Covanta Energy and NOAA 'fish for energy'
07-FEB-2008
Federal, local and private partners gathered together earlier this week in New Bedford, USA, to launch 'Fishing for Energy', an effort to work with coastal communities to reduce the amount of abandoned fishing gear that ends up in the nation's oceans.
Covanta Energy, a leading company in the development and operation of large scale waste-to-energy (WTE) and renewable energy projects, is partnering with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Port of New Bedford to remove abandoned gear from the environment.
Abandoned fishing gear poses a threat to public health and the marine environment through the injury and death of marine life, the impact to navigational safety, and adverse effects on shipping and coastal industries that can have serious economic repercussions.
'Today's kick off exemplifies the important role that public and private partnerships play in improving and protecting our nation's most important fishing grounds,' William Corso, deputy assistant administrator of NOAA's National Ocean Service. 'Marine debris poses a real threat to the environment and we are pleased to be part of the effort to reuse abandoned gear as a source of energy to power the region's homes and businesses.'
Covanta will work closely with the New Bedford Harbor Development Commission and the local fishing industry to coordinate the removal of abandoned gear from local coastal waters, as well as retiring gear that is no longer fit for use within a fishery. Once removed from the environment, the gear will be transported to Covanta's WTE facility in Haverhill, Mass. which provides electricity for 40,000 homes. Approximately one ton of derelict marine debris equals enough electricity to power one home for 25 days.
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