Primary research

Phase one of The Green Blue ‘s research programme was a major desk study into The Environmental Interactions of Recreational Boating and Identification of Key Datagaps (2006). This summarized the current state of knowledge and identified and prioritized further areas for research. This work led to the creation of The Green Blue’s on-line database and details of proposed research topics can be found on the Grants section of the website.

A series of Fact Sheets summarizing the findings of the report will be available shortly.

 

To fill the knowledge gaps, The Green Blue has supported the following students and organisations as part of its research programme:

• Edward Bartlett, University of Glamorgan  Environmental management of hull fouling in Cardiff Bay: Analysis of environmental significance within recreational boating.(2006).
  » Part one
  » Part two

• Dominic Hutton, Kings College London Inputs, monitoring and environmental fate of copper in relation to boat washdown on Lymington River, Hampshire. (2006)

• Kathleen Stevenson, School of Civil Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton. End of life boat hulls – the current situation and disposal options. (2006)

• Michael J Parker, School of Civil Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton. Recreational boat pollution: A study into the attitudes, behaviour and polluting activities of the recreational boating sector within the Solent region. (2007)

• Bill Parker, Suffolk Coast and Heaths Unit. Analysis and interpretation of causes of recreational disturbance to wildfowl and waders on the Stour and Orwell SPA and formulation of recommendations for managing disturbance.

• Paul Farrell, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth.  3 reports:

» A Study to Compare the Effects of Commonly Used Surfactants on the Growth of The Marine Macroalga Solieria chordalis. (2007)

» A study of testing the toxicity of environmentally friendly marine cleaning products by testing on the germination and the growth Fucus serratus. (2007)

» An investigation into toxicity effects on marine algae. (2007)

• Christine Grant, School of Civil Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton. Heavy metals in the River Hamble: Sedimentary copper and other heavy metal concentrations and their sources within the River Hamble, UK, in the context of legislative requirements.

A further tranche of students are being supported for the 2007-08 academic year. Their reports will be available in due course.

 

Other research commisioned by The Green Blue

Alternative Fuels

The Green Blue has an interest in what alternative fuels are available for recreational boating and which is the most environmentally friendly option. We commissioned a report from experts at Sustainable Energy Action (SEA) into this area and the findings will soon be available below.

» Alternative Fuels and Engine Systems in Recreational Vessels (2007).