CVA Pumpout Education and Outreach in Washington: Communicating to Boaters Using a Multi Media Approach

Through the Clean Vessel Act (CVA) of 1992 and in partnership with Washington State Parks Commission since 2009, Washington Sea Grant, has been responsible for education and outreach on the impacts of boater sewage using pumpouts. Over the past four years various media messaging options have been directed at Washington boaters and some boaters from British Columbia. This paper outlines three different types of messaging avenues, how they work by comparison and how recreational boaters react to them. They are traditional print and broadcast media,electronic web-based and social media and direct person-to-person outreach.