From a certain length, pleasure boats stationed in New Caledonia must be equipped with toilets and manage their waste water. The government of New Caledonia took this decision in connection with the shark plan.
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Notice to Caledonian boaters. Meeting this Wednesday, March 29 in a collegiate session, the government took a decision concerning the treatment of wastewater on boats in marinas and at anchor in bays. It has, in fact, modified a text related to the safety and habitability of ships. “It comes to put in place regulations on the treatment of gray water-black water which was not planned until now in New Caledonia”explains Christopher Gygès, at the origin of this development with another member of the government, Gilbert Tyuienon.
Alignment with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships. “Grey water” is the not too dirty water produced on board by sinks, showers, washing up or cleaning the deck. “Black water” is very dirty water from toilets. According to the report transmitted by the government, any vessel concerned will have to “be equipped with toilets and either a system for the recovery and storage of black water resulting from their use, or a system for the treatment of black water, as well as a system for the recovery and storage of gray water “.
The new standard will apply to pleasure craft exceeding eight meters. These measures will be mandatory for all new vessels registered in Caledonia, as soon as this order has been published in the official newspaper. Owners of existing vessels will have one year to come into compliance.
What about sharks? “The development of marinas and the increasing density of pleasure craft in some areas has raised serious concern about the potential damage that pleasure boating activity could cause to the marine environment, and potentially increasing shark risk in recent years”we read in the press release of the government. “Therefore, the development of recreational activities must be accompanied by appropriate measures to minimize their impact on the environment of coastal areas.” In May 2019, it was in a marina in Noumea that little Anthony was very seriously injured by a shark.
The regulations triggered on Wednesday “was a strong request from the shark plan committees, where there is the province Sudthe town hall of Noumea and the government of New Caledonia”, specifies the elected Loyalists. Christopher Gygès announces the signing of“a convention very soon” with various measures related to shark risk, and “different proposals depending on the competences of the communities. For New Caledonia, we had the competence to regulate these gray water-black water treatments”.
