MARINA POLICY

Policy Statement

It shall be the policy of Sierra Club, Hawai`i Chapter, that marina development be comprehensively scrutinized to address the following areas of concern, and, that on the basis of such concerns some marinas may be approved.

Areas of Concern

1. CORAL REEFS AND COASTLINES - Coral reefs and coastlines are increasingly endangered by human alteration or environmental pollution . Therefore we are opposed to the blasting or dredging associated with marina development.

2. SHORELINE CERTIFICATION - There needs to be more public scrutiny of the shoreline certification process to stop the "administrative erosion" of an important public resource.

3. PUBLIC ACCESS - Competing private uses often disrupt and impede the public`s access to its coastal resource.

4. OVERUSE - Increased use of recreational areas can lead to overfishing and to exceeding their carrying capacities.

5. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION - Marina waters often become unregulated sumps. Pollution of nearshore waters is associated with dinoflagellate blooms and may be a cause of ciguatera outbreaks. Nutrient enrichment and construction disturbance of coastal waters may be a contributing cause. Water quality is adversely affected by boating activity with its fuel and oil spills and accompanying litter. Associated private residential units may contribute to the water pollution

6. HABITAT DESTRUCTION - Marinas may cause the destruction or the degradation of biological resources. Noise, both onshore and in the marine environment, may become an increased nuisance.

7. ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES - Marina construction may cause the destruction or the degradation of archeological resources. Marina development may curtail cultural practices and site access.

8. ECONOMIC EFFECTS - Private marinas artificially elevate the real estate values and the tax assessments of lands in the area, particularly when they are associated with private residential developments. Rural life-styles, agricultural activities and "affordable" land and housing may be adversely affected by such intrusions into rural landscapes.

This Marina Policy was approved by the Sierra Club Hawai`i Chapter Executive Committee at its quarterly meetings held July 25-26, 1992.


	MARINA POLICY Policy Statement It shall be the policy of Sierra Club, Hawai`i Chapter, that marina development be comprehensively scrutinized to address the following areas of concern, and, that on the basis of such concerns some marinas may be approved. Areas of Concern 1. CORAL REEFS AND COASTLINES - Coral reefs and coastlines are increasingly endangered by human alteration or environmental pollution . Therefore we are opposed to the blasting or dredging associated with marina development. 2. SHORELINE CERTIFICATION - There needs to be more public scrutiny of the shoreline certification process to stop the "administrative erosion" of an important public resource. 3. PUBLIC ACCESS - Competing private uses often disrupt and impede the public`s access to its coastal resource. 4. OVERUSE - Increased use of recreational areas can lead to overfishing and to exceeding their carrying capacities. 5. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION - Marina waters often become unregulated sumps. Pollution of nearshore waters is associated with dinoflagellate blooms and may be a cause of ciguatera outbreaks. Nutrient enrichment and construction disturbance of coastal waters may be a contributing cause. Water quality is adversely affected by boating activity with its fuel and oil spills and accompanying litter. Associated private residential units may contribute to the water pollution 6. HABITAT DESTRUCTION - Marinas may cause the destruction or the degradation of biological resources. Noise, both onshore and in the marine environment, may become an increased nuisance. 7. ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES - Marina construction may cause the destruction or the degradation of archeological resources. Marina development may curtail cultural practices and site access. 8. ECONOMIC EFFECTS - Private marinas artificially elevate the real estate values and the tax assessments of lands in the area, particularly when they are associated with private residential developments. Rural life-styles, agricultural activities and "affordable" land and housing may be adversely affected by such intrusions into rural landscapes. This Marina Policy was approved by the Sierra Club Hawai`i Chapter Executive Committee at its quarterly meetings held July 25-26, 1992.














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