Coastal Advocacy
Make a Difference in Savannah, Brunswick, and Beyond
Images courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Windows to the Deep 2019.
Blake Plateau
Approximately 80-100 miles off the Georgia coast lies the largest known deep-water coral reef on Earth, in a part of the Atlantic Ocean known as Blake Plateau. The continuous 200-mile-long dense coral highway dubbed “Million Mounds” supports a trove of biodiversity.
In the area above Blake Plateau, the Florida and Antilles Currents merge to form the great Gulf Stream, bringing an abundance of nutrients and food to support an unparalleled ecosystem. Supported by bacteria that use chemical energy instead of light to make food, numerous rare fish and invertebrates make the deep sea their home.
Scientists estimate that it took 260 thousand years for this seascape to form. Deep-sea ecosystems grow very slowly and are incredibly vulnerable to disruptions. As industries look farther offshore for fishing, fossil fuel development, and mineral extraction, ensuring the continuation of this vital ecological community will require dedicated attention and increased conservation measures. Sign our petition today to advocate for permanent protections within the Blake Plateau!
Golden Isles Resilience
Among Georgia’s coastal communities, climate change is especially threatening Glynn County. Residents in the Brunswick area are experiencing increased flooding, heat, and strong storms. This community is already overburdened by numerous human-related stresses including toxic pollution and increased development. The challenges presented by climate change disproportionately impact people of color and low-wealth households.
As part of the newly formed Golden Isles Coastal Resiliency Network (GICRN), Georgia Interfaith Power & Light is partnering with Glynn Environmental Coalition, A Better Glynn, and The Nature Conservancy to assist the area in putting together a vision for climate resiliency and plan to pursue it. This is intended to be a collaborative effort, elevating community voices as equal partners in climate change planning and implementation.
Right Whales
North Atlantic Right Whales are some of the most endangered whales in the world and are rapidly declining toward extinction, largely due to vessel strikes and entanglements in commercial fishing rope.
Approximately 340 known whales remain, including only 70 reproductive females. While North Atlantic Right Whales spend much of their time feeding in coastal areas across New England and Canada, in the winter months, pregnant females migrate to the Georgia and North Florida coasts to give birth. These slow-moving, surface giants, need our protection!
Based on the last three calving seasons (2019-2022), a right whale calf born in the Southeast United States has a 1 in 14 chance of being struck and killed by a boat before it turns one year old.
Recently the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) proposed expanding a 2008 rule regulating boat speeds to include larger yachts and vessels 35-65 feet long. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Coastal Resources Division (CRD) is now accepting public comment on this proposed amendment to the “speed rule”)to better protect these magnificent creatures.
