FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A snail lives on kelp: delicately balanced ecosystems would be protected by marine reserves. (For a printable version of this photo, phone (831) 335-4849 or email the photographer.)

PLEASE CONTACT:
Marc Shargel, COOL Chair, (831) 335-4849, enviro@lumigenic.com
Beth Dieveney, Save Our Shores, 831 462 5660, bdieveney@saveourshores.org
Kaitilin Gaffney, The Ocean Conservancy, 831-425-1363, kgaffney@psinet.com

Central Coast Residents Call On
The Governor to Protect The Oceans

Thursday May 6, 2004 Santa Cruz, Ca.
While the Schwarzenegger administration holds an Ocean Summit in Sacramento today, Central Coast residents are calling for change in their own backyard. With the support of local businesses, the Coalition of Organizations for Ocean Life (COOL) launched a petition drive to show the broad public support for increased ocean protection. "Over a dozen area businesses have the petitions out on their retail counters. We've already delivered hundreds of names to the Governor, and we're just getting started" says Marc Shargel, COOL Chair.

Kayaking centers, dive shops, and other tourism-related businesses, understand that a healthy marine environment improves their business. According to Dennis Judson, co-owner of Adventure Sports in Santa Cruz, "If you've been in the ocean for any period of time you've seen the decrease in marine life. Marine Reserves are the only way people are going to see the life of the ocean. Otherwise, it will be gone."

Today's ocean summit is in response to the recent release of the U.S. Ocean Commission Report, which says the nation must do a better job of managing its oceans. One key improvement is the creation of more marine protected areas, which has also beeen recommended by the National Academy of Sciences. Recent polls show vigorous public support in California for marine protected areas (MPAs). Three quarters of the voting public want more fully protected marine reserves, and over 80% think the governor should be a leader in such efforts. However, earlier this year the state put an "indefinite hold" on its law to design new MPAs, the Marine Life Protection Act, citing budget constraints.

Berkley White runs Backscatter, a Monterey-based underwater photo and video equipment business, "Our Cannery Row business in Monterey is fueled by the local and international visitors that come to experience and photograph the beauty of our central coast environment. We consider marine reserves essential to our livelihood and to the future of the tourism economy in our area."

Calls for new marine reserves have also come from some unlikely allies including seafood retailers. New Leaf Community Markets, with five food stores in Santa Cruz County, were among the first to sponsor the petitions. Sarah Miles, Marketing Director said, "Our customers are very concerned about the health of the environment, including the oceans. That's why we offer sustainably harvested seafood, enabling customers to make an environmentally sound choice. Many customers will want to voice their support for the creation of marine reserves," she added.

Like parks on land, marine reserves are areas in the ocean where all life is protected. Dozens of studies confirm that marine reserves harbor more and bigger fish, and support greater diversity of life than fished areas. The Coalition of Organizations for Ocean Life (COOL) is a gathering of environmental organizations and recreational ocean users concerned with the health of California's oceans. The mission of the Coalition of Organizations for Ocean Life is "to foster the creation of a network of marine reserves that will help restore, enhance and protect the diversity and abundance of California's marine life and underwater habitats." COOL has established a website at www.CaliforniaMarineReserves.org to provide information to the public, and gather additional support.

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