Boat bottom paint causes many ecological dangers according to Cornell Cooperative Extension

Most of the products that are used on boat bottoms or in boat maintenance are extremely toxic.”

Tamson Yeh, pest management/turf specialists, Cornell Cooperative

Now that spring weather has begun to arrive on the North Shore, many locals are looking forward to getting their boats back in the water. Representatives from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk are trying to inform these would-be sailors and boat owners of the ecological damage caused by boat paint, so people can enjoy the water without hurting the environment.

Cornell, a nonprofit educational organization, seeks to use some of the environmental and ecological research done at Cornell University to educate New York communities. The group’s Suffolk County branch frequently works with local partners throughout Long Island, including groups like the Coalition to Save Harbor and Friends of the Bay, on projects to improve local waterways.

One of the many programs that Cornell is involved in is the pest management program for Suffolk County, due to a problem the county has with excess pesticide use. A major part of the pesticide damage is coming from the paint used for boat bottoms, which are listed as a pesticide as part of their utility is to keep aquatic pests like barnacles off.

Tamson Yeh, one of Cornell’s pest management/turf specialists, explained that people inadvertently damage the environment while cleaning and painting their vessels because they don’t know that boat paint is a pesticide. So Yeh and one of her colleagues came up with the idea to do an educational tour, to teach boat-owners throughout Long Island about the do’s and don’ts of boat painting.

“People get confused about boat bottom paints,” Yeh explained. “So, we’ve been trying to make things better for a very long time, trying to reduce the confusion.”

After receiving a grant from the New York Pollution Prevention Institute, Yeh began traveling around Long Island educating boat owners on everything they will need to know about boat bottom paints. Yeh recently gave a presentation at the Bayville Library, where she covered everything from the different kind of paints to the different ways to responsibly organize a painting station.

Most of the information provided in the educational program consists of practical knowledge, with a large emphasis on the painting and cleaning processes. Yeh discussed pertinent changes boat-owners should make, such as to postpone projects during high wind or rain conditions to reduce chances of wet paint entering the waterways or using a tarp underneath the boat while painting.

Other parts of the presentation was more specific and detailed, such as discussing algae fouling, which is the buildup of microorganisms on the hull of the ship which enables larger creatures like barnacles to eventually latch on. Yeh also described the damage that these paints can cause to local wildlife, such as destroying the natural oils in fish gills that enables them to breathe.

“Most of the products that are used on boat bottoms or in boat maintenance are extremely toxic,” Yeh explained. “So, one of the things that we want to do is improve people’s understanding and improve people’s best management practices.”

Yeh also spent some time discussing the legal paperwork and issues that come with not knowing enough about boat bottom paint. Because boat bottom paint is considered a pesticide, boat owners have to register for exemptions with the Citizens Advisory Committee, and many often forget to do so.

In addition to the presentations, the grant gave Cornell the funds to create accompanying educational literature, such as a manual which contains much of the information and which is available as a PowerPoint presentation and video as well, and public service announcements which they distributed over the radio. They have also set up a website which contains all of the information included in the presentation, as well as surveys. To find it go to ccemarinedigitaled.org/pollution-prevention-boat-bottom.

Although libraries and other local organizations have responded to Yeh not many attendees have showed up, despite the prevalence of boat owners on the North Shore. She has not given up however, and even though the grant is over Yeh is committed to informing the L.I. community about boat bottom paint hazzards.