Talk discusses challenges to marine life and resources

Tony MacDonald, director of Monmouth University’s Urban Coast Institute, will discuss the 21st century’s commercial and environmental challenges to coastal and global marine life and resources at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 25 at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft.
He is speaking at the joint membership meeting of the college’s Environmental Club, the Jersey Shore (Monmouth) Group of the NJ Sierra Club, and the N.J. Friends of Clearwater. The meeting is open to the public.

The threats include increased drilling for oil and natural gas in the Arctic and on the Continental Shelves, continued over-fishing, increased cruise ships and other recreational uses, larger container ships and expanded port facilities to serve them, new shipping routes opening in the Arctic, and continued population growth and pollution along coastal areas.

The Urban Coast Institute, created in 2005 by Monmouth University, serves as a forum for research, education, and collaboration in developing and implementing science-based policies and programs that support healthy, productive, and resilient coastal ecosystems and communities.

Before coming to Monmouth University, MacDonald was executive director of the Coastal States Organization (CSO) from 1998-2005. The CSO, based in Washington, DC, represents the interests of the governors of the United States’ 35 coastal states and territories on coastal and ocean policy matters.

Prior to joining CSO, he was special counsel and director of Environmental Affairs at the American Association of Port Authorities, where he represented the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) at the International Maritime Organization on negotiations on the London Convention. MacDonald has also practiced law with a private firm in Washington, DC working on environmental and legislative issues, and served as the Washington, DC environmental legislative representative for the mayor of New York City.
MacDonald’s presentation is hosted by Brookdale’s Environmental Club to encourage students to be involved in statewide and national debates on the importance of strong environmental protections. At the Lincroft meeting, a pizza and subs buffet begins at 6:00 p.m. and the presentation begins at 6:30 p.m.