Metstrade invites industry to unite for cleaner waterways and seas this World Boating Day

by Metstrade 6 May 07:56 PDT 23 May 2026

Metstrade, the most influential event in the leisure marine sector, is calling on the global leisure marine industry to take collective action for cleaner seas and waterways ahead of this year's World Boating Day (23 May), with activities running throughout the week of 18-24 May.

Metstrade has already undertaken a clean-up of the canals of Amsterdam, the host city of the event and an essential location for the leisure marine industry. This action involved 11 Metstrade team members and was in partnership with Plastic Whale.

Metstrade is now encouraging its network of 20,000+ visitors and 1,700+ exhibitors to join the movement and make a visible, positive impact on the marine environment for World Boating Day, an initiative by the Superyacht Life Foundation.

The main goal is to engage thousands of professionals across the leisure marine supply chain, from marinas, shipyards, equipment and component manufacturers, training centres, crews and individual boating professionals, to protect the waters that sustain the industry and the people who enjoy it.

Environmental actions which can be undertaken could include:

• Collecting waste at harbours, marinas or jetties
• Actively removing floating plastics and debris while under way
• Separating waste responsibly on board
• Share sustainability tips to customers through social media
• Being mindful about which disposable items you take onboard
• Avoiding anchoring in or near seagrass meadows to prevent damage to these vital habitats
• Disposing of waste away from the water

To help amplify the collective effort, participants are invited to share a photo or short video of their activity using the hashtags #MetstradeCleanWaters and #WorldBoatingDay across social media platforms. The most impactful action will win VIP tickets to Metstrade, 17-19 November 2026, at RAI Convention Centre in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Niels Klarenbeek, Director RAI Marine Technology, said: "The leisure marine industry depends on healthy seas, rivers and coastlines to ensure future generations can enjoy the same adventures and connection with water that boating offers today. This World Boating Day, by coming together to clean our waterways, the industry can make positive, collective action to protect the environments that make boating possible. It is only with collective action that we can truly make a difference."

The Ocean Conservation Trust is also supporting this action through social media. The Ocean Conservation Trust is a charity dedicated to protecting and restoring marine environments, enabling a healthy, resilient future for people and nature alike, and was selected as Metstrade's chosen charity for the DAME Design Awards in 2025, being given a donation of €21,900 to support their work.

Ian McFadzen, CEO of The Ocean Conservation Trust, said: "It will be great to see the leisure marine industry coming together for the benefit of our environment. We are proud to see Metstrade continuing to champion sustainability, and this initiative is a powerful example of how we can all Think Ocean every day, something which we encourage through our UN-endorsed #ThinkOcean challenge. The continued support from Metstrade has enabled us to accelerate our conservation work, and we are forever thankful for being the chosen charity for the DAME Design Awards 2025."

World Boating Day is a global, non-profit initiative that invites companies across the leisure marine sector to open their doors and engage the wider public through open days, behind-the-scenes tours, workshops, talks and on-water experiences. By hosting an activity or taking part in an environmental action, organisations become part of an international celebration and are featured on the World Boating Day global map. More information at worldboatingday.com

Dilan Sarac, Executive Director of Superyacht Life Foundation said: "This is the third edition of World Boating Day, with hundreds of activities taking place across the world at the same time. What makes this initiative powerful is not only what happens individually, but what happens when the industry acts together. Metstrade's call reflects exactly that spirit, inviting the entire leisure marine community to come together and turn shared intent into visible impact."