U.S.
Commerce Secretary William M. Daley presented the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration's Environmental Hero Awards to
four volunteers who have worked to protect the Florida Keys National
Marine Sanctuary.
Daley
was in the Florida Keys as part of an Earth Day celebration in
which he watched eighth-graders in the Coral Reef Classroom collect
data from the third largest barrier reef system in the world.
The data collection is part of ongoing projects designed to highlight
the International Year of the Ocean.
The
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is one of 12 sanctuaries
in the country.
"More
than 70 percent of the Earth's surface is covered by water. And,
in many key areas, this key source of food, recreation, energy,
medicine and commerce has been badly damaged by pollution and
overfishing," Daley said. "The Marine Sanctuary Program
has been one response. But, as successful as this program is,
it is a limited solution. That is why 1998 has been designated
the Year of the Ocean by President Clinton and by the United
Nations."
This
year there are a total of 25 honorees with the majority of the
Environmental Heroes having worked extensively with NOAA's 12
national marine sanctuaries. The honorees include:
David
Holtz, director of the Center for Marine Conservation in the
Florida Keys, who has been instrumental in gaining support for
marine zoning.
Captain
Ed Davidson, chairman of the board of the Florida Audubon Society,
who helped develop the Marine Sanctuary Plan and who has promoted
conservation issues and clean water initiatives in the region.
Chuck
Hayes, a retired Air Force Pilot who is an authority on shipwreck
sites and special natural resource sites.
David
Whall, co-director of the Submerged Cultural Resources Assessment
Program, who helped develop the shipwreck trail.
Jean-Michel
Cousteau, head of the Jean-Michel Cousteau Institute, who served
as host at NOAA's kickoff of the International Year of the Ocean
and has spent his life exploring the world's oceans aboard the
research vessels Calypso and Alcyone.
Dr.
Sylvia Earle, explorer in residence at the National Geographic,
who has spent more than 6,000 hours doing underwater diving and
research.
Ted
Danson, president of the American Oceans Campaign, an organization
dedicated to protecting and preserving the vitality of coastal
waters, estuaries, bays, wetlands and deep oceans. Danson narrated
the public service announcement for the kickoff of International
Year of the Ocean.
Vice
President Al Gore sent each one of the Environmental Heroes a
personal letter congratulating them on receiving the award from
NOAA. Gore said, "I am struck by your passionate commitment
to the protection of our nation's environment. "Americans
have a strong tradition of meeting challenges by working together
as members of a community. Nowhere is this more true than with
the health of our nation's coastal areas and marine sanctuaries,"
he added. Gore said the oceans play a pivotal role in our lives
and their well-being directly affects the communities around
them.
The
vice president praised the work of the honorees saying, "Through
the efforts of citizens like you, we are able to help educate
the public and take the necessary steps to protect these critical
resources."
