Based on the input received during the Council’s Visioning Project, ocean pollution is one of the most widely shared concerns among all stakeholder groups.  At this month’s Council meeting, the nonprofit organization Clean Ocean Action (COA) will give an overview of their long-term efforts to stop pollution and their current campaign to permanently protect the waters of the New Jersey/New York Bight. After the presentation, COA and Council leadership will be available to answer questions from the public.
 
COA is a broad-based coalition of 125 groups and organizations that has been working for nearly 30 years to improve the water quality off the New Jersey/New York coast through research, education, and citizen action. Most notably, the efforts of COA were instrumental in the shutting down of eight ocean dumpsites that were polluting mid-Atlantic waters with dirt, sewer sludge, acid waste, dredged material, and industrial waste.
 
During the listening session, COA will describe their current campaign to establish permanent protection for the NY/NJ Bight with the Clean Ocean Zone (COZ) Initiative.  If passed, the Clean Ocean Zone bill would create a pollution-free area that would stop the regular authorization of destructive industrial practices in the COZ.
 
Following the presentation, COA and Council leadership will be available to answer questions from the public on the Clean Ocean Zone initiative or any other fishery issues of interest to the public. 
 
You can attend in person or via the internet.  For online webinar access register here.