Restoring Long Island Sound with Bill Lucey, the Long Island Soundkeeper

Learn all about Long Island Sound and ongoing efforts to restore its habitat!

Darien Nature Center and Darien Library welcome Bill Lucey, the Long Island Soundkeeper. Bill will talk about our beautiful local waterway and discuss the urgent need to remove "ghost pots" from the Long Island Sound and restore the Sound's floor to its natural state.

Unfortunately, Long Island Sound is still home to tens of thousands of "ghost" pots - abandoned lobster pots that are disrupting the ecosystem as they degrade. These old lobster traps are left over from the ultimate collapse of the Long Island Sound Lobster fishery, the area in the Sound where the lobsters were caught commercially or recreationally. Sadly, abandoned lobster traps can release harmful chemicals into the water as they decay, and on top of everything, can unintentionally catch fish, crabs, and other inhabitants who become trapped in these pots as they scavenge for food.  Find out what's being done and what needs to be done to restore this crucial habitat.

About Bill Lucey

Bill Lucey is the Long Island Soundkeeper, and works tirelessly to monitor the health of the Long Island Sound and protect wildlife, fisheries, and water quality. Bill's work, which is ongoing, has included reducing human impacts on the Sound from excessive nutrients and sewage contamination, removing dams, and restoring coastal habitats. His vigilance as the Soundkeeper has significantly benefited both the Sound and the people of Connecticut. Bill and Soundwaters has successfully advocated for the Sound, including bringing Clean Water Lawsuits against polluters, lobbying for climate change adaptation, and amending the Sewage Right-to-know Act. Bill's work is crucial and ongoing due to additional threats from stormwater runoff, microplastics, nutrient overload, and ghost pots.