Fishing for Energy Comes to the Oregon Coast

Innovative program helps with the disposal and removal of old fishing gear and marine debris.

Marine debris being removed by an NOAA grant administered through the Oregon Sea Grant program. Courtesy: blogs.oregonstate.edu

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Fishing for Energy is catching on in Oregon. Garibaldi and Newport will be the first port communities in the state to participate in the innovative partnership that provides a cost-free solution for fishermen to dispose of old fishing gear that is then turned into energy. An initiative between Covanta Energy, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program, and Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., the Fishing for Energy partnership will place collection bins at the ports to collect old, abandoned or lost fishing gear beginning in August.

Abandoned or lost fishing equipment can threaten marine life, impact navigational safety, and have economic repercussions on fishing and shipping enterprises and, most importantly, coastal communities.

"The Fishing For Energy partnership to recycle unusable fishing gear is an idea that has Oregon written all over it. Having the fisheries agencies, the ports, and the waste and recycling industries all working together shows what can be done when everyone gets together to solve an environmental problem," remarked United States Senator Ron Wyden when commenting on the program's expansion to Oregon.

The Fishing for Energy partnership depends on extensive cooperation between local organizations and the fishing community.

In Garibaldi and Newport, local agencies and organizations have worked collaboratively with the partnership to make the marine debris removal effort successful by reducing any financial cost to fisherman and ports that would otherwise be incurred to dispose this gear and ensuring that derelict gear does not end up in the marine environment.

"After successfully launching the Fishing for Energy program at ports on the east coast, we are pleased to expand our partnership with NOAA, NFWF and Schnitzer Steel by bringing this program to Oregon," said Paul Gilman, Chief Sustainability Officer at Covanta Energy.

"Marine debris is a significant problem for coastal waters, affecting commercial fisherman as well as natural marine wildlife habitats. As one of the solutions to this critical issue, the Fishing for Energy initiative is generating tangible results - not only is it collecting harmful derelict fishing gear and providing cost-free disposal but it is converting that debris into clean, renewable energy."

The Fishing for Energy partnership will kick off their west coast marine debris collection program with launch ceremonies on Tuesday, August 4th at Port of Garibaldi and Wednesday, August 5th at Port of Newport, both beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Since launching in 2008, the Fishing for Energy partnership has reeled in more than 200 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: nfwf.org/fishingforenergy.