What’s Going On? - Oceana/Jon Frank

This week, I’d like to share with you some of the cool things going on at Oceana…

First and foremost, Oceana has a chance to win $200,000 and we could really use your help. Oceana is involved in the Members Project, a joint initiative with American Express and Take Part that prompts visitors to volunteer, donate and vote for their favorite charities. At this point, Oceana is 2nd in voting in the Environment and Wildlife category and if we can take over first place in the next six weeks, then American Express will donate $200,000 to our campaign work! That’s no pocket-change, so please help out by voting for Oceana: http://www.takepart.com/membersproject/vote

Secondly, after two months at sea, our Latitude expedition in the Gulf of Mexico has come to an end. Thanks to the generous support of Nautica, the expedition sponsor, expert Oceana staff from all over the globe came together to conduct groundbreaking research on the size of the underwater oil plume, survey vulnerable habitats throughout the Gulf, and tag and collect important information about sharks. In the last few days of the trip, world-renowned underwater photographer, Carlos Minguell, captured some amazing shots in Florida’s Crystal and Rainbow Rivers, including a relaxing manatee, an aggressive crab and a curious alligator snapping turtle. I’d be remiss if I didn’t share Carlos’s pictures and video from Gorka Leclercq, which nicely bookend an already stellar portfolio of Gulf habitats and wildlife shot during the expedition.

Lastly, with only a few weeks to go until Oceana joins Nautica and GQ in New York City for the GQ Gentlemen’s Ball, TheGentlemensFund.com is selling a really cool fish inspired t-shirt designed by Adrian Grenier and produced by Nautica. The tees are $25 each and 100 percent of the proceeds are going to Oceana. The shirt is a limited edition, so check it out before it’s gone for good.