Childhood Fishing and Sailing Leads to Environmental Career

Meet Tally Blumberg, President of the Littoral Society's Board of Trustees.

I got my love of the coast from my father, growing up fishing and sailing on the Long Island Sound and in Key Biscayne, and every time I turn my attention to the Society, I think that he would have loved this work. I should make him a posthumous fish tagger! He was fly fishing for stripers on the Sound and in Maine until the end of his life and taught me patiently. 
 
Many, many years ago, I studied marine biology and ecology in college, and when I was given the opportunity to get involved with the American Littoral Society, I jumped at the chance. My whole career has been spent working in the environment, although what started out as an interest has now become such critical work, up against a ticking clock. I am an optimist, and I hope we are making headway as a sector. 

It’s a combination of ecosystem protection, land conservation, public and private property issues, economic stimulus, policy, recreation, and history. It’s fascinating and challenging work. With the interconnectedness of the planet’s ecosystems, coastal protection plays such a key part in our environmental well-being. Although I’ve spent the last decade at the Open Space Institute working on land conservation, my first love is for our coasts and marine ecosystems.

Tally Blumberg, President of the Littoral Society Board of Trustees, addresses attendees at the first Annual Littorally Local event in 2019.

The American Littoral Society does such great work, and manages to combine the importance of local, boots on the ground action with a bigger vision. Any kind of conservation work must function well at a local level, and the Society’s mastery of this is outstanding. I find being a part of the Society to be very rewarding, to work with a staff and board that have such amazing dedication and expertise.
 
I have really enjoyed getting to know some of the staff and learning about their programs. Even better have been the opportunities I’ve had to see them in action in the field. Nothing beats a site visit with the staff, whether it’s to see a restoration project, to take part in a bird tagging expedition, or to watch the educators teach kids about the wonders of marine life.