New York, NY – The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) successfully concluded its 2024 Regions Initiative with its New York/New Jersey Regional gathering on November 22nd . Hosted by The American Club, the meeting brought together diverse stakeholders to discuss critical issues impacting the maritime community and to foster collaboration for a sustainable future across the tri-state area.
Presentations from industry leaders included:
- Mike Bozza, Deputy Port Director, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, who shared insights into the port’s upcoming projects and its significant strides in driving sustainable development.
- Captain Aaron Singh, of the New York Harbor School, who highlighted the school’s pivotal role in equipping the next generation of mariners with the skills and knowledge needed for a thriving maritime industry.
The gathering underscored the importance of leveraging regional strengths to address shared challenges and opportunities. As a key takeaway, NAMEPA committed to developing a comprehensive stakeholder map encompassing organizations across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. This initiative will kickstart efforts aligned with the region’s pillars of maritime awareness, marine environmental protection, and workforce development.
NAMEPA’s regional gatherings have been instrumental in fostering open dialogue and building trust among stakeholders and driving collaborative action on key issues including:
- Raising Maritime Awareness: Educating and enhancing the public’s understanding about the maritime industry’s critical role in both the economy and environmental protection.
- Combating Marine Debris: Working together to reduce pollution and safeguard marine ecosystems.
- Investing in Workforce Development: Cultivating a skilled and environmentally conscious maritime workforce for the future, equipped to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving industry.
- Engaging in Public Outreach: Inspiring communities to actively protect our oceans.
Reflecting on NAMEPA Regional Gatherings in 2024
Throughout 2024, NAMEPA has successfully rolled out its Regions Initiative, aimed at advancing maritime industry interests, marine environmental protection, and workforce development in key maritime markets. The initiative launched in Houston in February, followed by impactful gatherings in Washington, D.C. in May and the California Region in August. The September Florida gathering addressed local priorities such as port sustainability, cruise line operations, marine conservation, and workforce preparedness, while last month’s New England event was hosted at Mystic Seaport in conjunction with the Teaching with Small Boats Alliance Biannual Conference and discussed workforce development.
Each of these gatherings reflected NAMEPA’s commitment to addressing the unique needs of regional maritime communities while aligning with global priorities. The success of the Regions Initiative in 2024 has strengthened collaboration across stakeholders and reaffirmed NAMEPA’s role as a leader in fostering sustainability, innovation, and education within the maritime sector.
Looking ahead, NAMEPA is eager to build on these achievements, continuing to engage communities and industry leaders to Save Our Seas.
For more information about NAMEPA and its initiatives, please visit www.namepa.net
Contact: Molly Dushay, Executive Director, North American Marine Environment Protection Association (m.dushay@namepa.net)
About North American Marine Environment Protection Association
The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) is a maritime industry-led organization of environmental stewards preserving the marine environment by promoting sustainable marine industry best practices and educating seafarers, students and the public about the need and strategies for protecting global ocean, lake and river resources. For more information visit www.namepa.net.