PLANIFIER ET PRÉPARER
● Know the regulations and permit requirements for your activities.
● Check charts, tides, and weather.
● Leave a float plan with your onshore contact and use only a well-maintained vessel.
● Wear a Coast Guard-approved and serviceable PFD if boating.
● Bring a communication device and know emergency numbers.
● Be aware of rip currents and submerged objects.
● Hydrate before and on the water.
● Protect against sunburn and insect bites using reef-friendly products.
VOYAGER ET CAMPER SUR DES SURFACES DURABLES
● Focus activity where vegetation is absent.
● Durable surfaces include rock, gravel, and sand.
● Be aware of sensitive habitats such as tide pools and vegetated dunes.
● Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites. Do not camp below the high tide mark.
● Where camping is permitted, select a campsite large enough for your group.
● In undeveloped areas, disperse your activities to prevent the creation of new campsites and trails.
● Leave campsites clean and natural looking.
ÉLIMINER LES DÉCHETS DE MANIÈRE APPROPRIÉE
● Pack it in, Pack it out. Trash is one of the greatest threats to marine wildlife.
● Arrange to pack out your waste (and other collected debris) to avoid overwhelming existing trash receptacles or recycle bins.
● Avoid single-use plastics and styrofoam. Choose reusable items and use fewer disposable ones.
● Properly dispose of fishing line and tackle by using available trash cans or packing it out.
● Know if your waterfront location offers restroom facilities. Plan your day accordingly if restrooms are not present.
● If pets are permitted, be prepared to pick up after them and dispose of waste bags in a trash can.
LAISSEZ CE QUE VOUS TROUVEZ
● Leave historical artifacts where and how you find them.
● Take only pictures and leave only bubbles while diving or snorkeling.
● When shell collecting is permitted, make sure shells are empty. Otherwise, do not remove shells or natural objects from the shoreline.
● Clean watercraft, tents, fishing equipment, and other gear after every trip. Water, mud, and soil may contain harmful seeds, spores, or tiny plants and animals.
● Never discard or release live bait.
● Fill any holes, trenches, or canals dug into the sand, unstack rocks, level sandcastles and other structures that can hinder the movement of wildlife across the terrain.
MINIMISER L'IMPACT DES FEUX DE CAMP
● Minimize campfire impacts by using stoves.
● Where fires are permitted, use a fire pan or designated fire ring for open fires.
● Always have 2-4 gallons of water available to drown out your campfire.
● Elevate fire pans and use a fire blanket to catch embers.
● Use dead and downed wood no larger than an adult’s wrist to keep the fire small.
● If bringing your firewood, purchase locally to avoid invasive species spread.
● Burn all wood and charcoal to ash. Carry out cold ashes with other garbage.
● Fill fire pit holes to prevent trapping or injuring wildlife.
RESPECTER LA FAUNE ET LA FLORE
● Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
● Respect temporary barriers and/or markers indicating sensitive ecosystems (habitat restoration projects), nesting sites (shore birds/sea turtles), etc.
● Practice sustainable fishing methods and know the local regulations.
● Never feed wildlife; it damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other dangers.
● Protect wildlife by securely storing food, trash, and anything with a scent.
● When pets are permitted, control them and keep them on a leash.
ÊTRE ATTENTIF AUX AUTRES
● Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
● Respect the experience of others by being mindful of your group’s noise level.
● Move quickly off of boat ramps and launches to make space for others.
● ‘Adopt’ your favorite launch site or shoreline section and regularly visit to help clean up.
● Encourage others to join you in beach/shoreline clean-up events.
PLANIFIER ET PRÉPARER
● Know the regulations and permit requirements for your activities.
● Learn the meaning of channel and zone markers and understand the rules that apply across all zones.
● Leave your float plan with a contact and use only a well-maintained vessel with the proper U.S. Coast Guard-approved safety equipment.
● Wear a Coast Guard-approved and serviceable PFD when boating.
● Check the charts, weather, and tides.
● Bring a communication device and know emergency numbers.
● Have a sober operator with the necessary qualifications and local experience.
TRAVEL ACROSS DURABLE SURFACES
● Avoid anchoring on hard bottom or in seagrass and use mooring buoys when available.
● Stay in navigable waters or operate slowly and use a depth finder.
● Maintain proper buoyancy while diving, snorkeling, or swimming.
● Never rest, walk, or stand on corals.
ÉLIMINER LES DÉCHETS DE MANIÈRE APPROPRIÉE
● Trash is one of the greatest threats to marine wildlife. Pick up litter and recycle when possible. If you’re on a boat, be sure to secure your trash on board.
● Avoid single-use plastics. Choose reusable items and use fewer disposable ones.
● Keep fish and lobster carcasses out of nearshore waters or canals.
● Properly dispose of fishing lines and tackle into available trash cans or pack them out.
● Secure items when running or trailering.
● Utilize self-contained portable toilets or marine sanitation devices for human waste.
LAISSEZ CE QUE VOUS TROUVEZ
● Leave historical artifacts where and how you find them.
● Take only pictures and leave only bubbles while diving or snorkeling.
● When shell collecting is permitted, make sure shells are empty.
● Clean watercraft, fishing, scuba, snorkeling, and other gear after every trip.
● Never discard or release live bait.
LIMIT USE AND PREVENT DISCHARGE OF POLLUTANTS
● Utilize pump-outs.
● Use non-toxic cleaning chemicals, eco-friendly bottom paints, and reef-safe sunscreens.
● Use absorbent pads or other fuel capture devices when fueling; don’t overfill to prevent vent spills.
● Report oil, chemical, and hazardous waste spills.
RESPECTER LA FAUNE ET LA FLORE
● Even when watching wildlife from a vessel, maintain a proper distance.
● Practice sustainable fishing methods and know the local regulations.
● Research and use the appropriate style of traps per regulations.
● Retrieve your traps at the end of the season, even if the buoy is missing.
● Avoid touching, feeding, or harassing marine life as it endangers them and you.
ÊTRE ATTENTIF AUX AUTRES
● Keep a safe distance and speed when passing, meeting, or overtaking another vessel. Always be respectful and conscientious.
● Display a flag from the vessel’s highest point only when divers/snorkelers are in the water.
● Respect diver-down flags. Maintain a distance of at least 300 feet from divers-down flags. If you must approach proceed slowly, maintaining a sharp lookout.
● Be aware of your speed and proximity to others, including your boat wakes.