Surfers, Environmentalists Protest Proposed New York Artificial Island

Text by Tetsuhiko Endo

What do the get when you combine one private investment company, two organizations dedicated to protecting the ocean, and the idea to build an artificial island off the coast of New York's Long Island? The no-holds-barred environmental grudge match of the week.

In the right corner stands the Atlantic Sea Island Group, which has petitioned the coast guard and U.S. Maritime Administration for the authorization to build an artificial island to aid in the importation of liquefied natural gas (LNG). In the left corner is a joint coalition between the Sandy Hook, New Jersey-based Clean Ocean Action and the Surfrider Foundation, who contend, according to the Surfrider website, that such an island would be disastrous to the marine ecosystem. Checkout this article on surfline.com to get more info about the debate. And stay tuned for subsequent rounds...it looks like the gloves are about to come off.