Fishing for Energy Looks to Recycle and Recover Energy from Old Fishing Gear in Rockport, MA

ROCKPORT, Mass., March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Fishing for Energy has added another historic fishing community in Massachusetts to its roster of ports. Rockport, MA on Cape Ann is the latest port community to participate in the program that provides fishermen a cost-free solution to recycle and reuse old, derelict fishing gear. Gear collected at the port will be stripped of metals for recycling with the help of Schnitzer Steel and processed into clean, renewable energy at the Covanta Energy-from-Waste facility in Haverhill, MA.

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., Fishing for Energy was established in 2008 to reduce the financial burden placed on commercial fishermen in disposing of old, derelict fishing gear and reduce the amount of gear that ends up in U.S. coastal waters.

"Massachusetts fishermen, the Fishing for Energy partnership, and the Covanta Energy plant in Haverhill should be commended for this innovative and collaborative approach that turns unwanted gear into renewable energy," said Congresswoman Niki Tsongas.

At a launch event held this morning at Pigeon Cove Wharf, the partnership placed a collection bin that will collect old, abandoned or lost fishing gear from area commercial fishermen. Local partners in Rockport include Pigeon Cove Boat-owners Association, Granite Pier Committee, Rockport Lobstermen & Fishermen Association, Rockport Harbormasters, Rockport Department of Public Works, Rockport Conservation Commission and the Rockport Board of Selectmen. These local groups are collaborating with Fishing for Energy to raise awareness within the fishing community of the free disposal option.

Rockport Conservation Agent Geralyn Falco sees this program as a beginning to a revitalization of the waters off the shores of Rockport. "Fishermen I have talked with know exactly where "ghost gear balls" are located and avoid them in order to not entangle/damage their own gear while fishing," said Falco. "It is our hope that fishermen will agree to retrieve their own damaged gear and dispose of it in the Fishing for Energy dumpsters and maybe the town can obtain grants to collect those known "ghost gear balls", clean up Rockport's waters, and provide the fishermen with a better place to catch fish and lobster. We all win!"

The collection bin will remain at the port as long as it is needed so it's easy for fishermen to participate, significantly increasing the likelihood that derelict gear does not end up in the marine environment. Abandoned or lost fishing equipment can threaten marine life, impact navigational safety, and have economic repercussions on fishing and shipping enterprises and coastal communities.

"Fishermen have always been big on recycling. Traps are repaired and put back to sea year after year.  Fishermen's nets are set out, damaged and then repaired, year after year," said Captain Bill Lee, a Rockport fisherman. "Fish and lobster do not live well in pollution. All fishermen know that. We have been caretakers of the sea for thousands of years."

Fishing for Energy thrives due to extensive cooperation between government, private, public and local organizations. The diversity and unparalleled expertise of the partners results in a unique, community-focused program that addresses a marine environmental issue, reduces costs for small commercial fishing businesses and recycles metal and recovers energy from the remaining material.

"Schnitzer is excited to be part of the Fishing for Energy program. We have seen the success that has been building literally from coast to coast and the program is making a difference every day to the waters as well as to the fishermen who participate in the program," said Colin Kelly, Government Relations Manager, Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc."

Since launching in 2008, Fishing for Energy has reeled in more than half a million pounds of old fishing gear, a portion of which has been retrieved directly from the ocean by fishermen. In 2010 the partnership will expand to include a grant program that directly supports efforts to remove derelict fishing gear from U.S. coastal waters and will continue to partner with new ports 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 45 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 10 billion pounds of steam that are sold to a variety of industries. For more information, visit www.covantaholding.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

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