Have coastal environmental issues changed during the last 20 years?

Twenty years ago, it was all about overall water quality—there were a lot more fish kills then than there are today. Before the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) took over, there were severe sewage treatment issues. Boston sewage was dumped off Deer Isle with minimal treatment, which lead to a lot more beach and shellfish-bed closings.

What do you see as the main issue affecting coastal New England today?

Invasive species. There’s a tremendous lack of knowledge, and a lot of sea life is being moved around on boats, by man. Species are being transported unknowingly from different climates, and those that thrive in our climate are taking over in some places. It’s pretty scary. Another issue that I fear is changing aquatic life as we’ve know it is man-made. Our food and lifestyles have changed and what comes out of us has changed. Fish with both male and female sex organs have been found in the Potomac River in the Washington, D.C., area and it’s most likely due to the trace amounts of hormones (from birth control pills) that originated with humans. Even a very small amount of a synthetically produced drug can have a large impact on sea life.

What are some things you’d suggest people do to lessen their impact on the coast and coastal waters?

It’s tough sometimes to do the right thing. The same pesticide that kills West Nile Virus can kill lobster when it gets into the water. Compounds found in sunscreen, when they end up in the water, cause coral bleaching. We have to realize that there are trade-offs with everything, and we should try to lessen our impact by doing things like using biodegradable cleaning products and conserving water. We are part of the environment, and we have to live with what we do to it.

What do you predict will become the #1 coastal issue during the next 20 years?

Defining what “ecosystem management” means and applying the principles in a way that benefits both people and the ocean. We need to have a more integrated view of everything and bring theory into practice. For example, of the hundreds of fish species in Massachusetts waters, we measure the abundance of about half of them—the half that are economically desirable. The other half, fish like the sand lance, are ignored. We have no idea what they do, where they migrate to, or what species dine on them.

In your personal life, what kinds of things do you do to be kind to the environment?

There are a lot of things I’ve done for a long time, not so much because I’m an environmentalist as because I’m a Yankee! I’ve been driving a fuel-efficient car since the energy crisis in the 1970s, my house was built to face the south so I get lots of sun (free heat in the winter), and my windows are insulated to keep the cold out. I keep the TVs unplugged when they’re not in use—they use a lot of power. When my wife and I go boating or picnicking, we always carry out our trash. I have a programmable thermostat, Energy Star appliances, and an on-demand water heater. Oh yeah, and if I ever leave a room and forget to turn a light off, I have my wife there to remind me, “Turn off the lights!”

Photo: Patricia Pelczarski