Contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Lori Arguelles/Greg Hernandez January 28, 1998
WASHINGTON -- Commerce Secretary William M. Daley launched the International Year of the Ocean today, with the announcement of a national conference later this year to focus on the ocean. The Department of Commerce will work to coordinate the conference, which will include other federal agencies, Members of Congress, and interested ocean groups.
"The goal of Year of the Ocean is to highlight the important role the ocean plays in the daily lives of all Americans and the Ocean Conference will help us do that," Daley said. "This is especially important when you consider that one of every six jobs in the U.S. is marine-related and one-third of the nation's gross national product is produced in coastal areas through fishing, transportation and recreation. All of these industries are dependent on healthy waters and marine habitats."
The announcement also featured an opportunity for the students, the next generation of ocean caretakers, to interact live with National Geographic Explorer in Residence Dr. Sylvia Earle. Earle joined the kick-off from underwater in the main kelp forest tank at the Monterey Bay Aquarium to talk with the students about the future of the ocean.
"Any campaign of this magnitude would be incomplete if we didn't include our next generation," Daley said. "The children of our planet will take over our stewardship of the Earth and of the oceans. We have to instill a curiosity and respect for our ocean through our children if the ocean is to have a future."
"The Year of the Ocean public awareness campaign is aimed at both students and adults. It will provide both individuals and organizations with the opportunity to raise public awareness of the role the ocean plays in our lives, and to initiate changes needed to sustain the marine resources on which we depend," said D. James Baker, Commerce Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The campaign includes a number of activities throughout the year with a variety of partners, both in the public and private sector. The campaign includes a colorful poster of marine life donated by artist Steve Shachter; a companion guide talking about the species depicted on the poster; print and television public service announcements; a brochure that includes an insert with information about how to help the ocean; a Web site (www.yoto.com) and a toll-free number for people to get more information and materials (888-4YOTO98).
"It's vital that we pass on not just a love of the ocean, but an understanding of how important the ocean is to our lives. Children can make a big difference. Even little things, like recycling or spending a few hours picking trash up from the shoreline, can ripple out and have a big effect on the ocean," Earle said.
Participants in the interactive event included students from C.D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, Va. and Loch Lomand Elementary school in Manassas, Va. The live interactive broadcast was produced by Passage Productions in conjunction with SKYtron Corp.
Other partners in the Year of the Ocean include: Ted Danson, Founder of the American Oceans Campaign, who narrated the public service announcement; Floyd Christofferson, president of Potomac Television, who helped produce and distribute the PSA nationwide; the Environmental News Network, which developed the Year of the Ocean Web site; Jack Thomasson, the Associate Publisher of Coastal Living magazine, who produced and published the print public service announcements; Bob Talbot, whose photography illustrates the brochure; artist Steve Shachter, whose original artwork was made into the Year of the Ocean poster; The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; the Henry Foundation; the Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation; Passage Productions, Inc., Santa Barbara, Calif.; and SKYtron Corp. of Irvine, Calif.
EDITORS NOTE: Visit Year of the Ocean on the Web at http://yoto.com or call the toll-free number at 888-4YOTO98.