Bahamas Waterkeeper Joseph Darville, right, meets with Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto during the international conference of Waterkeeper Alliance, the world’s fastest-growing volunteer movement with thousands monitoring and protecting rivers, bays, streams and oceans around the globe.

This is the first time The Bahamas has appointed a Waterkeeper and Darville, an environmentalist and educator for nearly half a century, was invited to speak during opening night where he shared deep concerns about marine degradation in Bimini as a result of dredging to create a cruise ship pier and private island, plowing through coral reefs that are considered among the most treasured in the world.

More than 700 delegates from 19 countries are attending the 2014 conference in Pittsburgh, a city that Darville called “amazing and transforming from what it used to be.

It’s almost a miracle to see what it has become, a true example of environmental stewardship that has brought this historic city back to life.” The conference takes place from May 30-June 2.