"Although the environmental impacts of boating are often small in the big picture, their local effects can be very significant."
Jutta Vuolamo, PSS ry.
Who are you and what do you do?
What does boating mean or signify to you or the organization you represent?
Boating personally means access to my favorite sceneries. As a biologist, I am interested in archipelago nature and its diverse ecosystems. For PSS ry, boating is an important part of our activities, as many of our members are boaters. Since its founding, the association's core activities have been closely connected to boating and boaters through our environmental work, projects, and communications. Our project work focuses on issues directly related to boating (littering, eutrophication, and chemical pollution).
What are slime, algae, and barnacles, and how do they form?
Slime: Slime forming on the boat surface can consist of several species, usually including bacteria and various algae. The species forming the slime can vary regionally and often require microscopic examination to identify precisely. The species in slime do not arise from nowhere but are likely found naturally in the water area on stones, aquatic plants, or various structures, or in the water mass. A clean boat hull provides a surface for these species to attach to.
Algae: When referring to algae on boat hulls, it often means filamentous algae such as green hair algae (Cladophora). This species grows quickly and attaches easily to any hard surface. Green hair algae clearly benefits from the eutrophication of the Baltic Sea. Besides algae, many other species may be found attached to the boat hull or among the algae.
Barnacle: The barnacle is a crustacean originally from the Atlantic that came to the Baltic Sea via ships around the 1840s. In its larval stage, the barnacle is less than a millimeter and free-swimming in the water before attaching to surfaces like stones, piers, or boat hulls and growing into an adult. Once attached, barnacles do not move. They prefer saltier waters and do not occur in the Bothnian Bay or inland waters.
What’s happening at Keep the Archipelago Clean Association in the 2021 season?
We intend to prepare an information package covering the changes brought by the EU Biocidal Products Regulation regarding toxic paints and hull cleaning sites, primarily aimed at Roope marinas.
Greetings:Although the environmental impacts of boating are often small overall, their local effects can be very significant. It is worth trying toxin-free alternatives to keep the boat hull clean and discussing different options especially with dealers or manufacturers to find a method that suits your boat. You can also find tips for toxin-free boating on the PSS ry website. Let’s take care of our waterways together!