Honoring Ocean Champions

Today the Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute honored Margo Pellegrino at their annual Champion of the Ocean Awards Luncheon.  I can't think of a more deserving recipient for the "Volunteer of the Year Award."  

Retiring NJ Congressman Jim Saxton of the 6th District, another deserving recipient, was also honored at today's event.  

Other attendees included Congressman Frank Pallone, State Senator Bob Smith, NJ DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson, and too many others to name. 

Tony MacDonald, Director of the Urban Coast Institute, and President Paul Gaffney, former member of the Pew Ocean Commission, deserve credit for bringing influential policy makers together and for honoring some of the best.  Monmouth University continues to play an important role in promoting ecosystem based management approaches to the coastal and ocean zone. 

Urban Coast Institute Director, Tony MacDonald

Admiral Paul Gaffney, President of Monmouth University. 

The panel preceding the awards luncheon, included NJ DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson, Rutgers' Assistant Professor, Dr. Robert Chant, and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute's Executive Director, Dr. Shirley Pompeni. 

DEP Commissioner Jackson, soon to be Governor Corzine's Chief of Staff, announced that the DEP is in the process of recommending candidates for the newly formed NJ Coastal and Ocean Protection Council.  

I was relieved to hear that the DEP is moving the ball forward on this new Council.  Environmental leaders in both the NJ legislature and the non-profit community worked hard to develop and pass the legislation that created the Coastal and Ocean Protection Council, charged with bringing a more holistic, ecosystems approach to coastal and ocean management in New Jersey.  To meet this task, the membership of the Council must be committed to changing the piecemeal approach used today.  I look forward to the Governor's announcement in the near future. 

Dr. Chant presented his fascinating, and someone alarming research, on the flow of contaminants in the NY/NJ Bight. 

Dr. Robert Chant of Rutgers. 

A question posed by former Baykeeper and current Monmouth visiting scholar, Andrew Willner, sparked an interesting discussion about environmental progress on the Shore.  Though Andy said it more tactfully, he essentially asked why so much attention was focused on monitoring and research and so little on action and problem solving.  He raised the issue of combined sewer overflows (CSO) as an example:  everyone knows they contribute significant bacterial pollution, and yet little is being done to fix them. 

Commissioner Jackson responded, pointing out that progress has been made, and proposing that CSO fixes could be a public works component of any future economic development package.  This seems like a good idea, far better than expanding the Parkway or other potential public works projects. 

A couple of members of the audience chimed in, like Tom Fote of the Jersey Coast Anglers Association.  Tom agreed that certain water quality problems have been addressed, but said that many more, some very serious, still need tackling. As an example, he mentioned the flow of pharmaceutical drugs making its way into the marine food chain, changing the sex ratios of fish populations and potentially threatening long-term human health.  

Like Tom, I agree that some risks have been reduced over the years.  Afterall, the beaches are probably cleaner now than than used to be (though, as John Weber of the Surfrider Foundation, pointed out,  we do not test sand on our replenished beaches for heavy metals--even though toxic plumes from polluted NY and NJ rivers flow into the Bight where we pump sand). 

However, I would argue that the overall health of the marine ecosystem has grown worse.  It suffers from irreversable over-development in shore watersheds, growing non-point source pollution, dead zones, growing acidifcation from CO2 pollution, over-fishing of top predator species, and numerous other malaties.  While it may be safe to swim, the NJ marine environment is not healthy.

Thanks, however, to the leaders at Monmouth University and those who were honored there today, we may have a shot at protecting, and eventually, restoring our crucial ocean ecosystems.