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JULY 8, 2008 - COVANTA ENERGY, NOAA AND NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION EXPAND "FISHING FOR ENERGY" PROGRAM INTO THIRD NEW ENGLAND SEAPORT
COVANTA ENERGY, NOAA AND NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION EXPAND “FISHING FOR ENERGY” PROGRAM INTO THIRD NEW ENGLAND SEAPORT
Abandoned Fishing Gear from
SCITUATE, MA, July 8, 2008─ “Fishing for Energy” is catching on in Massachusetts as the innovative program to recycle fishing equipment into energy expands to the Town of Scituate.
The “Fishing for Energy” program is an initiative between Covanta Energy, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to help coastal communities reduce the amount of abandoned fishing gear that ends up in the nation’s oceans. Derelict fishing equipment can threaten marine life, impair navigational safety, and have serious economic repercussions on shipping and coastal communities.
“The Town of Scituate, and Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary have been working with local fishermen to identify and retrieve abandoned fishing gear,” said Mark Patterson, harbormaster for the Town of Scituate. “The challenge we faced was how to dispose of marine debris in a way that limited impact on the environment. Partnering with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, NOAA and Covanta in the ‘Fishing for Energy’ program has solved our disposal problem while also using the fishing gear for a great purpose. We couldn’t have asked for a better solution.”
Since the program was launched in February, more than 58,000 pounds of fishing nets, trawl gear, crab pots and line have been collected and converted into energy.
“The ‘Fishing for Energy’ program has seen considerable success since its launch this winter,” said William Corso, deputy assistant administrator of NOAA's National Ocean Service. “We are pleased to be expanding this important program to our third
Covanta will work closely with the Town of
Derek Porter, Vice President of External Affairs for Covanta Energy, said he was encouraged by the response the program had received by local communities.
“Local communities have embraced this innovative program as a way to help our imperiled oceans,” Porter said. “They are enthusiastic partners in working to protect our oceans and they are thrilled to be making clean, renewable energy from this debris. As a company committed to achieving a cleaner, safer environment, Covanta is dedicated to finding innovative ways to help communities transfer waste into clean, renewable energy.”
“The ‘Fishing for Energy’ program is already proving to be of great value to several of New England’s busiest and most productive ports,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director of National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. “We look forward to expanding this innovative program into new regions, where both fishermen and the environment will benefit from the service it provides. We are eager to make the program a long-term cornerstone of our efforts to remove and prevent derelict fishing gear from entering the marine environment.”
About Covanta
Covanta Energy is an internationally recognized owner and operator of energy-from-waste and power generation projects. Covanta's energy-from-waste facilities convert municipal solid waste into renewable energy for numerous communities, predominantly in the
About NOAA
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and information service delivery for transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 70 countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects. For more information, visit: www.noaa.gov
The NOAA Marine Debris Program coordinates, strengthens, and increases the visibility of marine debris issues and efforts within the agency, its partners, and the public. The program supports activities at both a national and international levels focused on identifying, reducing and preventing debris from entering the marine environment.
About National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
A nonprofit established by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation sustains, restores and enhances the Nation's fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Through leadership conservation investments with public and private partners, NFWF is dedicated to achieving maximum conservation impact by developing and applying best practices and innovative methods for measurable outcomes. Since its establishment, NFWF has awarded nearly 9,500 grants to over 3,000 organizations in the
Media Contact:
Vera Carley
Covanta Energy
(973) 882-2439
vcarley@covantaenergy.com
Tom Barry, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
(202) 857-0166
tom.barry@nfwf.org