Nitrogen pollution is the greatest long-term threat to the health of Buzzards Bay. More than half of the Bay’s harbors, coves, and tidal rivers suffer from the effects of nitrogen pollution. We all contribute this harmful pollution to our local waterways – and fortunately, we can all do our part to stop it.

After a major oil spill in 2003, the Coalition developed new laws that make the Bay safer from oil today than it was 10 years ago. But oil spills remain a constant threat, and the Coalition continues to advocate for the strongest possible protections.

Among all of the pollution threats to Buzzards Bay, toxic contamination has seen the greatest reductions in the past several decades. But toxic pollution is still a problem in parts of the Bay, particularly around the urban center of New Bedford. Through strong, dedicated advocacy, the Coalition is working to make toxic pollution a relic of the past.

It wasn’t long ago when shellfish bed closures inspired people to take action to clean up Buzzards Bay. Today, our beaches are cleaner and more shellfishing areas are open because less bacteria pollutes our waterways. But bacterial contamination is still a threat to many places around the Bay where people swim and shellfish.