• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Boston Becomes Latest Port of Call for Fishing for Energy

Posted on: Wednesday, 30 September 2009, 11:00 CDT

BOSTON, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Fishing for Energy has caught on in Massachusetts. Boston will be the latest port in the state to land the innovative partnership that provides a cost-free solution for fishermen to dispose of old fishing gear that is subsequently converted into clean, renewable energy at a Covanta Energy-from-Waste facility.

An initiative among 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 with the help of Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) will place collection bins at Boston Fish Pier to collect old, abandoned or lost fishing gear. Discarded fishing equipment such as nets, line pots and buoys can threaten marine life, impact navigational safety, and have economic repercussions on the fishing and shipping industries and, most importantly, coastal communities.

"The Fishing for Energy program benefits both our fishermen and the marine environment," said Mike Leone, Massport's Port Director. "This collaborative program provides a financial incentive and creates a beneficial use of old and abandoned fishing gear, and until now the fishermen themselves have assumed the burden of getting rid of it. Massport is thrilled to be able to provide space for this important effort."

Gear collected at the Fish Pier will be converted into renewable electricity that will ultimately be used by Massachusetts homes and businesses.

The Fishing for Energy partnership depends on extensive cooperation between local organizations and the fishing community. In Boston, Massport is working collaboratively with the partnership to inform the Boston fishing community of the new no-cost disposal option and place a convenient collection bin at the Fish Pier. These efforts make the marine debris removal successful by eliminating financial cost to fisherman that would otherwise be incurred to dispose of gear and ensuring that derelict gear does not end up in the marine environment.

"The Fishing for Energy project is a fantastic example of how private-public partnerships can find alternative ways to solve both an economic and environmental problem," stated Dr. Holly Bamford, Director of the NOAA Marine Debris Program. "NOAA is excited to be part of this successful partnership which provides so many benefits not only to our environment, but a sense of commitment and pride in the communities that embrace it."

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 44 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 approximately 20 million tons of waste into more than 9 million megawatt hours of clean renewable electricity and create over 10 billion pounds of steam that are sold to a variety of industries. For more information, visit www.covantaenergy.com.

About Massport

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) operates Boston Logan International Airport, the Port of Boston, Tobin Memorial Bridge, Hanscom Field and Worcester Regional Airport. Massport is a financially self-sustaining public authority whose premier transportation facilities generate more than $8 billion annually, enhancing and enabling economic growth and vitality in New England. For more information you can visit massport.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

More News in this Category