Ocean Champions is the only political voice for ocean health. We take a non-partisan approach in working with
the U.S. Congress to ensure ocean health through electoral and legislative action.

You Spoke and Congress Listened

Quick recap: two weeks ago, we celebrated the CLEAR Act passing out of Committee in the House. This bill had several strong ocean provisions, including the establishment of a major fund for ocean conservation...

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Quick recap:  two weeks ago, we celebrated the CLEAR Act passing out of Committee in the House.  This bill had several strong ocean provisions, including the establishment of a major fund for ocean conservation.

One week ago, we told you that the CLEAR Act was being brought to the House Floor as part of a Gulf Response package, but the best ocean sections, including the ocean conservation fund, had been stripped out.  We urgently asked you to tell your Representative to include the fund and other strong ocean language in the Gulf Response package.

You responded and it made a difference!  The CLEAR Act's ocean conservation fund and other good conservation provisions are back in the Gulf Response package that is expected to go to the Floor this week!  This is moving fast, and things could change again, but everything looks good now.  Thank you for fighting for the oceans!

With momentum on our side, there is one more thing you can do.  Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) have introduced a bill (S. 3641) to create an ocean endowment, very similar to the House bill.  Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) is also putting a Gulf Response package together, and we want to make sure S. 3641 is part of it.  Please call your Senators (Senate Switchboard: (202) 224-3121) and ask them to support S. 3641.  Specifically, ask to speak to the staffer responsible for environmental issues and say:

I am a resident of [your state], and would appreciate it if the Senator would support including S. 3641, which establishes a National Endowment for the Ocean, in the Majority Leader's Gulf Response package.

As we saw with the House CLEAR Act, your voice made a difference.  Ocean Champions is continuing to push for these bills on the inside, and together, we can make this happen!

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27 July 2010, 8:00 pm

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OC Blog

Ocean Warrior Paddles the Pacific Coast

Ocean Warrior Margo Pellegrino has launched and is on her way!  On July 3rd, Margo set out on a pacific coast paddling adventure from Seattle to San Diego on behalf of ocean health.  One stroke at a time Margo is raising awareness and inspiring others… one woman’s attempt to protect and conserve our oceans and [...]

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23 July 2010, 9:39 pm

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Ocean Warrior Margo Pellegrino has launched and is on her way!  On July 3rd, Margo set out on a pacific coast paddling adventure from Seattle to San Diego on behalf of ocean health.  One stroke at a time Margo is raising awareness and inspiring others… one woman’s attempt to protect and conserve our oceans and coasts for future generations by calling out to all communities along America’s coastlines.  She is doing everything she can to highlight four ocean issues:

  • the impacts of sewage, fertilizers and storm water run-off
  • overfishing and unsustainable industry fishing practices
  • the acidification of our oceans
  • the problem with plastics

These are critically important issues that align with Ocean Champions priorities.  Sewage, fertilizer and storm run-off are major contributors to harmful algal blooms.  Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are known to kill fish, marine mammals, and birds; they can contaminate shellfish with toxins and harm human health, sometimes resulting in fatalities. They shut down fisheries, sideline fishermen and drive tourists away from resorts. Researchers have estimated that HABs cost coastal communities nearly $100 million annually. The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act was introduced in 2009 by two of our champions in the Senate, Senators Bill Nelson and Olympia Snowe.  The bill passed the House floor in March.  We’re working with our champions in the Senate to see it through to passage on the Senate floor.

Addressing overfishing and unsustainable fishing practices is also one of Ocean Champions priorities.  The Magnuson Stevens Fishery and Conservation Act is the primary federal statute governing how we manage our Nation’s fisheries and, requires ending overfishing, rebuilding depleted fish populations and achieving sustainable fisheries management.  In 2006, we played a significant role in reauthorizing the M-S Act, today, we are working to protect and defend against the weakening of the M-S Act.

Ocean Acidification and marine debris are massive problems that Ocean Champions and many other members in the ocean community continually seek opportunities to move forward on.  Three of our champions in Congress have taken leadership roles in moving legislation forward that addresses ocean acidification.

Ocean Champions is a big fan of Margo’s pro-ocean mission.  We hope that you will support Margo in her efforts too.  She is demonstrating that “one person CAN make a difference - for her children and all of our children, as they are the future leaders of our world.”

Follow Margo on her real time “Margo Tracker” link, and check out photos from her voyage down the coast.  She also has an adventure blog that she updates regularly, Margo had quite an adventure with the Oregon coast guard yesterday.  Watch for her blog post talking about it coming out very soon.  On Wednesday, August 11th, you can catch Margo on Moir’s Environmental Dialogues at 9 PDT / 12 EDT.

Keep the momentum going Margo!  We wish you the very best!

Sunset on the beach

John F. Kennedy, “We are tied to the ocean.  And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch, we are going back from whence we came.”

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23 July 2010, 9:39 pm

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