Today, the Honourable Derek Bennett, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities, announced $25,000 for ACAP Humber Arm through the Special Assistance Grant Program. The funding will support the nationally recognized Clean Harbours Initiative which removes ocean trash including tires, plastic bags and ghost nets from the province’s harbours.
ACAP Humber Arm Inc. is a not-for-profit organization serving the Bay of Islands and Humber Valley coastal regions of western Newfoundland. The organization will provide oversight and administrative support to the Clean Harbours Initiative.
The work of the Clean Harbours Initiative complements the actions of the Provincial Government’s efforts to reduce plastic waste in the province and protect the environment for future generations. On October 1, Newfoundland and Labrador became the second province in Canada to implement a retail plastic bag ban. In addition to protecting the environment, banning the distribution and use of retail plastic bags improves the waste management system in the province and protects future generations.
Quotes
“ACAP Humber Arm has been doing important work for many years. We are pleased to provide this funding so the organization can assist the Clean Harbours initiative and the important work that the volunteer group is doing for our province to reduce waste in our harbours.”
Honourable Derek Bennett
Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities
“Marine debris is more than what we see on the shoreline. It is also what sits on the sea floor, often out-of-sight out-of-mind. Sub-surface marine debris has a detrimental impact on our environment, tourism, shellfish harvesting and fisheries, and is a safety risk to recreational users. We are thankful for the financial contribution from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador that will allow us to support the expansion of the important work undertaken by the Clean Harbour Initiative.”
Sheldon Peddle
Executive Director, ACAP – Humber Arm
“Clean Harbours Initiative would like to give a sincere thank you to Minister Derek Bennett with the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities for the funding they provided to ACAP – Humber Arm through the Special Assistance Grant program. We would also like to give a sincere thank you to Sheldon Peddle from ACAP – Humber Arm for stepping in to assist us; this funding provided us with the two motors needed to equipment our boat, which will enable us to continue to clean our harbours at a greater scoop and in a safer manner. We look forward to working together to continue cleaning our harbours.”
Shawn Bath
Founder, Clean Harbours Initiative
Media contacts
Lynn Robinson
Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities
709-729-5449, 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca
Sheldon Peddle
ACAP – Humber Arm
709-637-4222
speddle@acaphumberarm.com
Shawn Bath
Clean Harbours Initiative
709-683-7683
cleanharboursNL@hotmail.com