Enabling Boaters to Safely Dispose of Used Oil

Oil easily enters the marine environment and quickly contaminates waters, becomes difficult to remove  and endangers wildlife. Save Ours Shores has been providing boater education and tools to reduce oil contamination through our innovative DockWalker Program since 1995.

Reducing oil contamination requires adequate facilities for proper disposal of used oil and oily bilge water in our harbors and boater awareness of the dangers of oil contamination and the presence of oil disposal facilities.

According to research done by the CA Coastal Commission, one of the three most common sources of information for boaters is word of mouth. The DockWalker program provides one-on-one outreach to help boaters safely discard used oil and waste products by educating boaters about the problems associated with small oil spills, how to clean up spills using absorbent pads, and oil collection services in the harbor.

The success of the DockWalker Program relies on our volunteers...

DockWalker volunteers are people from all walks of life who empower boaters to do the right thing by offering information on proper disposal of oil and hazardous materials. One day trainings are held a couple times each year to prepare volunteers to work in our harbors.

Save Our Shores' DockWalker volunteers work in the Pillar Point, Santa Cruz, Moss Landing and Monterey Harbors throughout the summer months. A typical DockWalker shift is 3-4 hours and consists of handing free educational and oil spill clean up materials to boaters.

In 2008, Save Our Shores is proud to partner with the County of Monterey to implement this important program.  

Our next DockWalker training is in Monterey on May 3, 2008.
Contact Kate for more information.