Ocean Awareness with Sanctuary Sam
National Marine Sanctuary Program Launches Maritime Literacy Program
The National Marine Sanctuary Program has launched a national ocean awareness campaign featuring "Sanctuary Sam", a California sea lion as their program representative
In a nationwide effort to promote ocean awareness and maritime literacy, the National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP) has launched a public education campaign to further these goals. A California sea lion, Sanctuary Sam, has been named by the Agency as the program's spokes-sea lion. Sanctuary Sam resides at the Sea World facility in Orlando, Florida and will appear in a number of media venues that address ocean related issues.
Public Service Announcements - Two video clips have been produced by Sanctuary Sam highlighting current issues that threaten the oceans that include marine debris, plastic pollution and the loss of wildlife habitat. These important messages are:
- Don't Trash Where You Splash - Marine debris and trash in the ocean is a huge environmental problem. Sam offers some suggestions on how to help, don't put trash in the ocean, help with a beach cleanup, recycle, and leave the areas you visit in better shape than found them.
- Be Wildlife Wise - In this announcement, Sam promotes practicing good ocean etiquette. Good etiquette entails not disturbing or touching wildlife, watching animals from a safe distance, and supporting wildlife friendly practices like maintaining no-wake zones for boats.
MySpace - Sanctuary Sam has his own contact page on MySpace where he blogs about his new job with the NMSP and current maritime education efforts. Sam has already made a number of friends and they have a chance to leave comments for visitors to the site. Information is also available for teachers and students on the oceans awareness program from Sam at the OceansLive Marine Science Portal. This educational portal offers lesson plans, school materials, DVDs and posters.
Sanctuary Sam and Smokey Bear - “What Smokey Bear did for our nation’s forests, Sanctuary Sam has the potential to do, making ocean issues real for all Americans,” said Daniel J. Basta, director of the sanctuary program, in a recent press release. “The future health of our oceans depends on all of us caring and taking action. Sam’s charge is to help bring that message to the nation.”
About NMSP and NOAA - The National Marine Sanctuary Program is part of NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department. NOAA is well known for its efforts to improve and support responsible environmental stewardship of our coastal and marine resources. They support many other agencies important to mariners that include the Sea Grant Program and the National Weather Service.
In the next few months, Sancuary Sam will be traveling across the country promoting improved awareness of our ocean and marine resources. Keep an eye out for a visit to your town!
