Fishing for Energy, the innovative partnership that provides a cost-free solution for fishermen to dispose of old fishing gear and turns it into renewable energy has expanded to Virginia. Newport News is the latest port community on the east coast and first in the state of Virginia to participate.
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 is holding a day-long commercial fishing gear collection event at King Lincoln Park to collect old, abandoned or lost fishing gear on November 20. Also partnering with the program is the City of Newport News, resulting in a diverse, community-focused partnership aimed at reducing the burden on area fishermen posed by the need to dispose of old fishing gear. Abandoned or lost fishing equipment threatens marine life, impacts navigational safety, and has economic repercussions on fishing and shipping enterprises and, most importantly, coastal communities.
“This event is an important opportunity to clean up our waterways by working collaboratively with committed organizations,” said Newport News Mayor Joe S. Frank. “We are proud to sponsor the initiative locally at our Seafood Industrial Park, which has evolved into a major seafood hub of the east coast. As the location of the first Fishing for Energy event in Virginia, we’re confident we’ll assist in continuing the valuable work being done by the partnership.”
The Fishing for Energy partnership depends on extensive cooperation between local organizations and the fishing community. In Newport News, the City has worked collaboratively with the partnership to raise awareness within the fishing community of the new no-cost disposal option and to organize the collection event. Because disposal is free and it’s easy for fisherman to participate, it is expected that the collection will significantly increase the likelihood that derelict gear is disposed of properly and does not end up in the marine environment.
“Since 2008, Fishing for Energy has worked with ports across the country to collect more than 220 tons of dangerous derelict gear. On behalf of the partnership, we are proud to expand our program to the state of Virginia and partner with such a vibrant commercial fishing hub like Newport News,” said Paul Gilman, Chief Sustainability Officer for Covanta Energy. “We look forward to helping the Newport News fishing community properly dispose of the port’s old gear while recycling and creating renewable energy from something otherwise seen as junk.”
The Fishing for Energy partnership is holding a marine debris collection event today Friday, November 20 at King Lincoln Park (south end of Jefferson Ave, Newport News), beginning at 2 p.m.
Since launching in 2008, the Fishing for Energy partnership has reeled in more than 220 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.
