Check out Rep. Sam Farr’s editorial, “We Must Care for Oceans” from Monday, April 28th regarding Oceans 21.

From everyone here at Ocean Champions, we’d like to thank all of our Ocean Champs that supported this important ocean legislation in pushing it through the first crucial stage. Now, our work must continue to get the bill past the full committee and onto the House and Senate.

Stay tuned for news about how you can help in this next phase.

Watch Rep. Sam Farr and David Wilmot, Ph.D., President of Ocean Champions, discuss nuances to OCEANS-21 and an easy way for you to help.

Currently, our oceans are managed under 140 laws implemented by 20 Federal agencies without a unifying, ecologically-driven vision to protect the overall health of the ocean. With OCEANS-21 we finally have that vision– Including mechanisms to ensure healthy ocean policy for everyone.

YOU CAN HELP MOVE OCEANS-21 FORWARD, HERE’S HOW:

1. Call your representative to support and vote ‘YES’ for OCEANS-21. And, oppose all amendments that weaken the bill. Call: 202-224-3121.
2. Send a message to your representative.
3. Help us continue to work on this important legislation, give $21 for OCEANS-21.

For more details on OCEANS-21, Click here.

Read the Article: Advocate for oceans finds common ground with GOP

To all of you who participated in our first ‘Win a Trip To Mexico’ campaign, we shout out a BIG THANK YOU! Please keep this good thing going. Invite your friends to join the Ocean Champions Community. It’s never been more important!

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If you haven’t already, please sign up for our free email updates. This is the best way for us to keep you informed about all the latest news on the politics of the oceans. And tell your friends to sign up, too.

OCEANS-21: Act now to help move this important legislation forward!

Our oceans are currently managed under 140 laws implemented by 20 Federal agencies, without a unifying vision to ensure the overall health and productivity of the ocean.  With Oceans 21, we finally have that vision—Including mechanisms to ensure health ocean policy for everyone.

Rep. Sam Farr (D-Ca, 17th) (one of our Ocean Champions in Congress) has introduced OCEANS-21, a bill that adopts the key recommendations of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission to develop a holistic ocean health plan. This bill, unlike past ocean legislation, treats the disease, not the symptom.

Help us pass what could be the first national oceans policy!

Please ask your member of Congress to support this vital legislation and help us build a better future for our oceans.

Keep The Beach Clean, Take Action Against Red Tide

Harmful algal blooms like red tide are making people sick, killing marine life, and contaminating seafood. They also have a negative effect on tourism in coastal states, costing coastal communities an estimated $100 million a year.

Now two Ocean Champions in the House of Representatives, Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fl) and Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fl), have introduced the Save Our Shores Act, to increase funding for scientific research to combat red tide and its effects.

Please help us fight red tide and othe harmful algal blooms (HABs) by asking your Representative to cosponsor the Save Our Shores Act.

Oppose Oil and Gas Exploration in Bristol Bay

Bristol Bay and the southeast Bering Sea support the world’s largest sockeye salmon run, abundant seabirds and marine mammals, including critical habitat for the highly endangered North Pacific right whale.

President Bush recently rescinded the “Executive OCS Leasing Withdrawal” for Bristol Bay and opened the area up to oil and gas development, despite thousands of Ocean Champions supporters telling him not to.

Oil and gas development could cause potentially devastating consequences to the marine resources and ocean wildlife in Bristol Bay.

Please contact your members of Congress and tell them to stop the President’s plan to open Bristol Bay up to oil and gas exploration.

Click here to sign up now.

Check it out and promote their effort. Global warming may affect ocean health more than any other environmental threat and we deserve to know what the presidential candidates plan to do about it.

You can become part of the political voice for the oceans.

Now is the perfect time to become a member of Ocean Champions, or renew your membership, because we are expanding our membership package. With a contribution of just $25 or more, you will get:

• Access to our Circle of Champions forum you will be able to weigh in on important political and ocean topics, and participate in discussions with us and other OC members.
• Be part of our Ocean Champions election team - Which candidates are going to be Ocean Champions? Who do you think we should support? You can get directly involved in our election activities.
• Get invited to Congressional events with our Champions Watch - we’ll let you know when candidates and members of Congress are having events near you!
• OC exclusive - Ocean Champions events, speaking engagements, podcasts, news, interviews with members of Congress — We’ll make sure you know about it first.
• We’ll send you an Ocean Champions sticker and window decal - stick your support out there!

And most importantly, you will be part of the only political voice for the oceans, helping to elect congressional leaders who will fight to protect our oceans.

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