Captain Phil Ruhle Receives NOAA Environmental Hero Award

CAPTAIN PHIL RUHLE RECEIVES NOAA ENVIRONMENTAL HERO AWARD

Captain Phil Ruhle, commercial fisherman and captain and owner of the F/V Breeze, was recognized with a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Environmental Hero Award. The award recognizes Ruhle for his cooperative support of NOAA Fisheries science. The award was presented by John Boreman, acting science and research director of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center on May 7th in New York City during a ceremony for Ruhle at the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting.

Held in conjunction with Earth Day celebrations, the award honors NOAA volunteers for their "tireless efforts to preserve and protect our nation's environment." During a time when there was little support for cooperative research between industry and the agency to test and document trawl performance, Ruhle stepped forward and worked cooperatively with the scientists and crew of the NOAA R/V Albatross IV. Ruhle helped to conduct paired trawl surveys to calibrate the differences in catch rates for different configurations of the trawl gear used by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center. Ruhle’s boat, the F/V Sea Breeze, was used to monitor changes in abundance during the comparison tows.

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

Established in 1995 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Earth Day, the Environmental Hero award is presented to individuals and organizations that volunteer their time and energy to help NOAA carry out its mission. Previous recipients include oceanographers Jean-Michel Cousteau and Sylvia Earle, and actor Ted Danson, head of the American Oceans Campaign.

“On behalf of the 12,500 men and women working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, I am pleased to present you with this 2003 Environmental Hero Award,” wrote retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator, in a letter to the recipients. “Your dedicated efforts and outstanding accomplishments greatly benefit the environment and make our nation a better place for all Americans.”

There are a total of 36 winners — 35 individuals and one organization. Five awards are being presented posthumously. Recipients of the 2003 NOAA Environmental Heroes Award are:

Recipient and Location

Phil Ruhle — N. Kingston, R.I.
William A. McLellan — Wilmington, N.C.
Robert Macedo — New Bedford, Mass.
Loretta Lawrence — Islamorada, Fla.
Patrick Repman — Midland, Texas
Marvin O. Hill — Beverly, W.V.
John Pulasky — Billings, Mont.
H. Don McFarland — San Antonio, Texas
Carl Ojala — Ypsilanti, Mich.
Francis H. Smith — Falmouth, Mass.
Morgan Angus and Tara Whittle — Lothian, Md.
Clyde Brown — Moss Point, Miss.
Capt. Krzysztof Romowicz, Capt. Adam Kedziora, Capt. Darek Grzybek, Capt. Marek Czapiewski, Mieczyslaw Miakinko, Robert Zuk, Januz Maslanka, Piotr Kaminski, Wlodzimierz Jarzynski, Andrzej Kalicki, Daniel Skrzypek, Konrad Socko, Marianna Pastuszak — Gdynia, Poland
Cathy P. McNeil — Golden, Colo.
Terry Onslow — Girdwood, Alaska
Ismael Figueroa — Miaramar, Puerto Rico
Thomas F. Kazo — Sunrise, Fla.
Milton C. Shedd (posthumous) — Irvine, Calif.
Jackie Ciano, Michael Newcomer, Emily Argo, Tom Hinds (posthumous) — Fernandino Beach and Sarasota, Fla.
Alabama Emergency Response Team (ALERT) — Calera, Ala.

NOAA 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 the nation’s coastal and marine resources. NOAA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

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