Fishing for Energy, the innovative program to recycle and dispose of old fishing gear expands to Newport News. It is said that the program provides a cost-free solution for fishermen to dispose of old fishing gear and turns it into renewable energy has expanded to Virginia. 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.
This partnership 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.
Newport News Mayor Joe S. Frank said that this event is an important opportunity to clean up our waterways by working collaboratively with committed organizations. He informed that the location of the first Fishing for Energy event is Virginia and they are confident that they will assist in continuing the valuable work being done by the partnership.
Paul Gilman, Chief Sustainability Officer for Covanta Energy, told that 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.
