but the city of Victoria agreed last year, under pressure, to stop discharging raw sewage (though when that will happen is unclear). The other side to that issue, though, is that there has been a good deal of credible scientific evidence and reports that support the natural sewage treatment method the city has long used. There've been quite a few public health investigations, and the outfall goes into the deep sea and is dispersed by ocean currents, with no measured detrimental effects to surrounding areas. Just to say, it's not as clear-cut as it may seem in Victoria...there are no "floaties" (but it is a hugely negative public perception, which counts for a lot --hence the proposed $1 billion --yes, billion-- sewage treatment plant...a good use of money on valuable public land near the city? That's up for debate, since the natural system currently in place has been shown to work fine.)

And neither, of course, is the role of scrubbing ablative paints underwater a clear cause of environmental degradation in Puget Sound. But it's hard to imagine that scrubbing off bottom paint underwater can help what is already a polluted area...if everyone stopped doing it, well...and if all ships were forbidden from discharging bilge water there, well...and all factories and the navy ship yard there subject to tough water discharge regulations, well...it all might help.

Hell, it's been reported that the number of huge cruise ships, bound for Alaska, which has grown over the years, spew tons of sulfur dioxide, a "hidden" source of pollution that eventually ends up in the nearby waters (Puget Sound, Georgia Strait). http://thetyee.ca/News/2010/03/15/MacleodCruiseShips/

It's a complex issue, with political complications, and other aspects that you pointed out. But the way I see it, we've already fucked up enough of the water and air around here and salmon spawns have taken a bad hit, among other species --anything done to draw attention to individuals' role and responsibility in using free public resources --water-- isn't always a bad thing. Switch to hard paint and be done with it. I don't have the answer, but it sounds like you just need to follow the law and relax.

End of rant