Connecticut port participates in Fishing for Energy partnership

The Connecticut port of Stonington is participating in the Fishing for Energy partnership, a program that provides commercial fishermen a cost-free way to recycle old and unusable fishing gear. Stonington is the first port in the state cooperating in the program. All gear collected at the port will be stripped of metals for recycling with the help of Schnitzer Steel, New York City, and processed into clean energy at the SECONN Energy-from-Waste facility located in Preston, Connecticut, owned and operated by Covanta, Morristown, New Jersey.

Fishing for Energy is a national partnership between Covanta, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), Washington, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program, Silver Spring, Maryland, and Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. It was established in 2008 to reduce the financial burden imposed on commercial fishermen when disposing of old, derelict gear that is lost in the marine environment or unusable fishing gear and reduce the amount of gear in U.S. coastal waters. Since its launch, Fishing for Energy has hauled in more than 3 million pounds of old fishing gear, a portion of which has been retrieved directly from the ocean by fishermen.

“I’m pleased to welcome the Fishing for Energy program to the state of Connecticut,” Sen. Heather Somers (R-Groton), says. “This collaborative and innovative program helps turn a potential environmental hazard and burden on local fishermen into an opportunity to recycle and generate clean energy for our communities. I will continue to not only help to keep our ocean clean but also fight to ensure that our last commercial fishing fleet in Connecticut continues.”

Placing the collection bin at the port makes it easy for fishermen to participate. Abandoned or lost fishing equipment can threaten marine life in several ways by damaging ecosystems as nets and heavy equipment settle upon the ocean floor or through ghost fishing, where a net continues to catch fish, even if lost. Gear can also impact navigational safety, damage fishing equipment and boats that are in use and have economic repercussions on fishing and shipping enterprises and coastal communities.

“After many years of success at ports in New England and up and down northeast, we are delighted to be adding our first port in Connecticut,” Paul Gilman, Covanta’s chief sustainability officer, says. “The collection bin will provide a convenient way to discard old gear and marine debris, helping to reduce costs for fishermen and protect the environment that is so important to their livelihoods. As an important added benefit, the collected material will also be recycled and processed into clean, renewable energy instead of sending it to a landfill."

The partnership has also expanded 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.