IN TIME FOR EARTH DAY 2012 HOLLAND AMERICA LINE DEBUTS “OUR MARVELOUS OCEANS” VIDEO SERIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MARINE CONSERVATION INSTITUTE
Fleetwide Series Educates Guests on Ocean Conservation
Seattle, Wash., April 19, 2012 — In collaboration with the Marine Conservation Institute – a national and globally focused nonprofit organization based in Washington State dedicated to maintaining healthy, living oceans – Holland America Line will debut an in-stateroom video series onboard all its 15 cruise ships highlighting the importance of ocean conservation.
Titled “Our Marvelous Oceans,” the series was developed to educate Holland America Line guests on important marine conservation issues and feature topics that relate to the oceans around them. The first video in the series introduces these important subjects and the partnership between the Marine Conservation Institute and Holland America Line. The second video showcases Holland America Line’s sustainable seafood program and the importance of choosing sustainable seafood options.
“Our partnership with the Marine Conservation Institute is instrumental in our continued quest to help protect and preserve the oceans on which we sail,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president of marketing, sales and guest programs at Holland America Line. “These videos are just one more element in our extensive conservation program, and we hope our guests take a few moments to watch them and learn more about our efforts and what they, personally, can do while on board and once they leave our ships.”
The additional short videos address important ocean conservation issues in key Holland America Line cruising regions, protecting ocean life, destructive fishing practices, climate change, and Holland America Line’s environmental protection efforts.
“Holland America Line has been a committed partner in marine conservation. These short videos will help spread the word on all that we, Holland America Line, and its guests can do to protect the marine environment,” said Dr. Elliott A. Norse, president and founder of the Marine Conservation Institute. “This is just one element of the program, but it will extend our message to hundreds of thousands of guests every year. We thank Holland America Line for its dedication to protecting our oceans.”
The video series is an extension of “Our Marvelous Oceans,” a three-year program announced in 2010 that commits to the exclusive use of sustainably-sourced seafood on Holland America Line’s menus, guest and staff education, and support for critical marine conservation biology research. Support for the Marine Conservation Institute’s education program also includes annual grants to graduate students and young scientists working in historical marine ecology.
Holland America Line’s environmental efforts have been recognized throughout the industry. The line was named the World’s Leading Green Cruise Line at the World Travel Awards in London in 2011, received a 2010 Rear Admiral William M. Benkert Gold Environmental Protection Award from the U.S. Coast Guard, and received a Blue Circle Award from the Port of Vancouver. Other awards include the 2010 Marine Environmental Business of the Year from the Port of Seattle and a 2009 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Award.
The “Our Marvelous Oceans” videos can be viewed at http://www.cleanpix.com/cleanpix/portal/WSBw-r2B-nb7. For information on the Marine Conservation Institute, please visit its website at www.marine-conservation.org, or find more information on Twitter, Facebook and on the blog Marine Conservation News.
For more information on cruising with Holland America Line, contact a professional travel agent, call 1-877-SAIL-HAL (1-877-724-5425), or visit www.hollandamerica.com.
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About Marine Conservation Institute
Marine Conservation Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving our living oceans. We work with scientists, politicians, government officials and other organizations around the world to protect essential ocean places and the wild species in them. We use the latest science to identify important marine ecosystems around the world, and then advocate for their protection, for us and future generations.
About Holland America Line [a division of Carnival Corporation and plc (NYSE: CCL and CUK)]
Holland America Line’s fleet of 15 ships offers more than 500 cruises to 350 ports in more than 100 countries, territories or dependencies. Two- to 110-day itineraries visit all seven continents and highlights include Antarctica, South America, Australia/New Zealand and Asia voyages; a Grand World Voyage; and popular sailings to ports in the Caribbean, Bermuda, Alaska, Mexico, Canada/New England, Europe and Panama Canal.
Fleetwide, the company features Signature of Excellence enhancements, a commitment totaling more than $525 million, that showcase the Culinary Arts Center presented by Food & Wine magazine — a state-of-the-art onboard show kitchen where more than 60 celebrated guest chefs and culinary experts provide cooking demonstrations and classes — Explorations Café powered by The New York Times, Digital Workshop powered by Windows, teens-only activity areas and all new stateroom amenities highlighted by flat-panel TVs and plush Euro-top Mariner’s Dream Beds.
World’s Leading Cruise Lines
Holland America Line is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. Our exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest and a commitment to quality and value, World’s Leading Cruise Lines inspires people to discover their best vacation experience. Together, we offer a variety of exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations. Visit us at www.worldsleadingcruiselines.com.
Removing the “O” from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
Ryan Budget Proposal Would Devastate Ocean Management and Restoration Efforts
BELLEVUE, WA (April 2, 2012) – Last week, the House passed Representative Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) budget proposal for federal spending in fiscal year 2013 by an overwhelming margin of 228 to 191. This budget makes much larger cuts to domestic non-defense programs than was agreed to during last summer’s budget battle. The proposed cuts in budget authority to the government-wide natural resources account (known as account 300), would reduce the budgets of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and other natural resource agencies by approximately 4.4% below President Obama’s requested budget.
Because a large portion of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) budget is allocated to building weather satellites, and this account has been previously exempted from cuts, it is likely that the part of NOAA’s 2013 budget dedicated to research, fisheries and conservation programs will bear the entire 4.4% cut or approximately $218 million.
William Chandler, Vice President of Government Affairs said the following:
“If the entire Congress adopts the House-passed proposal, the budget for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) next year will be 4.4% lower than the President’s request, which has already reduced ocean, coastal, and fisheries programs in order to preserve funding for satellites.”
“A loss of $219 million in funding from NOAA’s budget means that the ocean and coastal management and restoration side of the agency will see many programs gutted or eliminated. For example, this reduction is about half the size of the National Ocean Service’s entire budget; this bureau conducts all activities that observe, measure, assess, and manage our nation’s oceans and coasts. This would be disastrous for our country’s tourism and seafood industries because efforts to conserve essential fish and wildlife habitat and respond to natural and man-made disasters would have to be severely decreased.”
Chandler ended by saying, “This cut would take the “O” for oceans out of NOAA leaving the agency mostly concerned with weather.”
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About the Marine Conservation Institute
Marine Conservation Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving our living oceans. We work with scientists, politicians, government officials and other organizations around the world to protect essential ocean places and the wild species in them. We use the latest science to identify important marine ecosystems around the world, and then advocate for their protection, for us and future generations.
Find Marine Conservation Institute online at www.Marine-Conservation.org, Twitter, Facebook and on the blog Marine Conservation News.
Archived Press Releases
Federal Agencies Must Protect America's Pacific Island Monuments for Illegal Fishing Now
NOAA and Fish and Wildlife Service now three years behind schedule on banning commercial fishing.
Petition - To prohibit commercial fishing in Pacific Island Monuments
Appendices - Resources Associated with Petition
Deep-sea fish
in deep trouble
Scientists find nearly all deep-sea fisheries unsustainable, call
for stopping unsustainable fisheries and government subsidies that support them.
Project Overview - Sustainability of deep-sea fisheries
Summary - Are deep-sea fisheries sustainable?
Graphic- A look at deep-sea bottom trawling
Full Article - Sustainability of deep-sea fisheries in Marine Policy
Washington Post Article - Scientists call for end to deep-sea fishing
Studying our ocean's past to better plan for our ocean's future Marine Conservation Institute Announces 2011 Tegner Awards in Marine Historical Ecology