Washington, DC (September 13) – The following statement was issued by Janis Searles Jones, CEO of Ocean Conservancy.

“Ocean Conservancy extends our deepest condolences to Alaska U.S. Representative Mary Sattler Peltola, and to all family and friends, of Eugene “Buzzy” Peltola Jr. We ask our membership to join us as we pause to remember the work of Mr. Peltola across Alaska, and wrap our arms around his family during this time of tragic and unexpected loss.”

Mr. Peltola spent more than 34 years working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska and later served as regional director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, among other distinguished service. He perished Wednesday morning, September 13, in a plane crash near St. Mary’s in Alaska.