May 30 – Coastkeeper to Honor Coastal Champions on World Oceans Day

June 8 event at Birch Aquarium is now free thanks to generous support from event sponsors

 

SAN DIEGO, May 30, 2012 – On Friday, June 8, San Diego Coastkeeper invites the community to join the World Oceans Day presentation honoring this year’s Coastal Champions–the people, businesses and organizations taking initiative to protect and restore fishable, swimmable and drinkable waters in San Diego County. Thanks to the generous support of event sponsors and partners, the event at Birch Aquarium is now free. From 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. on June 8, which is International World Oceans Day, Coastkeeper will honor six environmental leaders and their accomplishments in the community. The morning event comes complete with a light breakfast by Behind The Scenes Catering & Events. (Your thoughtful donation to San Diego Coastkeeper when you arrive would help underwrite the meal.) Participants must RSVP to [email protected] At the event, Coastkeeper will honor businesses, organizations and individuals in six categories including:

● Runoff Rockstar, for actions taken to reduce urban runoff through low impact development, pollution prevention and urban waste reduction.

● Water Wise, for achievements through water-friendly landscaping techniques such as water conservation and the use of methods to promote healthy environmental restoration with native plants and natural growth.

● Marine Conservation, for efforts to advocate for, monitor and/or implement ocean conservation programs, techniques and innovations including those dealing with marine protected areas or other conservation areas of concern.

● Find & Fix, for success in a program, project or idea that finds a pollution problem and takes action to fix that problem in the community.

● Blue Tech, for exceptional innovation in the development and/or use of technology to protect and restore fishable, swimmable, drinkable waters in San Diego County.

● Lighthouse Award, for lifetime achievement to advance fishable, swimmable, drinkable waters in San Diego County, selected by San Diego Coastkeeper’s Board of Directors.

A special ASBS Recognition will be presented to one award winner for their effort and achievement to improve the water quality of the La Jolla ASBS (Areas of Special Biological Significance) in order to protect the wildlife and natural ecosystems in these precious and fragile areas. All award winners will receive a hand-made glass sculpture depicting one of the beautiful sea creatures that their work helps protect. James Stone of Stone and Glass designed, created and generously donated these awards to commemorate his dedication to our ocean and he and his wife will join us at the event. Generous contributions from Birch Aquarium at Scripps; Hunter Industries; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 569; Stone and Glass; The Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006, administered by the California State Water Resources Control Board; and support from the City of San Diego, Think Blue make this event possible. For more information on the event, please visit localhost/sdcoastkeeper and to RSVP email [email protected]

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SAN DIEGO COASTKEEPER: Founded in 1995, San Diego Coastkeeper protects and restores fishable, swimmable and drinkable waters in San Diego County. Visit us online at https://www.sdcoastkeeper.org.