Oceana Launches 4th Annual Ocean Heroes Contest

Washington, DC – 5.29.2012, Oceana announced the start of its fourth annual Ocean Heroes Contest, a summertime competition to identify and celebrate everyday people 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 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 discover a new group of ocean stewards who dedicate tremendous time and energy toward the protection of the world’s oceans,” said Oceana CEO Andrew Sharpless. “These are regular people who may not earn much recognition for their ocean conservation work, but nevertheless serve as wonderful examples of how anyone can be a hero for the oceans. Last year’s adult winner, Peter Wallerstein program director at Marine Animal Rescue in El Segundo, CA was voted ocean hero for his commitment to rescuing injured marine mammals.

Wallerstein said that winning the award was extremely humbling. “Raising the standard of marine mammal care in LA County has been my life’s work for over 25 years and to be recognized on such a large scale is enormously rewarding,” said Wallerstein. “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 added.

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, and through email campaigns and local fliers, 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.