Wind energy has become a highly contentious coastal issue in recent years, with environmental interests, businesses, and the general public unable tp reach a general consensus on what the overall impact of offshore wind farm will be. Several projects have been proposed up and down the eastern seaboard, including one off of Jones Beach in NY. In NJ, turbines are already being constructed, as explored by the article below. JB
ED McDONALD, a low roller at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, was waiting for a jitney when he paused to gawk at what may turn out to be yet another of this city's tourist attractions - the nation's first coastal wind farm, whose sleek 380-foot-high turbines stand like immense kinetic sculptures at the entrance to this seaside resort.
"It's clean energy, it's futuristic, it doesn't block the view," said Mr. McDonald, 52, an unemployed warehouse worker who had just quit the blackjack tables after four hours and enough losing hands for one day. "Offshore, out in the water, then I would say they'd be a problem, then you're taking away from the seashore itself, the view and everything."
Federal and state officials are betting on wind power as an environmentally friendly and economically viable way to help reduce the ever-growing dependence on fossil fuels for generating electricity, particularly along New Jersey's rapidly growing Shore communities.
Read more...
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/25/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/25njCOVER.ready.html
Thursday, December 29, 2005
The Slow Struggle to Bring Back the Oyster
Down the New Jersey coast to Cape May and into the Delaware Bay scientists and businesses are attempting to bring back the commercial harvesting of shellfish. Oysters have been a hot topic in many of our regions waterbodies including the Raritan Bay and in several places in Long Island. This article by the NY Times discusses oyster aquaculture in the region. JB
THE cold, gray bay washes over the tiny oyster seeds nestled in plastic mesh bags. These baby oysters, cultivated by hand on a sandbar north of Cape May, may hold the future for a New Jersey industry that once flourished but is now gasping for breath.
A handful of aquaculturists - or fish farmers - are trying to grow a new generation of oysters in this largely barren stretch on Delaware Bay just north of Cape May - bred to be disease-resistant, spawned in temperature-regulated tanks and nursed on home-grown plankton.
"It's a lot of hard work," says Everett Marino, 66, who drives an hour each way, two to three times a week, to tend - knee-deep in the tide - his muddy crop of 200,000 to 300,000 oysters.
A century ago, New Jersey's oyster business was in its prime. From 1880 to 1930, 1 million to 2 million bushels of oysters a year were harvested from beds in the lower part of Delaware Bay. (Each bushel contains about 285 oysters.) This year, the oystermen will be limited to a total of 26,203 bushels. In 1881, 675 oyster boats plied these waters. Today, 74 boats are licensed to take oysters in the state.
Read more...
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/12/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/12njCOVER.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=9105b87982ccb643&ex=1136005200
THE cold, gray bay washes over the tiny oyster seeds nestled in plastic mesh bags. These baby oysters, cultivated by hand on a sandbar north of Cape May, may hold the future for a New Jersey industry that once flourished but is now gasping for breath.
A handful of aquaculturists - or fish farmers - are trying to grow a new generation of oysters in this largely barren stretch on Delaware Bay just north of Cape May - bred to be disease-resistant, spawned in temperature-regulated tanks and nursed on home-grown plankton.
"It's a lot of hard work," says Everett Marino, 66, who drives an hour each way, two to three times a week, to tend - knee-deep in the tide - his muddy crop of 200,000 to 300,000 oysters.
A century ago, New Jersey's oyster business was in its prime. From 1880 to 1930, 1 million to 2 million bushels of oysters a year were harvested from beds in the lower part of Delaware Bay. (Each bushel contains about 285 oysters.) This year, the oystermen will be limited to a total of 26,203 bushels. In 1881, 675 oyster boats plied these waters. Today, 74 boats are licensed to take oysters in the state.
Read more...
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/12/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/12njCOVER.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=9105b87982ccb643&ex=1136005200
Thursday, December 22, 2005
CMRC 501.c.3 Celebration
The CMRC celebrated its newly received 501.c.3 non-profit status on December 15 at Mannahatta in New York City! The 501.c.3 status designates the CMRC as a public charity and allows us to receive tax deductible gifts from individuals, organizations and private entities.
Several CMRC supporters attended the event at Mannahatta, www.mannahatta.us, and enjoyed great food and wine over the course of the evening. It was an excellent way to celebrate a very successful year for the organization.
Thanks all for your continued support!
Several CMRC supporters attended the event at Mannahatta, www.mannahatta.us, and enjoyed great food and wine over the course of the evening. It was an excellent way to celebrate a very successful year for the organization.
Thanks all for your continued support!
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Welcome to the CMRC Blog!
Welcome to the CMRC Blog!
The Coastal Marine Resource Center of New York is a 501.c.3 non-profit organization dedicated to coastal conservation in the New York - New Jersey Harbor Bight.
The Coastal Marine Resource Center of New York is a 501.c.3 non-profit organization dedicated to coastal conservation in the New York - New Jersey Harbor Bight.
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