Boaties, check you know the Bay of Islands discharge rules!

In our harbours, untreated sewage can contaminate the shellfish we eat or make water unsafe for swimming for a long time after it's discharged.

Dispose of your boat sewage properly. No discharging untreated sewage in the dark blue areas highlighted on the map below!

• Within all Northland harbours and the Bay of Islands
• Less than 500 m from the high-tide mark
• Less than 500 m from a marine farm
• Less than 200 m from a marine reserve

Alternatively, pump it out at a marina pumping facility.

Download the Bay of Islands - marine effluent non-discharge area map

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• Boat sewage is much more concentrated than sewage from land because it has not been diluted or treated. It is estimated that an untreated discharge from a single weekend boatie can put the same quantity of bacterial pollution into the water as the treated sewage from thousands of people on land.
• Boat sewage can contaminate the water with long-living viruses and nasties which can cause harmful diseases, like Hepatitis A, or severe stomach upsets.
• Shellfish can become unsafe to eat for weeks after exposure to sewage as they are filter feeders – they concentrate viruses and other nasties in the water. Shellfish in estuaries and bays are particularly at risk because any contaminated water in them usually takes longer to flush out.

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For full details visit the Northland Reginal Councils website: https://www.nrc.govt.nz/Maritime/Our-marine-environment/Marine-pollution/