oil absorbent material around the nozzle of a fuel dispenser before handing the hose to customers. The polypro- pylene pad catches any fuel that backs up in the fill pipe.

"Most of our customers enjoy fishing," said Dave Sisson. "By making improvements to the marina, we are protecting the habitat that supports the fish and crabs. Environmental protection is good for our business and for the Chesapeake Bay."

"Certified Clean Marinas have something to teach all of us," said Clean Marina Coordinator Elizabeth Fuller Valentine. "Fishing Creek Landings and the other marinas embody the conservation ethic of individual responsibility for healthy land and water. Just as importantly, they are demonstrating that business interests can be compatible with environmental protection." CMI promotes and celebrates voluntary adoption of measures to reduce pollution from marinas, boat yards, yacht clubs, and recreational boats.

Each of the 25 Clean Marinas has implemented measures to control pollution associated with vessel maintenance and repair, petroleum storage and transfer, sewage disposal, solid, liquid and hazardous wastes, stormwater runoff, and facilities management.

Recognized Clean Marinas may use the Clean Marina logo in their advertising and on their letterhead. They also receive a flag to fly from their facility, a page on the Clean Marina web site (www.dnr.state.md.us/boating), and promotion in Clean Marina publications.

Signing the Clean Marina pledge is the first step toward receiving recognition as an environmentally-responsible marina. So far, 112 marinas have taken the pledge. The initiative's organizers hope to convert all those pledges into Clean Marina certifications. There are approximately 600 marinas in Maryland and the CMI's goal is to certify 150 of those as Clean Marinas by 2004.

For more details about the Maryland Clean Marina Initiative, call the Department of Natural Resources at (877) 620-8DNR, ext. 8770, or check DNR's website at www.dnr.state.md.us/boating.

Posted: 2-15-2001