The Ocean and Coastal Conservation Guide 2005-2006

by David Helvarg (Editor)

Overview

A new environmental movement is emerging to help combat threats to America's oceans and coasts, with hundreds of local and regional groups as well as dozens of national and international organizations being formed. The Ocean and Coastal Conservation Guide represents a comprehensive guide to this new "Blue Movement."

This one-of-a-kind new reference details more than 2,000 organizations and institutions that are working to understand, protect, and restore our ocean and coastal areas. For each entry, the book gives contact information including phone and fax numbers, email addresses, web addresses and a brief description of program areas of interest. Along with the state-by-state listings of groups, the directory includes three detailed sections that identify relevant government agencies, academic marine programs, and marine and coastal parks and protected areas.

To be published biennially, The Ocean and Coastal Conservation Guide is a vital new resource for anyone interested in the growing community of people working to protect and restore our coastal lands and waters.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781610914789
Publisher:	Island Press
Publication date:	04/10/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	234
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

David Helvarg is a journalist turned activist and founder of the Blue Frontier Campaign, a broad-based effort to educate and mobilize people around a common vision of healthy, bountiful seas. He is author of Blue Frontier (W. H. Freeman, 2001) and War Against the Greens (Sierra Club, 1997).

Read an Excerpt

The Ocean and Coastal Conservation Guide 2005â"2006

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By David Helvarg

ISLAND PRESS

Copyright © 2005 Ocean Awareness Project, Inc.
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-61091-478-9

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CHAPTER 1

SECTION ONE

Blue Groups

I was visiting with the ranger in charge of a wildlife refuge on the coast of Florida where some of the last American crocodiles live in mangrove swamps and along abandoned canals of a failed development. The refuge is also home to endangered swallowtail butterflies, indigo snakes, and tree snails. Manatees, egrets, ospreys, tarpon, sharks, and rays congregate in the adjacent waters. I asked the ranger if he was involved with any ocean protection groups. "No," he said. "But when people ask me what environmental group they should contribute to, I say 'Planned Parenthood.'"

Fighting to protect our last wild blue places can lead some to a misanthropic view of the world—people are the problem. At the same time people also have the power to create solutions and find ways to live in harmony with nature and creation. American poet Henry David Thoreau reminds us that "Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads." I'd just amend that to say that heaven is also under our flippers.

Across the United States people who care about our ocean planet are beginning to act on their beliefs. The number of blue groups is growing, along with public awareness about the state of our oceans. Basically five different types of blue organizations exist today:

–National and international activist organizations include the 150,000-member Ocean Conservancy (headed by a former Coast Guard admiral), which sponsors the National Beach Cleanup Day every year. The Surfrider Foundation is a chapter-based group of 40,000 surfers and other watermen and waterwomen who got fed up with oil and waste turning their ocean stoke into waterborne infections. Oceana, an international group, targets "dirty" fishing practices and threatens to sue the barnacles off polluting ocean liners. The Waterkeeper Alliance, with more than one hundred Keepers around the nation, targets polluters. The alliance grew out of the Riverkeepers who followed the flow into saltier water so that now they're also baykeepers, inlet keepers, and coastkeepers. These groups have local chapters or regional offices that work in your area and are easy to contact—particularly if your concerns are much larger than your own beach or bay, or if you are looking for an expert on a certain issue.

–Professionalized marine groups focus on just one thing and do it well. Seaweb helps the blue movement use media more effectively. It has spawned work on sustainable seafood, aquaculture, and aquarium conservation. Jacque Cousteau's grandson Philippe runs Earth Echo, which works on coral restoration and alternative ocean energies, while Titanic discoverer Bob Ballard brings the ocean into thousands of classrooms through his JASON project, using remote sensing underwater cameras. These groups can help your organization if you lack a particular kind of expertise. In another section of this guide you'll find listings of university and marine research centers that can also provide specialized expertise.

–Coalitions of blue groups across the nation, such as the Marine Fish Conservation Network, Restore America's Estuaries, Clean Water Network, and Ocean Wildlife Campaign, work on a range of issues from fisheries management reform to establishment of marine protected areas (wilderness parks in the sea). These groups often hold joint meetings and, like the Blue Frontier Campaign, aim to build bridges, alliances, and tactical coordination among marine activists and organizations.

–Local and regional blue groups include the New Jersey–based American Littoral Society, the Gulf Restoration Network, and Reef Relief that helps place tie-off buoys in the water so that dive-boats don't drop their anchors on live coral. The influential Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Maryland is fighting to restore America's largest estuary to at least 76 percent of its precolonial natural state. (Presently the organization rates the estuary at 26 percent.) Others are the venerable Save San Francisco Bay, the North Carolina Coastal Federation, and People for Puget Sound. Hundreds of local organizations also make their presence felt through constructive engagement with their fellow citizens. In Santa Cruz, California, for example, Save Our Shores (SOS), founded to protest offshore oil drilling, has evolved into a citizen-watchdog and resource for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

–Specific marine wildlife operations include the Pelagic Shark Foundation, Protect Our Wild Salmon, the Sea Otter Project, the Sea Turtle Restoration Project, and the Save the Manatee Club, which is cochaired by singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett who notes that "each species is the spoke in a magic wheel: to lose one is to diminish the whole."

Ultimately, the Blue Movement includes many possible allies that you can call on—from local elected officials to ocean-dependent businesses, public health agencies, and recreational water users. In addition, a number of national organizations, including some major environmental groups such as the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Environmental Defense, now show an increased interest in the seas and offer members a way to be locally active while participating in campaigns aimed at changing national policies.

The following list of groups offers many choices and levels of activity to engage in. The list is organized by state so that you can find groups nearest to you working on your issues. It includes established institutions such as marine science centers, exceptional government agencies such as the California Coastal Commission, and conservation-oriented aquariums that offer teachers and students an opportunity to learn about ocean protection while also offering individuals a chance to volunteer. Neighbors are organizing hundreds of local groups to protect the coastal and ocean resources they most value, be it a recreational beach in Staten Island, New York, or traditional cultural resources for native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. People have organized regionally around watersheds, treaties, and common waters at risk and, through their collective efforts, have won important victories for conservation and common sense.

Of course the real promise of what we call the "seaweed rebellion" is that all these groups—local, regional, and national—have now begun to work in concert. In July 2004 some 170 groups from twenty-five states and territories came together in Washington, D.C., for a three-day Blue Vision Conference that marked the beginning of a common vision and agenda for America's ocean and coastal movement. Building on that beginning, networks of waterwomen and watermen are today forging the kind of links that will help create a damp and salty uprising aimed at nothing less than the recovery of our maritime culture and heritage and the renewal of our journey home to the American sea. We hope you find the connections you need in this, the first citizens' guide to the blue movement.

ALABAMA

Alabama Coastal Foundation Inc.

www.alcoastalfoundation.org

PO Box 1760

Fairhope, AL 36533

ph: 251-990-6002

fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Improves and protects the quality of Alabama's coastal resources by identifying and solving problems through education, cooperation, and participation.

Alabama Environmental Council

www.aeconline.ws

2717 7th Ave. S, #207

Birmingham, AL 35233

ph: 205-322-3126

fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Strives to provide up-to-date information on Alabama's coastal and terrestrial environment as well as links to other environmental organizations. It is Alabama's oldest nonprofit environmental advocacy group.

Alabama Rivers Alliance

www.alabamarivers.org

2027 2nd Ave. N, Ste. A

Birmingham, AL 35203

ph: 205-322-6395

fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Works to unite Alabama's citizens to protect clean and healthy waters through three programs that focus on watershed protection, building watershed organizations, and increasing awareness and understanding of the value of watersheds to the state.

Dauphin Island Sea Lab

www.disl.org

101 Bienville Blvd.

Dauphin Island, AL 36528

ph: 251-861-2141

fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Provides educational programs, research and coastal zone management, and a public aquarium focused solely on the native ecosystems of the Mobile Bay estuary. DISL is home to the Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium.

Mobile Bay Watch/Mobile Baykeeper

www.mobilebaywatch.org

5 North Jackson St.

Mobile, AL 36602

ph: 251-433-4229

fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Protects the quality of life for Mobile and Baldwin counties through a number of programs that involve local citizens in monitoring and reporting on water pollution, working to improve air quality that impacts the area, protecting shorebirds and marine wildlife, and fighting a proposed liquid natural gas facility.

The Nature Conservancy–Alabama Chapter Office

www.nature.org/Alabama

2100 1st Avenue North, Ste. 500

South Birmingham, AL 35203

ph: 205-251-1155

fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Purchases land and sets up conservation easements for critical habitats in Alabama to augment the nature preserves of Alabama. The Nature Conservancy is a national organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

The Nature Conservancy–Alabama Coastal Programs Office

3280 Dolphin St., Ste. B-123

Mobile, AL 36606

ph: 251-473-4009

fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Sierra Club–Alabama Coastal Group

www.alabama.sierraclub.org/coastal.htmlI

PO Box 852102

Mobile, AL 36685

ph: 251-540-2121

[e-mail]

Practices and promotes the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources including Alabama's coastal lands and waters. The Sierra Club is America's oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental group.

Weeks Bay Reserve Foundation

www.weeksbay.org

PO Box 731

Fairhope, AL 36533

ph: 251-990-5004

[e-mail]

Supports the Weeks Bay Natural Estuarine Research Reserve in its efforts to protect the pristine coastal area of Baldwin County that feeds into Mobile Bay.

WildLaw

www.wildlaw.org

8116 Old Federal Rd., Ste. C

Montgomery, AL 36117

ph: 334-396-4729

fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Reviews and exposes violations of permitted industry and government entities in southern states, and ensures adherence to environmental laws. Has worked for the protection of Dauphin Island and other coastal regions.

Wolf Bay Watershed Watch Inc.

www.wolfbaywatch.org

PO Box 63

Elberta, AL 36530

ph: 251-987-5501

[e-mail]

Protects and preserves the natural resources of the Wolf Bay Watershed. A grassroots citizen's advocacy organization.

ALASKA

Alaska Clean Water Alliance

PO Box 1441

Haines, AK 99827

ph: 907-766-2296

[e-mail]

Works to ensure that all activities in Alaska's rivers, lakes, estuaries, wetlands, and marine waters protect public health, support the use of the ecosystem for food harvesting, and foster environmental and economic stability. A research, education, and grassroots empowering organization dedicated to the conservation of the watersheds of Alaska.

Alaska Conservation Alliance

www.akvoice.org

PO Box 100660

Anchorage, AK 99510

ph: 907-258-6171

fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Empowers citizens and organizations to participate effectively in the civic arena, and informs public officials, media, and the public about environmental, economic, and community-based issues. Among these are protecting salmon from impacts of logging and development and mitigating the impacts of global warming on the Arctic marine and coastal zone.

Alaska Conservation Voters

www.acvoters.org

PO Box 100660

Anchorage, AK 99510

ph: 907-258-6171

fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Works to protect Alaska's environment through public education and advocacy, and supports pro-conservation candidates for public office.

Alaska Longline Fisherman's Association

www.Afjournal.com

403 Lincoln St., Ste. 237

Sitka, AK 99835

ph: 907-747-3400

fax: [phone]

Represents the men, women, and families dependent on Alaska's long-line industry and works to sustain it.

Alaska Marine Conservation Council

www.akmarine.org

PO Box 101145

Anchorage, AK 99510

ph: 907-277-5357

fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Represents people who care about the health and future of Alaska's oceans and coastal communities. The community-based organization includes fisherman, subsistence harvesters, marine scientists, business owners, and families whose way of life, livelihoods and economies depend on healthy marine ecosystems.

Alaska Oceans Program

www.alaskaoceans.org

308 G St., Ste. 219

Anchorage, AK 99501

ph: 907-929-3553

fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Shares concerns about the deterioration of the North Pacific Ocean environment and seeks solutions that promote conservation and sustainable fishery management policies.

Alaska Public Interest Research Group (PIRG)

www.akpirg.org

PO Box 101093

Anchorage, AK 99510

ph: 907-278-3661

fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Educates citizens to enable them to participate in the political process, provides the public with practical and cost-efficient ways to work with government and the private sector, and encourages and provides information to grassroots efforts that advocate for the public interest. This is a nonpartisan, statewide, nonprofit organization that is over twenty years old and has about 3,000 members.

Alaska SeaLife Center

www.alaskasealife.org

301 Railway Ave.

PO Box 1329

Seward, AK 99664

ph: 800-224-2525

fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Promotes research, rehabilitation, and public education to understand and maintain the integrity of marine ecosystems in Alaska. The nonprofit organization's research and rehabilitation facilities and naturalistic exhibits immerse visitors in the dynamic marine ecosystems of Alaska.

Anchorage Waterways Council

www.anchoragecreeks.org

PO Box 241774

Anchorage, AK 99524-1774

ph: 907-277-9287

fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Promotes the value of Anchorage's waterways and related habitats. The group organized itself following the first creek cleanup effort in 1984.

Campaign to Safeguard America's Waters

www.earthisland.org/project/viewProject.cfm?subSiteID=6

PO Box 956

Haines, AK 99827

ph: 907-766-3005

fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Seeks to close loopholes in federal and state water pollution regulations that allow millions of gallons of polluted wastes to be dumped into public waters every day. This group is a national project of the Earth Island Institute.

Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies

www.akcoastalstudies.org

PO Box 2225

Homer, AK 99603

ph: 907-235-6667

[e-mail]

Fosters responsible interactions with natural surroundings and generates knowledge of the marine and coastal ecosystems of Kachemak Bay through education, research, and stewardship programs.

Coastal Coalition

PO Box 231293

Anchorage, AK 99523-1293

ph: 907-333-3381

Seeks to develop coastal policy and a responsible plan for oil transportation, OCS oil development, and marine conservation. This private coastal coalition group formed in response to the Valdez accident.

Cook Inlet Keeper

www.inletkeeper.org

Box 3269

Homer, AK 99603

ph: 907-235-4068

fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Seeks protection of Alaska's Cook Inlet watershed and the life it sustains. The organization is a citizen-based nonprofit group and member of the Waterkeeper Alliance.

Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund–Alaska

www.earthjustice.org/regional/juneau

325 Fourth St.

Juneau, AK 99801-1145

ph: 907-586-2751

fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Seeks to protect the natural attributes of Alaska. Since 1978, attorneys representing a diverse group of clients have brought litigation to defend natural resources throughout the state.

Friends of Southeast's Future

www.ptialaska.net/~snep

PO Box 212

Sitka, AK 99835

[e-mail]

Works to protect the Tongass National Forest surrounding Sitka from large-scale clear-cutting of the remaining old growth forest that protects local lands and waters. This is a grassroots activist group.

Greenpeace–Alaska

www.GreenpeaceUSA.org

125 Christensen Dr., Ste. 2

Anchorage, AK 99501

ph: 800-326-0959

[e-mail]

Uses nonviolent direct action and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and to promote solutions that are essential to a green (blue) and peaceful future. Greenpeace is an international independent membership organization whose goal is to ensure the ability of the Earth to nurture life in all its diversity. Its present campaigns include efforts to protect ocean seamounts and eliminate destructive bottom-trawl fishing.

Kenai Watershed Forum

www.kenaiwatershed.org

PO Box 2937

Soldotna, AK 99669

ph: 907-260-5449

fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Works to maintain the health of the Kenai Peninsula watersheds and ensure the quality of life for future generations.

Ocean Champions

www.oceanchampions.org

645 G St., Ste. 100, #617

Anchorage, AK 99501

ph: 907-258-8935

fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

Works to support proven leaders and elect new candidates to the U.S. Congress who will advocate for ocean conservation. Ocean Champions is a nonpartisan organization.

Ocean Conservancy–Alaska Regional Office

www.oceanconservancy.org/dynamic/aboutus/offices/alaska/alaska.htm

425 G St., Ste. 400

Anchorage, AK 99501

ph: 907-258-9922

fax: [phone]

Uses science-based advocacy, research, and public education to inform, inspire, and empower people to speak and act for the oceans. The Ocean Conservancy is a national organization dedicated to protecting ocean ecosystems. The organization has a national office in Washington, D.C., and ten regional offices, including one in Alaska. Its four major programs are coral reef protection, debris monitoring, stormwater runoff and pollution, and coastal cleanup.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from The Ocean and Coastal Conservation Guide 2005â"2006 by David Helvarg. Copyright © 2005 Ocean Awareness Project, Inc.. Excerpted by permission of ISLAND PRESS.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
PART I. Blue Groups
-Blue Groups (listed by state or territory)
PART II. Government Agencies Dealing with the Oceans
-Federal Coastal and Ocean Agencies
-Department of Agriculture
-Department of Commerce
-Marine Mammal Commission
-Department of Defense
-Department of Health and Human Services
-Department of Homeland Security
-Department of the Interior
-Department of State
-Department of Transportation
-Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
-National Air and Space Administration (NASA)
-National Science Foundation
-National Research Council (NRC)
-The White House
-State Marine Fish and Game Agencies
-Tribal Nations
-Local Governments
PART III. Marine Schools and Science Centers
-Marine Studies Programs and Research Centers (listed by state or territory)
-Sea Grant Consortiums (listed by state or territory)
PART IV. U.S. Coastal and Ocean Parks
-National Marine Sanctuaries (listed by state or territory)
-National Parks and Seashores (listed by state or territory)
-National Wildlife Refuges along the Coast (listed by state or territory)
-Estuarine Research Reserves
-Organization Name Index
-Geographical Index