NOAA 2005-024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Glenda Powell
3/9/05
 NOAA News Releases 2005
NOAA Home Page
NOAA Public Affairs


NOAA RECOGNIZES EXCELLENCE IN COASTAL AND OCEAN MANAGEMENT

NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, announces the 13 winners of the 2005 Walter B. Jones Memorial and NOAA Awards for Excellence in Coastal and Ocean Management. The awards recognize individuals, graduate students, state and local governments, businesses and non-governmental organizations for their outstanding contributions to coastal stewardship. A ceremony to honor the award winners will take place on March 9, 2005, in Washington, D.C. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

“From coast to coast, remarkable people are making a difference. These awards honor the coastal and ocean stewards who dedicate countless hours and energy to conserving coastal resources and improving coastal communities,” said retired Navy Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.

Under the Coastal Zone Management Act, every two years NOAA honors the achievements and accomplishments of those who make noteworthy contributions in the management of the nation’s coast.

The awards were created to honor the late North Carolina Congressman Walter B. Jones. As chairman of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, Congressman Jones was a strong supporter of the National Marine Fisheries Service and Coastal Zone Management. He provided leadership on numerous legislative initiatives addressing coastal and ocean issues ranging from commercial shipping to oil spill clean-up and prevention to flood insurance reform.

Three award categories are named in honor of Congressman Jones: Coastal Steward of the Year; Excellence in Local Government; and Excellence in Coastal and Marine Graduate Study. NOAA added five categories of Excellence Awards to recognize exceptional work in other areas important to the success of coastal and ocean resource management.

The winners are of the 2005 Walter B. Jones Memorial and NOAA Awards for Excellence in Coastal and Ocean Management are:

2005 Walter B. Jones Memorial Award:

  • Coastal Steward of the Year - Edith Chase, Ohio Coastal Resource Management Project;
  • Award for Excellence in Coastal and Marine Graduate Study - Caitlin Mullan Crain, Brown University;
  • Award for Excellence in Coastal and Marine Graduate Study - Katherine Ann Eschelbach, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill;
  • Award for Excellence in Coastal and Marine Graduate Study - Rense Heath Kelsey, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina;
  • Award for Excellence in Coastal and Marine Graduate Study - Kevin Weng, Stanford University;
  • Award for Excellence in Local Government - Erie MetroParks, Jonathan Granville, Director; and
  • Award for Excellence in Local Government - City of New Bedford, Frederick M. Kalisz, Jr., Mayor.

2005 NOAA Excellence Award for Coastal and Ocean Resource Management:

  • Award for Excellence in Ocean and Coastal Resource Management - Betsy Blair, Reserve Manager, Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve;
  • Award for Volunteer of the Year - Charles Max Schenk, Gloucester, Massachusetts;
  • Award for Non-Governmental Organization of the Year - Surfrider Foundation, Michelle Kremer, Esq., Interim Executive Director;
  • Award for Excellence in Promoting Diversity in Coastal and Ocean Resource Management - Dr. William Aalbersberg, Institute of Applied Science, University of the South Pacific;
  • Award for Excellence in Promoting Diversity in Coastal and Ocean Resource Management - Dr. Seth Macinko, University of Rhode Island, Marine Affairs Department; and
  • Award for Excellence in Business Leadership - Taylor Shellfish Farms, Shelton, WA 98584.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and to providing environmental stewardship of our Nation’s coastal and marine resources.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov