How Sustainable Are Kayaking and Paddleboarding?

Kayaking and paddleboarding (also known as stand-up paddleboarding, or SUP) are popular water sports, and are amazing because they give us the opportunity to exercise, connect with nature, and explore our adventurous side. Luckily, both are two of the most sustainable watersports, so you can rest assured that you can enjoy them with a minimum impact on the environment. They don’t contribute to pollution, are gentle on our precious planet, and simultaneously allow us to become one with nature, which makes us appreciate it more, and therefore, take better care of it.

One of the main reasons why kayaking and paddleboarding are eco-friendly is that they don’t use gas or oil, as they are man powered. For this reason, they don’t pollute (no spills, no carbon dioxide release), but they also don’t contribute to sound pollution, as practicing these sports, whether it’s recreational or competitive, is a silent endeavor–a perk that also helps protect marine animals. Moreover, these two sports are gentle on the environment as they don’t disrupt ecosystems, and don’t cause erosion to shoreline from high speed or large wakes, as boats do.

Another positive aspect of these watersports is that, in contrast to boats, they don’t endanger marine animals, and it’s not just about the sound pollution. Vessel collisions are one of the most frequent causes of premature deaths for many endangered marine animals, and this doesn’t only happen with large commercial vessels like cruise ships, but also with smaller ones like jet skis. For instance, in Florida, the state I live in, around 100 manatees are killed by boaters every year, an endangered/threatened species. Vessels also cause habitat degradation because of pollution and its impact on water quality, as well as disturbing sediment and sediment-dwelling organisms, which affects marine animal’s food sources, something you don’t have to worry about with SUP and kayaks.

HOW TO BE ECO-FRIENDLY WHEN KAYAKING AND PADDLEBOARDING

For your kayaking and paddleboarding experience to be the most environmentally friendly it can be, follow these tips, and enjoy soaking up the sun, exploring nature, and taking care of this wonderful planet of ours!

1.      Use vegan, cruelty-free, and reef safe sunscreen to keep your skin safe from the sun and simultaneously take care of the environment.

2.      Renting is a great way to lower your environmental footprint in these watersports, but if you want to have your own kayak or paddleboard, buy them secondhand. Giving a second chance to any item is always beneficial and, besides, you will be avoiding buying new kayaks or paddleboards, made with virgin plastics, composites and metals.

3.      Stay away from gravel areas with shallow waters, as fish may be spawning (leaving eggs). Save the baby fishies!

4.      Keep a prudent distance from any marine creatures you encounter on your adventure. Getting too close to them can be dangerous, invasive, but also illegal. For instance, in Florida, manatees are protected by law. It’s illegal to (intentionally or not), annoy, molest, harass, or disturb manatees, and violating this state law can cost you a $500 fine, imprisonment for up to 60 days, or a conviction on the federal level of a $50,000 fine and one year in prison. These laws are there for a reason. Admire them from far away and let them be!

5.      Clean your kayaks and paddleboards after using them. This way, you prevent the spread of invasive species or diseases when you carry them from one body of water to another and maintain healthy local ecosystems.

6.      Take a bag to use as a garbage bin, especially if you’re taking snacks with you. No littering is sustainability 101!

7.      Enjoy the silence of the ocean. The sound of waves is cathartic, and you will also avoid disturbing the animals in their habitats. Leave your speakers at home, talk softly if you’re with someone else, and enjoy nature in its rawest form.

8.      Another important thing to take care of our precious waters and the living creatures than inhabit them is to avoid dragging paddleboards and kayaks over ground, the beaches, gravel beds (as mentioned before), and sliding them down the bank.

By following these tips, you can make sure that your kayak or paddleboarding adventure is as sustainable as it can be! Enjoy nature, exercise, and the healing powers of the sun and water.

If you’d like to read my future posts, please don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter!

Hi, I’m Melina,

I’m the creator of Sustainable Rookie, and my goal is to share what I learn throughout my sustainability journey, so that I can help other people live a more conscious life.

If you liked this post, you may also enjoy: