Ocean Conservancy Applauds National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for
Projects to Restore the Gulf Beyond the Shore

New Orleans, La., November 16, 2016 – Today, following the announcement by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) of nearly $370 million in new projects to help the Gulf of Mexico recover from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster, Kara Lankford, interim director of Ocean Conservancy’s Gulf Restoration Program issued the following statement:

“Ocean Conservancy is thrilled to see NFWF investing in the health of Gulf marine life. Six years ago, when the BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster struck we all saw photos of hundreds of thousands of sea turtles and marine mammals, as well as countless numbers of fish, that perished. Today, it’s important to realize that marine species are still recovering from oil impacts and these projects are needed to help support struggling populations of dolphins, sea turtles and fish to make sure they are on the path to recovery. We applaud the states of Alabama, Mississippi and Florida for their continued commitment to projects beyond the shore and for building on previous investments to create a comprehensive approach to restoration.”

This announcement includes four projects to restore fish, sea turtle and dolphin populations in the Gulf. These projects are administered by NFWF through the five-year, $2.5 billion Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund as a result of the BP criminal settlement.

“We are especially pleased to see funding for the Mississippi Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Conservation, Recovery and Monitoring Program, which will increase the state’s capacity to respond quickly to stranded animals, provide rehabilitation for stranded sea turtles by tracking their movement after they are released back to the Gulf, and provide shrimpers with turtle excluder devices to make sure sea turtles aren’t accidentally caught in shrimp nets.”

“Florida’s Enhancement of Sea Turtle Stranding Response Capacity project will collect and analyze data on the causes of sea turtle deaths to inform future sea turtle management strategies along the Florida Gulf Coast, building on previous investments in sea turtle response through the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Early Restoration program. And lastly, Florida and Alabama have both announced a continuation past projects to collect data on key Gulf fisheries, such as red snapper, to improve future management of these fisheries.”

Since the onset of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster, Ocean Conservancy has led the charge for a comprehensive approach to restoration, including funding for projects from the coast to the deep sea. For more information, visit www.oceanconservancy.org.

*Editor’s Note: Kara Lankford is available for interviews upon request

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Ocean Conservancy is working with you to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit www.oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.