Final answer:
Boats longer than 26 feet must display a garbage dumping placard. Disposal of boat garbage is regulated by international and national laws to protect marine ecosystems, prohibiting dumping plastic and regulating other waste based on boat's distance from shore. Education is key to fostering ecological awareness and preventing marine pollution.
Step-by-step explanation:
A garbage dumping placard must be prominently posted on boats that are 26 feet or longer in length. These regulations are aimed to minimize the environmental impact of marine debris and ensure the protection of marine ecosystems. According to the MARPOL Treaty (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) and various national laws, such as the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) in the United States, the disposal of garbage from boats is highly regulated.
Boats must not dispose of plastic anywhere in the ocean or navigable U.S. waters. Additionally, other types of garbage like paper, glass, metal, and food scraps have specific disposal restrictions based on how far a boat is from shore. For example, food waste may only be dumped if it has been ground to a certain size and the boat is at least 3 nautical miles from shore.
These measures are in place to prevent harm to marine life and to maintain the health of marine ecosystems. Garbage in the ocean can lead to the entanglement or ingestion by sea creatures, which can be fatal. Investing in the education of sea stakeholders and the public is critical for fostering ecological awareness and supporting environmental conservation efforts.