FENWICK ISLAND – Officials in Fenwick Island are exploring a program that encourages towns to support coastal conservation efforts.
Last week, Mary Ellen Langan, chair of the Fenwick Island Environmental Committee, presented the town council with a program that recognizes towns and communities that become “Champions of the Coast.”
As part of the Champions of the Coast program – spearheaded by the American Littoral Society – towns that pass resolutions supporting regional ocean planning and opposing offshore drilling and pass ordinances banning the intentional release of balloons are recognized for their conservation efforts.
“What they are asking is for coastal towns to take steps to protect the ocean,” she said, “because if we don’t protect the ocean it’s going to ruin the environment and it’s going to ruin our economy.”
Langan said the organization is encouraging coastal towns in the Mid-Atlantic region to become a coastal champion. Current participants include two communities in Monmouth County, N.J., and three communities in Ocean County, N.J.
“This society has been around for 50 years,” she said, “and they have offices up and down the east coast from Massachusetts to Florida.”
Langan said she was presenting the information to the town council if they wanted to participate.
“I will bring it up again to see if the council wants Fenwick to participate and become a Champion of the Coast,” she said.
Langan said if the town were to participate, it would be the first Delaware municipality to be a coastal champion.
“It’s really important that we do everything we can to protect the coast,” she said.
