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Fishing for Energy Comes to the Oregon Coast

Posted on: Monday, 3 August 2009, 16:01 CDT

PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Fishing for Energy is catching on in Oregon. Garibaldi and Newport will be the first port communities in the state to participate in the innovative partnership that provides a cost-free solution for fishermen to dispose of old fishing gear that is then turned into energy.

An initiative between Covanta Energy (Covanta), the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program, and Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., the Fishing for Energy partnership will place collection bins at the ports to collect old, abandoned or lost fishing gear beginning in August. Abandoned or lost fishing equipment can threaten marine life, impact navigational safety, and have economic repercussions on fishing and shipping enterprises and, most importantly, coastal communities.

"The Fishing For Energy partnership to recycle unusable fishing gear is an idea that has Oregon written all over it. Having the fisheries agencies, the ports, and the waste and recycling industries all working together shows what can be done when everyone gets together to solve an environmental problem," remarked United States Senator Ron Wyden when commenting on the program's expansion to Oregon.

The Fishing for Energy partnership depends on extensive cooperation between local organizations and the fishing community. In Garibaldi and Newport, local agencies and organizations have worked collaboratively with the partnership to make the marine debris removal effort successful by reducing any financial cost to fisherman and ports that would otherwise be incurred to dispose this gear and ensuring that derelict gear does not end up in the marine environment.

"After successfully launching the Fishing for Energy program at ports on the east coast, we are pleased to expand our partnership with NOAA, NFWF and Schnitzer Steel by bringing this program to Oregon," said Paul Gilman, Chief Sustainability Officer at Covanta Energy. "Marine debris is a significant problem for coastal waters, affecting commercial fisherman as well as natural marine wildlife habitats. As one of the solutions to this critical issue, the Fishing for Energy initiative is generating tangible results - not only is it collecting harmful derelict fishing gear and providing cost-free disposal but it is converting that debris into clean, renewable energy."

The Fishing for Energy partnership will kick off their west coast marine debris collection program with launch ceremonies on Tuesday, August 4 at Port of Garibaldi and Wednesday, August 5 at Port of Newport, both beginning at 11 a.m.

Since launching in 2008, the Fishing for Energy partnership has reeled in more than 200 tons of old fishing gear, a portion of which has been retrieved directly from the ocean by fishermen. This year the partnership has expanded to work with ports on both the east and west coasts of the United States, hosting a series of launch events which aim to promote retired or derelict fishing gear collection through community education and outreach. For more information on the partnership visit: www.nfwf.org/fishingforenergy.

About Covanta

Covanta Energy is an internationally recognized owner and operator of large-scale Energy-from-Waste and renewable energy projects and a recipient of the Energy Innovator Award from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Covanta's 38 Energy-from-Waste facilities provide communities with an environmentally sound solution to their solid waste disposal needs by using that municipal solid waste to generate clean, renewable energy. Annually, Covanta's modern Energy-from-Waste facilities safely and securely convert more than 17 million tons of waste into more than 8 million megawatt hours of clean renewable electricity and create 10 billion pounds of steam that are sold to a variety of industries. For more information, visit www.covantaenergy.com.

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 United States and abroad and leveraged - with its partners - more than $400 million in federal funds into more than $1.3 billion for on-the-ground conservation. For more information, visit www.nfwf.org.

About NOAA

NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources.

The NOAA Marine Debris Program, housed within the Office of Response & Restoration, 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 level focused on identifying, reducing and preventing debris from entering the marine environment. NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) protects coastal and marine resources, mitigates threats, reduces harm, and restores ecological function. The Office provides comprehensive solutions to environmental hazards caused by oil, chemicals, and marine debris. For more information, visit: www.noaa.gov.

About Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc.

Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. is one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of recycled ferrous metal products in the United States. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Schnitzer Steel operates 42 facilities in 13 states, including seven export facilities on both the East and West coasts, as well as in Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The company's vertically integrated operating platform also includes its auto parts and steel manufacturing businesses. The auto parts business sells used auto parts through its 38 self-service facilities and 18 full-service facilities located in 16 states and western Canada. With an annual production capacity of nearly 800,000 tons, Schnitzer's steel manufacturing business produces finished steel products, including rebar, wire rod and other specialty products. Schnitzer Steel Industries commenced its 103rd year of operations in 2009.

SOURCE Fishing for Energy

Source: PR Newswire

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