“However, the lasting beauty and attraction of the Jersey shore comes at a price, and that price is continued and responsible stewardship by elected leaders and Shore residents who can make a difference.

“The dangers to the environmental quality and vitality of the Barnegat Bay and Little Egg Harbor Estuary are not unique to that region. Unless we take a Statewide, comprehensive and coordinated approach to reduce nonpoint source pollution, through development buffers along vulnerable waterways, nitrogen and phosphorous abatement efforts in our waters, and other common-sense pollution controls, we’re going to see the same fate for other inlets and bays around the State.

“Simply put, unless we act, our beautiful bays and inlets will be turned into nothing more than wildlife dead-zones, decimating not only our tourism economy but also the State’s commercial fishing industry.

“Without action to control the impact of nonpoint source pollution in our bays and inlets, efforts to protect and preserve the Shore will be for naught. Efforts to bolster tourism and attract new visitors to the Shore will be for naught. We spoke today about the federal saltwater fishing registry and finding funding for the interpretive centers at Liberty State Park and Island Beach State Park. But unless we reverse course on nonpoint source pollution and actually start to reduce pollution levels in our water, we might as well stop the conversation right here, because it’s going to be game over.

“I remain hopeful that we can reverse years of laissez-faire environmentalism when it comes to Barnegat Bay. The stakes, both ecological and economical, are too great to ignore the data on runoff pollution in the bay. But through comprehensive pollution controls and runoff mitigation efforts, we can preserve these fragile ecosystems for generations to come.”