Oceana Launches 4th Annual Ocean Heroes Contest

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Oceana announced the start of its fourth annual Ocean Heroes Contest, a summertime celebration of the individuals who go above and beyond to protect the oceans. This year's contest kicks off the week of World Oceans Day with winners announced on July 18, 2012. Nominations for both the adult and junior division are open to the public at the official contest Facebook page which can be reached by going to http://www.oceana.org/heroes until June 20, 2012. Nominees for Oceana's Ocean Heroes Award can be youths or adults who are making an impact in ocean conservation through creative approaches to fighting pollution, protecting marine life, grassroots advocacy or any number of other missions that benefit the oceans.

Following two weeks of nominations the contest will give way to a period of public voting from June 27th - July 11th. Winners will be announced on July 18th.

"Oceana's Ocean Heroes Contest is back and we're excited to celebrate a new group of ocean activists who dedicate themselves towards the protection of the world's oceans," said Oceana CEO Andrew Sharpless. "These are individuals who serve as wonderful examples of how anyone can be a hero for the oceans."

Last year, thousands of participants voted and selected adult winner Peter Wallerstein, program director at Marine Animal Rescue, a project of Friends of Animals, in El Segundo, CA. He was voted ocean hero for his commitment to rescuing injured marine mammals. Wallerstein said being voted Oceana's Ocean Hero was extremely gratifying. "I hope that by winning this award people across the country will see the impact that Marine Animal Rescue is having in Los Angeles and will be inspired to improve the quality of similar rescues in their own coastal communities," he said.

The winner of the junior award in 2011 was eight-year-old Sophi Bromenshenkel of Minneapolis, MN. By selling lemonade and hot chocolate, shark cookies and wristbands, Bromenshenkel raised more than $3,500 for sharks prior to becoming the 2011 Junior Ocean Hero. She has partnered with the University of Miami's R.J. Dunlap Marine Conservation Program, where her funds help pay for satellite tags on sharks.

In addition to being lauded on Oceana.org, both junior and adult finalists and winners of the Ocean Heroes Award will be recognized with prize packages provided by contest partners Nautica and Revo.

Oceana is the largest international advocacy group working solely to protect the world's oceans. Oceana wins policy victories for the oceans using science-based campaigns. Since 2001, we have protected over 1.2 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea turtles, sharks, dolphins and other sea creatures. More than 550,000 supporters have already joined Oceana. Global in scope, Oceana has offices in North, South and Central America and Europe. To learn more, please visit http://www.oceana.org.

Contact:
Jessica Wiseman
202-467-1934
[email protected]

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SOURCE Oceana