Boating & Recreation Tips: Having Fun Responsibly

For people who visit, work, and live in Hawai’i, the ocean is home to some of our favorite activities, and Maunalua Bay is no exception! While some spend their time boating and fishing, others participate in a variety of paddle sports, diving, and swimming. To ensure we can keep enjoying these activities without compromising the health of the ocean ecosystem, we must take steps to clean, protect, and have awareness. Here are our top boating and recreation tips to have fun responsibly!

Boating Tips:

1. Monitor the Weather Before Going & During

• • Avoid dangerous situations for you, your boat, and the habitat around you by monitoring weather conditions & tide predictions
  • Check the Marine Forecast before going out
  • Stay informed while at sea with the NOAA Weather Radio 
  • Know the tide predictions & check conditions where you’ll be boating at weather buoys in the area to make sure wind and waves are appropriate for your boat

2. Use Nautical Maps to Navigate & Know What is Beneath You

• • NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey maps the seafloor and creates charts that assist in marine navigation. Recreational boaters can download printable and electronic nautical charts, which can be used to plot destinations & help protect sensitive habitats
  • How up-to-date Nautical Maps can be Useful:
    • Allows boaters to navigate safely and smoothly by being aware of tidal range and navigational beacons
    • Keeps boats safe and prevents damage to habitats by allowing boaters to identify underwater features such as submerged grass, coral reefs and oyster beds

3. Check for Hazards Before you Anchor & Use a Mooring Ball when Possible

• • Coral reefs are slow growing & fragile. One anchor drop can cause serious damage & destroy years of growth for coral.
  • Be aware of the anchor chain damaging coral and other organisms. Wind and currents can cause the boat to change direction causing the chain or anchor to come in contact with reef or drag along the seabed.

4. Run Aground? Turn off your Engine

• • Do NOT Motor Off Reef or Sea Floor as this can cause serious damage to not only the boat, but the habitat area as well
  • Call or use radio to get assistance if you cannot raise your engine and float off, or free your keel by heeling over

5. Learn about what is Permitted & Prohibited on Regulated Fishing Areas on O’ahu

• • REGULATED FISHING AREAS ON O’AHU
  • Stay updated on the new rules & regulations regarding fishing. Due to the fish population being depleted in Maunalua Bay, the Fisheries Management Area (FMA) is currently working on a proposal to implement new rules & regulations within the bay. The FMA’s efforts are intended to improve fish data & implement sustainable fishing ethics within the bay.

6. Keep a Sharp Look out for Divers, Whales, Etc.

• • Divers must mark their positions with a dive flag & boaters must watch for and avoid dive flags with no wake within 200 feet
  • Learn about Boating with Whales to avoid hitting & disrupting wildlife. It is illegal to approach a humpback whale within 100 yards.

7. Properly Secure your Trash & Gear

• • Secure your trash onboard to prevent marine animals from ingesting or getting entangled in debris
  • It is also illegal to dump garbage overboard in any U.S. water or sea

Recreation Tips:

• Know what the coral look like in the area. Do not step on or touch the coral (might look like a rock)
• Don’t stir the sediment (be mindful of feet or paddles if in shallow water) to prevent spread of diseases in marine life
• Do not chase, touch, or feed marine life
• Monitor the weather and currents
• Leave it better than you found it – pick up any trash you see
• Stay quiet; don’t scare the animals you see
• Don’t collect shells as they are used for homes by sea creatures

Other Recreation Resources for You:

• Paddle Sports Safety Course 
• Connect and learn more about the ocean by reading our blog World Ocean Day- The Importance of our Ocean