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Olympian Calls for Cleaner L.B. Coast | Long Beach Press-Telegram
LONG BEACH - Over the years, Olympic swimmer Aaron Peirsol has noticed a major decline in Southern California's ocean water.
"We've started to see more red tides and closed beaches," said Peirsol, who got his start swimming and surfing near his hometown of Newport Beach. "The oceans today are in serious disrepair."
Peirsol won three gold medals in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and now holds the world record in the 100 backstroke and the 4x100 medley relay.
An advocate for ocean conservation, the swimmer spoke about ways to improve the world's oceans on Saturday at the Port of Long Beach's Green Port Fest.
"It's the little things each person can do," he said, such as switching from plastic to paper grocery bags.
Earlier this year, Peirsol started his own fundraising program called "Race for the Oceans," which benefits the ocean advocacy group Oceana.
The athlete has raised $10,000 so far, and hopes to raise another $5,000 before he heads off to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.
Peirsol also hopes to do a fundraiser swim along the Pacific Coast. But you probably won't catch him doing the backstroke through the Port of Long Beach.
"The water looks pretty dirty," he
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said.
At the 3rd annual Green Port Fest held outside the Port of Long Beach's administrative headquarters, more than 7,000 attendees learned about the different ways the port is cleaning up.
"This event is a great way to show the community how our port operations are becoming more environmental," said Long Beach Harbor Commission President Mario Cordero.
The free event featured train tours aboard a Metrolink rail car, boat trips through the port, and more than 70 interactive displays to show how the port is protecting wildlife, reducing air pollution and improving security.
"The ports of L.A. and Long Beach are at the forefront of reducing emissions," said senior environmental specialist Thomas Jelenic, at a booth explaining the port's clean air program.
Among the new technology, Jelenic said, is a diesel hybrid and LNG locomotive that will undergo a year of testing.
Senior environmental specialist Stacey Crouch brought along three large fish tanks filled with sea urchins, crabs and other types of sea life found in the harbor.
At the end of the year, the ports will begin a study on the effects of pollution on birds, fish and other sea creatures, Crouch said. A similar study conducted in 2000, showed an abundance of sea life, she added.
"We have a very productive harbor," she said. "Things are just flourishing out there."
Gabrielle Weeks, a member of the Long Beach Greens, would have liked to see more examples of renewable energy resources at Saturday's event.
"We definitely need some more models of solar and wind power," she said. "But today is at least a good start."