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TARPON SPRINGS – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), together with the
Clean Boating Partnership, today recognized Turtle Cove Marina as a member of the Florida
Clean Marina
Program. Located in Pinellas County, the facility is the 167th designated Clean Marina in the state and
the 19th in the county.
“Florida has more than 2,000 marinas, and facilities such as the Turtle Cove Marina play an important
role in the protection of our waterways and marine resources,” said Deborah Getzoff, Director of DEP’s
Southwest District Office. “This marina has taken the initiative to preserve the state’s natural resources
and lead the boating industry by example.”
Florida Clean Marina Program facilities are required to meet a variety of best management practices to
receive designation. These practices include, but are not limited to, properly storing and disposing of
used oil, using fertilizers and pesticides according to directions and using cleaning methods that prevent
the release of pollutants.
"It's an honor for Turtle Cove to receive the Clean Marina designation from DEP,” stated Turtle Cove Marina
President Edward Spaeth. “As an avid boater and Floridian, it's important to me to preserve Florida's waterfront
and boaters' access for years to come. Turtle Cove's motto, "A New Generation of Marinas" speaks for itself and
our commitment to protect the environment and to educate boaters."
The Clean Boating Partnership is a consortium of industry leaders who contribute time and input to the
Clean Marina,
Clean Boatyard, Clean Marine Retailer and Clean Boater programs, which DEP administers, to protect Florida’s waterways.
The partnership includes DEP, Marine Industries Association of Florida, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission, University of Florida Sea Grant Program, United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary.
“The Clean Boating Partnership congratulates the Turtle Cove Marina for its commitment to Florida’s environment,”
said the Partnership’s Chair John Naybor. “The dedication and hard work in becoming a Clean Marina is an accomplishment
this facility can be proud of and we welcome them to our growing Clean Marina family.”
With more than one million registered motorized vessels in Florida, environmental education within marine industries
is the first step towards safeguarding the state’s natural resources. By providing “green” education and alternatives,
the Florida Clean Marina Program helps ensure a sustainable future for the environment and the billion-dollar marine
industry. For more information about the Florida Clean Marina Program, visit
www.dep.state.fl.us/cleanmarina.
DEP’s Office of Sustainable Initiatives is comprised of three voluntary, non-regulatory programs that assist Florida
industry and citizens in protecting the environment. The Clean Marina Program, the Florida
Green Lodging Program and
the Florida Pollution Prevention Program offer a variety of services including on-site assessments, consultations,
speakers and workshops, all at no cost to citizens or organizations. The goal of the Sustainable Initiatives programs
is to meet the needs of the present population without compromising resources for future generations. To learn more
about DEP’s Sustainable Initiatives, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/green/.
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