The Nautica® brand recently joined non-profit organization Oceana and celebrity activists in Gulfport, Miss., to share an update on the first legs of a two-month research expedition in the Gulf of Mexico and lend support to upcoming exploration efforts near the Deepwater Horizon wellhead, site of the explosion that triggered this April’s Gulf oil spill.
Oceana reported on its work to tag whale sharks, a species at risk from the oil spill, and shared details of its efforts to document nearby vulnerable habitats, from the Florida Keys to Panama City, at risk from future oil spills. Award-winning actors Ted Danson and Morgan Freeman, Spanish model Almudena Fernandez and Elsa Paz, mayor of San Pedro, Belize, were among those who attended the event and lent their support.
“The disaster in the Gulf of Mexico is far from over,” said Andrew Sharpless, Chief
Executive Officer of Oceana. “Oceana’s expedition will use independent research to help inform the public about the long-term impacts of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. This disaster makes it clear why we need to say no to new offshore drilling.”
Nautica also reaffirmed its commitment to Oceana by making a donation to support its upcoming exploration and research. The organization’s work will focus on mapping sub-surface oil from the April spill and documenting seafloor habitats that may have been harmed by underwater oil. The Oceana team will utilize specialized divers, underwater videographers and remotely-operated vehicles to gather information and help assess long-term impacts of the spill. Scientists will also study marine species to monitor migration patterns and examine their ability to avoid oil-contained areas.
“Nautica is a proud supporter of Oceana,” said Nina Flood, Vice President of Marketing, for Nautica. “After the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, it was important that Nautica do more to help. Nautica’s donation will help to ensure that Oceana can carry out its important research to assess the true impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.”
Since Oceana’s expedition began, two new scientific studies have shown that nearly 80 percent of the estimated 200 million gallons of oil that has spewed into the Gulf since the April explosion is still present and that oil from the spill has been found on the sea floor.
“This new information reinforces our concern for marine life in the Gulf,” said Dr. Michael Hirshfield, a scientist in charge of the expedition and Chief Scientist for Oceana. “While it is good news that no new oil is gushing from the well, seafloor habitats and fish remain vulnerable to the oil that is already in the water. We hope our expedition will help us better understand the true impacts of this disaster, even after the media cameras are gone.”
The Nautica® brand became an official partner of Oceana in 2008, when the brand first announced the launch of a cause-marketing platform focused on ocean conservation. Along with its recent support for Oceana’s at-sea expedition, Nautica has deepened its commitment to water and to the mission of Oceana through a variety of initiatives, including in-store displays, products, social networking projects, a World Oceans Day celebration and sponsored events such as the brand’s annual South Beach, New York and Malibu triathlons.
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