The "Fishing for Energy" initiative is a partnership between Covantes Energy, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. to help communities Coastal reduce the amount of derelict fishing gear that ends in the nation of the oceans.
Abandoned fishing equipment can endanger marine life, affect the safety of navigation, and have serious economic impact on shipping and coastal communities. Since the program was launched in February, more than 80,000 pounds of fishing nets, trawling gear, crab pots, and fishing line were collected and converted into energy.
"This collaboration and innovative project which will in turn endanger the environment and the burden on local fishermen an opportunity to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and grow our economy green", U.S. Senator Whitehouse said.
Rhode Island is home to a large commercial fishing fleet, which landed more than 108 million pounds of lobster and fish and shellfish valued at $ 92 million in 2006. The city of Newport is home to one of the largest fleets in the state.
"The Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen Association of the (AOLA) has worked diligently to bring" Fishing for Energy "to Rhode Island," said Bonnie Spinazzola, Director of AOLA. "This program is the solution to the industry's serious concerns about that to dismiss abandoned gear retrieved from the ocean floor, and when to dispose of floating groundlines. We are excited to help the industry and the ocean environment and us pleased that the gear will be used to create energy for the general public. "
Covantes work closely with the city of Newport and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and AOLA to coordinate the removal of abandoned local coastal waters, as well as assisting the teams who are retiring is no longer fit for use within of a fishery.
Paul Gilman, Chief Sustainability Officer for Covantes Energy, said he was encouraged by the response that the program had received by Newport and other communities.
"We are delighted that Newport has taken this important program as a way to help our oceans. They are proving valuable leadership as stewards of one of our most important resource," said Gilman. "As a company committed to improving the environment, Covantes is proud to join Newport and our partner program to convert the problem of unwanted waste into the oceans clean and renewable energy."
Once removed from the environment, the art will be shredded into a facility and transported to Schnitzer Covantes of southeastern Connecticut-Energy-waste facilities that will be converted into electricity at no cost to the city.
"The 'Fishing for Energy" program is already proving to be very useful for a number of New England in the productive activity and most of the ports, "said Jeff Trandahl, Executive Director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. "As we move forward, bringing the program to new ports, the addition of new partners and attention to this cooperative effort will increasingly benefit both fishermen and the marine environment. The fact that more than 83,000 pounds Gear has met so far is a great indicator of interest in the issue of marine debris and the need for this important partnership. "
"The 'Fishing for Energy" is an innovative and collaborative program that addresses both used and derelict fishing gear in our waters. It is an important step in working directly with the fishing community to dispose of marine debris in a way that benefits the community, "said Dave Westerholm, Director of the Office of NOAA response and restoration." NOAA and the Program Marine debris is proud to be a partner in this project to reuse abandoned as an energy source to power in the region of homes and businesses. "***
