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Environment

Paint On Boat Hulls Fouling Shelter Island Waters

Grant Money Offered To Boat Owners

The copper hull paint leeches from boats, harming marine life and fouling the water.

The Port of San Diego is encouraging Shelter Island boat owners to sign up for grant funding to help pay for removal of copper hull paints.

Marguerite Elicone with the Port of San Diego said the regional water quality control board found the Shelter Island Yacht Basin has extremely high levels of copper - exceeding federal and state standards.

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"The water board mandated a regulatory order on the Port of San Diego and it requires the port, marinas, yacht clubs and boaters to reduce copper pollution in this area 76 percent by 2022," said Elicone.

Elicone said removing the copper hull paint can cost up to $5,000, but the Port has grant funds available to offset those costs.

She said the port has a special event Saturday with demonstrations on how environmentally-safe hull paints prevent sea life from clinging to vessel hulls.

Elicone said there are various prizes, a raffle and other incentives offered to boat owners at the event.

She says Mark Niblack, the owner of the Stars and Stripes, which won the America's Cup in 1992, will also attend.

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The event is from 10 a.m. - noon on Saturday, Aug. 6, at Driscoll Boat Works, 2500 Shelter Island Drive.