WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Building upon the strengthof SeaWeb's role in advancing ocean conservation, the organizationhas appointed Dawn M. Martin as its executive director. Martin, whoserved in the Environmental Protection Agency during the ClintonAdministration and has been engaged in ocean conservation work forfifteen years, brings a wealth of experience in both public policyand environmental advocacy. Her addition to the SeaWeb team signifiesthe organization's growth and dedication to the cause of protectingthe world ocean and the life within it. "I'm pleased to welcomeDawn to SeaWeb, whose efforts to achieve greater awareness of theliving ocean and stronger policy measures for its protection willbenefit greatly from her vast experience and knowledge of the issue,"said Vikki Spruill, President of SeaWeb.
As executive director, Martin will lead SeaWeb's programs, managethe direction of its campaigns, and oversee administration whileSpruill will continue to set the organization's strategic directionand vision, cultivate new alliances, and develop new initiatives.
"I am very excited to join SeaWeb, and was drawn to theorganization by its unique ability to operate at the nexus of thescience, policy and media communities. This powerful approach hassignificantly accelerated the pace of solutions to oceanenvironmental problems," said Martin, who comes to SeaWeb fromOceana, an international advocacy organization she helped toestablish. "I look forward to contributing my experience to advanceSeaWeb's mission to raise awareness of the living ocean."
Prior to Oceana, Martin served with distinction in severalpositions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 1996 to2001. During her tenure there, she was the associate deputyadministrator for EPA Administrator Carol Browner, chief of staff tothe assistant administrator for air, and senior policy advisor to theassistant administrator for water. Before joining EPA, Ms. Martin wasdirector of the Washington, DC office for American Oceans Campaign,and worked closely with Ted Danson to advance the organization'sstrategic policy initiatives. She also served as the co-chair of theClean Water Network, a national coalition of more than 1,000environmental organizations. Martin received her law degree fromLoyola Law School in Los Angeles and her undergraduate degree inpolitical science from Loyola Marymount University.
"As threats to the ocean continue to escalate, it is increasinglyimportant that SeaWeb enhance its ability to share knowledge andinfluence decisions concerning our water planet," said Dr. JaneLubchenco, long-standing board member of SeaWeb and the Wayne andGladys Valley Professor of Marine Biology at Oregon State University."Dawn will complement SeaWeb's leadership and help ensure that theessential issues of ocean conservation remain at the forefront ofpublic debate."
Since 1996, SeaWeb has played a critical role in oceanconservation by elevating the visibility of ocean issues andincreasing media attention to the growing threats to marine life. One of SeaWeb's most noteworthy initiatives, "Give Swordfish aBreak," played a major role in raising consumer awareness of seafoodenvironmental issues while successfully advocating for recoverymeasures to restore north Atlantic swordfish.
A sampling of current programs includes:
-- COMPASS (Communications Partnership for Science and the Sea), apath-breaking collaboration among SeaWeb, the Monterey Bay Aquarium,Island Press and a board of scientific experts led by Dr. JaneLubchenco that aims to advance marine conservation science andcommunicate its knowledge to policymakers, the public and the media.
-- Seafood Choices Alliance, an association of over 30conservation organizations and 1800 representatives of the foodservice sector working to influence the seafood industry andgovernment regulators in favor of better conservation of our oceanresources.
-- SeaWeb Aquaculture Clearinghouse established to focus attentionon the many conservation issues related to the rapid growth of marineaquaculture worldwide.
Through a strategic combination of consumer campaigns, mediaoutreach, public opinion polling, educational programs, publicservice announcements, publications, Internet initiatives and more,SeaWeb is a respected force in the continuing effort to protect theliving ocean.
For interviews with SeaWeb leadership, please contact Tom Johnsonat 202-483-9570, or via email at tojohnson(At)seaweb.org. Moreinformation about SeaWeb is available at http://www.seaweb.org.
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