Is Sailing Environmentally Friendly? ECOMARINAS Launches an Educational Campaign for Marinas and Sailors
At the height of the sailing season, the MARE Foundation, together with the partners of the international ECOMARINAS project, is launching an educational campaign aimed at marinas, sailors and the general public to raise awareness of the impact of recreational sailing and motorised water sports on the marine environment. From wastewater and invasive species to antifouling paints, hazardous substances, plastic waste and underwater noise, the campaign highlights that sailing can be environmentally friendly – but it is not inherently so. It also reminds us that caring for the Baltic Sea does not begin out on the open water, but in the marina and with the everyday choices we make on board – and on land. Traveller and sailor Monika Witkowska has become the campaign’s Ambassador.
The Baltic Sea is shallow, semi-enclosed and particularly vulnerable. Oceanographic modelling indicates that it is characterised by a so-called “Memory Effect”, meaning that pollutants and nutrients entering the sea can remain in the ecosystem for decades. Water-soluble pollutants and nutrients may take around 26 years to decrease by half, and it can take AS LONG AS 100 YEARS for contamination levels to fall below 10% of their original level.
In a sea that “remembers”, small decisions repeated over time can leave a lasting mark.[1]
The ECOMARINAS project draws attention to an area that often remains in the background of discussions about human pressures on the marine environment. While the impact of large ships, ports and industry on the Baltic Sea receives considerable attention, much less is said about recreational sailing and motorised water sports. What we do know, however, is that the impact of recreational boating in Poland is growing significantly.
According to registration data provided by the Maritime Office in Szczecin, the number of vessels entered in the Polish register increased from 63,041 at the end of 2023 to 102,364 at the end of 2025. The vast majority (88%) were recreational vessels.[2] Unfortunately, reliable data on the total number of registered recreational vessels across the entire Baltic Sea region are lacking. Available estimates suggest that as many as approximately 3.5 million recreational vessels may be operating in the Baltic Sea, primarily in coastal waters, illustrating the scale of the phenomenon.[3] In addition, during the summer season, recreational boating is concentrated in marinas, bays, shallow coastal waters and areas of particular ecological importance.
The ECOMARINAS campaign focuses on education around six key areas in which sailing can affect the marine environment. Wastewater from boats, hazardous substances (detergents, fuel residues, oils, paints and varnishes), plastic waste, underwater noise and invasive species transported on boat hulls – when multiplied across hundreds of thousands of vessels, these pressures can place a significant burden on the Baltic Sea and pose a serious threat to its ecosystems. This impact can be reduced through conscious choices made both in marinas and on board.
“Wastewater from boats does not simply disappear once it is discharged. Blackwater and greywater can introduce nitrogen and phosphorus into the Baltic Sea – nutrients that contribute to eutrophication, leading to excessive algal and cyanobacterial blooms, reduced water transparency and lower oxygen levels. HELCOM continues to identify eutrophication as one of the Baltic Sea’s most serious environmental problems. According to the ‘State of the Baltic Sea 2023’ report, as much as 90% of the Baltic Sea is currently affected by eutrophication. That is why, through ECOMARINAS, we emphasise that using pump-out facilities and wastewater reception points, as well as choosing less environmentally harmful detergents, is not an optional extra in responsible sailing – it is a fundamental part of it,” comments Olga Sarna from the MARE Foundation.
“From a city’s perspective, a marina is more than just a place to moor boats. It is where recreation, infrastructure, public services and responsibility for the sea come together. ECOMARINAS shows that local authorities and marina operators can make a real difference in how we use the water – not through restrictions, but by introducing new infrastructure, providing education and promoting environmentally responsible practices,” says Urszula Krojec from the Gdańsk Sports Centre (Gdański Ośrodek Sportu), Project Coordinator representing the lead partner.
At the heart of the campaign is the CODE OF CONDUCT OF SEA PEOPLE – a set of principles rooted not in fear of punishment, but in ethics and responsibility. The Code reminds us that People of the Sea treat the water with respect, remember that they are guests rather than owners, choose to do what is right even when the law does not require it, and turn their declarations into action.
Monika Witkowska, traveller, sailor and Ambassador of the ECOMARINAS project, says: “Sailing teaches us freedom, but also humility. Out on the water, it quickly becomes clear that we are not above the forces of nature. If we truly love the Baltic Sea, we also need to remember what does not appear in our sailing photos: wastewater, chemicals, noise, fuel, waste and the species we may carry on our boat hulls. Taking responsibility for the sea does not take away our freedom – instead, it gives us a chance for a better future.”
The ECOMARINAS campaign, which aims to raise awareness and encourage a shift in mindset, will be carried out in Poland, Lithuania, Sweden and Germany through social media (including the ECOMARINAS and MARE Foundation channels), traditional media, as well as in ports and marinas.
“We encourage marinas to join the campaign by adopting the Code of Conduct of Sea People, displaying educational posters, informing users about wastewater and waste reception facilities, and developing practices that help reduce pressure on the marine environment. Every marina that joins the campaign becomes more than just a place to moor boats – it becomes a hub for education and meaningful change,” adds Olga Sarna from the MARE Foundation.
There will also be plenty of opportunities to meet us in person! On 25 and 26 July, the ECOMARINAS educational stand will be present at Gdynia Sailing Days 2026, Poland’s largest sailing event. Then, on 30 July, a special event will take place on the beach in Brzeźno, Gdańsk, featuring the unveiling of ARE YOU A PERSON OF THE SEA? – a unique art installation by Tri-City artist Linda Lemon, created especially for the project. On the day, Gdańsk residents and visitors will also be able to stop by the MARE Foundation tent to learn more about the project and the campaign. A range of educational activities for all ages is planned – and we will be sharing more details about the event soon.
The ECOMARINAS project is implemented by eight organisations from four Baltic Sea countries under the Interreg South Baltic Programme 2021–2027. The project is led by the Gdańsk Sports Centre, with the following partners: the Office of the Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodeship, the Municipality of Tolkmicko, Klaipėda University, Neringa Municipality Administration, Slottsholmen Marina Västervik, Coastal Union Germany, and the MARE Foundation. The project runs from July 2024 to June 2027.
Since the project began, the partners have carried out study visits and educational activities in Poland, Lithuania, Sweden and Germany, exploring solutions used in marinas, ports, and water and wastewater infrastructure. The lessons learned from these activities form the foundation of the campaign: change is not simply about installing new equipment. It also requires a shift in how we think about marina management and our responsibility for the sea.
Photos: Edyta Bielatowicz / Fundacja MARE
Graphic design of the posters: Aleksander Skrok
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[1] Lin, M., She, J., Murawski, J., Hou, X., & Qiao, J. (2023). Long-term environmental risks of the Baltic Sea's "memory effect" revealed by ocean modeling and observation of reprocessing-derived radiotracers. Journal of Hazardous Materials.
[2] Dane Urzędu Morskiego w Szczecinie: na koniec 2025 r. 88% jednostek wpisanych do polskiego rejestru stanowiły jednostki rekreacyjne, 74,7% miało główny napęd mechaniczny, a 66,8% było jednostkami morskimi.
[3] Baltic LINes (2016). “Shipping in the Baltic Sea – Past, present and future developments relevant for Maritime Spatial Planning. Project Report I,” December 20, 2016. VASAB. https://vasab.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Baltic-LINes-Shipping_Report-20122016.pdf
