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The Ocean Heroes Award was created by marine conservation organization Oceana in 2009 to recognize an exceptional personal commitment to ocean conservation. The first award recipient was announced on World Oceans Day, June 8, which the United Nations officially recognized starting in 2009.
The organization received more than 500 nominations and a panel of experts selected eight finalists. The public voted online, choosing John Halas, a marine biologist and manager of the Upper Region of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Halas, who won a $500 Nautica gift certificate and an outgoing voicemail greeting by Ted Danson, has been working to protect coral systems in Florida since 1981. He developed an environmentally friendly anchor and mooring buoy system that prevents damage to coral reefs and has worked to implement this anchorage system in 38 countries.
Bob Schoelkopf was the runner-up for his work rescuing and rehabilitating seals, dolphins, sea turtles and other marine animals. Schoelkopf helped start a program in New Jersey to save stranded sea mammals; this program has since grown into the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.
Shark expert Andy Dehart earned the third most votes for his work educating the public about sharks.
Other finalists included Girl Scouts Chanel Gemini, Nika Kashyap and Sabina Van Tilburg from Hawaii; teenage anti-pollution activist Emily Goldstein from Louisville, KY, South Florida coral reef steward Lynora Indiviglio, legendary ocean educator Jeff "Mr. Fish" Sandler from Maine and Casey Sokolovic, an 11-year-old grassroots sea turtle activist from North Carolina.
The second annual Ocean Heroes Award will be given in 2010. Nominations will begin in March and Oceana will announce the winner on World Oceans Day, June 8, 2010.