The New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary and the New York Bight (referred to throughout this document as the Harbor/Bight) are extraordinary in many ways--their abundant resources, their beauty, and their many competing uses. The Harbor/Bight abounds with diverse natural resources, yet it is the heart of the most densely populated region of the Nation. It provides recreational opportunities including fishing, boating, and swimming to over 20 million residents, and still supports a world class port for both passengers and cargo. It yields extensive commercial and recreational fisheries. It is also a repository for municipal and industrial effluents,¹ for storm runoff from the vast metropolitan area, and for the disposal of dredged material.

The Harbor/Bight provides a livelihood for the local fishing community and citizens who work in the tourism industry. For others, it represents a great opportunity to enjoy open space, offering many leisure activities which are generally rare in an urban metropolis.

For all these reasons and more, those who work and live here should consider it a resource worthy of protection. The New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program, which seeks to preserve and enhance this valuable resource, is a testimony to the fact that people care about the Harbor/Bight. Elected officials have authorized a major expenditure to better understand the problems of the ecosystem. Hundreds of people have participated in a Management Conference for the past five years to develop a plan for its future. These citizens represent federal, state, and local government agencies, scientists, the fishing community, public interest groups, environmental groups, and business and industry.

Despite a legacy of environmental insults, the Harbor/Bight ecosystem is alive and, in some areas, even teeming with marine life and valuable natural resources. Although we may never restore this extraordinary resource to a pristine condition, we can work together to establish and maintain a healthy and productive ecosystem with full beneficial uses.

¹Throughout this Summary, any word that is defined in the glossary will be italicized the first time it is used.
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