'The ocean gives so many gifts': This Rumson native is among USA TODAY's Women of the Year

Cindy Zipf is one of USA TODAY’s Women of the Year, a recognition of women who have made a significant impact in their communities and across the country. The program launched in 2022 as a continuation of Women of the Century, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote. Meet this year’s honorees at womenoftheyear.usatoday.com.

Cindy Zipf considers herself, first and foremost, a spokeswoman. And that sense of responsibility is a big part of what has kept her going at the helm of Clean Ocean Action, a Long Branch-based advocacy group that will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year.

"Having such a passion for the ocean and knowing that all of those critters out there are depending on us to be their voice, having that passion to do positive work to protect the ocean, and having so many people support us, that keeps me going," Zipf said. "The ocean gives so many gifts to everyone. Everyone’s ocean story is different, and that all combines into a powerful force."

Cindy Zipf is one of USA TODAY’s Women of the Year, a recognition of women who have made a significant impact in their communities and across the country. The program launched in 2022 as a continuation of Women of the Century, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote. Meet this year’s honorees at womenoftheyear.usatoday.com.

Zipf, 64, grew up in Rumson, but spent many of her afternoons on the beach at Sea Bright, seining in the mud flats and along the river, and walking in her favorite spot, at the edge of the ocean where marine life, seaweed and shells washed onshore. When she was 6, she decided she wanted to be a marine biologist.

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She followed her dream to the University of Rhode Island, where she received a degree in geography and marine affairs. During a college internship at the National Marine Fisheries Service, Zipf observed fish jumping and attempting to flee their tanks when they were exposed to chemical toxins. Viewing their distress inspired her to advocate for the protection of the ocean and all its creatures.

Upon graduation, she interned at the American Littoral Society, and there met Dery Bennett, a long-time environmental leader who helped her transition into an advocacy role. She cites Bennett as one of her most important mentors, along with environmental trailblazer Rachel Carson, whose groundbreaking book, "Silent Spring," about the effects of chemicals on wildlife, would eventually lead to DDT being banned.

Ralph Nader, the consumer safety advocate whose book, "Unsafe At Any Speed," criticized the lax safety record of American automobile manufacturers, and Zipf's husband, Rick Jones, have also inspired her, along with her mother, she said.

"My mom used to always say, 'It goes fast', meaning life," Zipf said, "Enjoy every moment, but always be kind, mind your manners and your attitude."

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Clean Ocean Action: A 16-year battle

Zipf organized Clean Ocean Action in 1984 to end ocean dumping. It was a colossal task: New Jersey and New York were the only states that dumped waste into the sea; there were dump sites for sewage sludge, acid waste and construction debris. Wood was also burned offshore, with pieces of burnt pilings often washing up on the beach.

"There were eight ocean dump sites, including for sewage sludge, acid waste. There was wood burning that used to go on off the coast," she remembered.

"It was dangerous to be out in the water. … It was not the smartest move on our part to be the ocean dumping capital of the world," she said. But of course, the ocean is "cheap to dump into … because nobody really owns it."

Zipf at first thought it would not be that hard to convince people of the need to end ocean dumping. "I thought, this is great, we are going to end ocean dumping and clean up the ocean and then I am going to go and be a scientist," she said.

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Instead, the struggle to end ocean dumping lasted 16 years. Zipf said when dumping finally ended in 2000, it marked her proudest moment as an environmental advocate. How did it happen?

Zipf said Clean Ocean Action has always relied on scientific research and data to fuel its advocacy. "That’s how we have always rolled," she said. "That’s like Clean Ocean Action’s MO. What is the problem? Where is the evidence? Fight the fight." And it paid off.

The Mud Hole waste dump off the coast was closed down in 1997, and by 2000, ocean dumping off the Jersey Shore had finally ended.

"The ocean was dumpsite-free for the first time in over 100 years," she said. "… Since then the ocean has been coming back and today it’s thriving."

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'The ocean is everyone's'

But Zipf's work didn't end along with ocean dumping. Today, she said the greatest threat facing the sea is "industrialization," including plans for offshore wind and commercial fish farms.

"We have been progressing and progressing and progressing," she said. "Now the ocean is threatened by ocean industrialization like never before. Massive power plants have been proposed, carbon sequestration, fish factories. … Industrialization has never benefited the environment. We need to move in a way that is going to address climate change in an environmentally sensitive way."

She said she has been discouraged by the political polarization of offshore wind, which has hurt efforts to find consensus. "It’s so partisan," she said. "The ocean is everyone’s. We’ve worked with Republicans, Democrats and all the parties in between. This is a very sad and low point."

She finds inspiration in the fact that "knowing that there are so many people who care about the ocean. That gives you strength.

"What I tell myself is one never achieves success alone," Zipf said. "Success is bringing people together. … To be successful you need to bring the voices together. Building a network, building a voice for the ocean has always been a key to our success."

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She praises the "extraordinary team" at Clean Ocean Action over the years for their passion to preserve the ocean.

That team helps lead the group's advocacy, including twice-yearly "beach sweeps," which lure up to 10,000 volunteers who remove debris from the sand. "We've gotten people to be more careful, and be stewards of the environment," she said.

The amount of cigarette butts, plastic straws and styrofoam containers volunteers collected on the beaches helped lead to legislation banning smoking on beaches, as well as barring the use of styrofoam and plastic bags, and limiting straw distribution at restaurants.

In the end, it turns out that heading Clean Ocean Action was her dream job after all.

"I love what I do," she said. "I could not, when I was 6 years old and I said I wanted to be a marine biologist, I could not have dreamed up a better role for me and a better job. I love what I do."

Jean Mikle covers Toms River and several other Ocean County towns, and writes about issues related to Superstorm Sandy. She's also passionate about the Shore's storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle,  jmikle@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Cindy Zipf of Clean Ocean Action: USA TODAY's Women of the Year