PETER DE JUNG RECEIVES ENVIRONMENTAL HERO AWARD

Peter de Jung, a volunteer at the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, has been recognized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as an Environmental Hero for his long-standing commitment to promote research, education and stewardship of sanctuaries.

Since 1995 Peter de Jung has volunteered with the San Francisco-based Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary’s Beach Watch program, conducting monthly monitoring on Limantour Beach in the Point Reyes National Seashore. In October 2004, Peter was attacked by a white shark while surfing near his monitoring site.

A self-proclaimed charter member of the White Shark’s “Surfer-Catch-and-Release Club,” Peter not only resumed his beach surveys upon recovery, but now volunteers with the sanctuary’s new Shark Mobile outreach program to recount his experience and insights to young people. In this way, he contributes not just to greater scientific understanding of the sanctuary but also to greater public awareness of one of its key but least-appreciated wildlife species, the white shark.

Established in 1996, the Environmental Hero Award is presented to individuals and organizations that volunteer their time and energy to help NOAA carry out its mission.

“NOAA and the nation are fortunate to have such dedicated people volunteer so much of their time,” said retired Navy Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “They set a perfect example for others to follow in their communities. America can benefit from more environmental heroes like Peter.”

NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov