The Surfrider Foundation in their efforts to address coastal water pollution on Friday, November 15th at the Surfrider Beach House annual fundraiser.
The Surfrider Foundation’s mission is to protect and enjoy the world’s oceans and coastal shores. Founded in 1984 in Malibu, California, this grassroots organization has now spread all over the world in over 100 chapters consisting of a total of 250,000 members. They are all activists, marine life lovers, and ocean supporters who want to keep our coasts and waterways free of toxic chemicals and harmful plastics. They do this by filing injunctions, promoting policy changes that protect the oceans, and spreading awareness of current issues as they relate to the ocean and clean waterways.
The Miami chapter was founded in 1997. All proceeds from this evening’s event will benefit their Blue Water Task Force. The BWTF is The Surfrider Foundation Miami chapter’s volunteer-run advocacy program that performs water tests and educates the public on water quality and safety.
Why the Surfrider Foundation?
Studies show that the shipping and cruise ship industries are a significant source of coastal water pollution. Cruise ships can contribute over 200,000 gallons of sewage into the ocean after going through an on-board water treatment system. The bacteria in the sewage can upset levels of bacteria and algae in surrounding waters, causing a deleterious effect on the ecosystem.
Carnival Cruise Lines History of Dumping Sewage into the Ocean
Shocking news reports of cruise ships dumping oil and waste into the oceans illegally should not be taken lightly. U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz agreed, and at a hearing in a Miami federal court, she pressed Carnival Cruise executives to take more effective action. After being convicted in 2016 for criminal pollution, the cruise line was already serving a five-year probation period when they were caught violating its terms by continuing to dump treated sewage, food waste, oil, and even fuel into the oceans.
These Carnival Cruise Lines dumping violations are by no means isolated incidents. This information came from a court-appointed environmental compliance inspector. Among other things, the report, released last April, showed that:
- Carnival Corp. violated multiple environmental laws in the first year after they paid a $40 million settlement for improper waste.
- The inspector found over 800 dumping violations by Carnival Corp. between April 2017 and April 2018.
- Carnival Corp released over 500,000 gallons of sewage and 11,000 gallons of food waste into the oceans.
- Burned unfiltered fuel over 19 times in protected areas
Join Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman in Protecting Our Oceans
Funds raised will directly benefit the Blue Water Task Force, as well as Surfrider’s critical programs and policy work that address clean water, ocean protection, coastal preservation, plastic pollution, and beach access. Please join us in supporting a cause so near and dear to our hearts by joining us at the Surfrider Beach House. Tickets can be purchased through Surfrider.org.
Published on November 4, 2019
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