The Nature Conservancy applauds Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature for creating an Ocean Acidification Task Force.
Albany, NY | November 29, 2016The Nature Conservancy in New York released the following statement from Stuart F. Gruskin, Chief Conservation and External Affairs Officer, regarding today’s announcement of New York State taking steps to address the critical threat of ocean acidification:
“We commend Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature for their leadership on ocean acidification, a pressing water quality and climate threat. The law signed yesterday will address a serious yet invisible threat to our economy, our food security, and our fishing and tourism industries. Ocean acidification, caused by the burning of fossil fuels, puts marine life and people at risk. New York, including our shellfishing industry, is especially vulnerable, due to waters already contaminated with high levels of nitrogen from wastewater.
To address this threat, The Nature Conservancy and partners advocated for legislation to establish an Ocean Acidification Task Force in New York State. Signing Senate Bill 7908 (LaValle)/Assembly Bill 10264 (Englebright) into law places New York in a position of national leadership in protecting our communities and ocean resources. We applaud Governor Cuomo, Senator LaValle, and Assemblymember Englebright for the passage of this important legislation, which became law yesterday. The creation of a task force will enable the State to identify the critical steps needed to protect our treasured water resources.”
Contact information
Sheila Webb-Halpern
Policy & Communications Advisor
(610) 585-1831
sheila.webb-halpern(at)tnc.org
The Ocean Conservancy, 29 November 2016. Press release.
