Capitol Hill Ocean Week to Address the Impacts of Global Warming on Marine Wildlife and Ecosystems

To: NATIONAL EDITORS

Contact: Brandon Frazier, IFAW, +1-202-536-1907, bfrazier@ifaw.org; or Abby Berman of The Rosen Group, +1-212-255- 8455, abby@rosengrouppr.com, for IFAW

WASHINGTON, May 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) will co-host the National Marine Sanctuary Foundations Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW) from June 3 to June 5, 2008, at the Reserve Officers Association in Washington, DC. The three-day event will feature scientists, industry experts, conservation advocates, and a wide variety of policymakers including Members of Congress, Capitol Hill staff, and federal, state and local government representatives — all of whom are concerned about the effects of global warming on marine mammals, coral reefs, fisheries, and other essential components of a healthy marine environment.

Were delighted to partner with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and help educate policymakers and the public on current ocean issues, especially those that impact whales, seals, and myriad other marine species that we all care so much about, said Fred ORegan, IFAW President. This years topic is particularly timely and relevant because we are already seeing the profound and lasting impact that climate change is having on ice dependent marine species such as polar bears and walruses.

The slate of speakers and symposium panelists expected to attend includes Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), Del. Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam), and James Connaughton, Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). Additionally, the event will honor renowned marine biologists Jean- Michel Cousteau and Dr. Sylvia Earle.

Panel sessions include:

— Climate Change and the Ocean: What Does the State of the Science Tell Us?

— Coral Reef Conservation: Challenges, Opportunities, &

Innovative Solutions

— Mermaids and Marine Debris: A Campaign to Keep Oceans Clean

— Ocean Health, Human Health: Whats on the Horizon and What

can we do About it in the Face of Climate Change?

— Aquaculture: Understanding the Key Challenges of Sustainability

— Climate Change Throughout the Watershed: From Upstream

Adaptation to Ocean Mitigation

— Mitigation Options: Working to Reduce the Effects of Climate

Change on the Ocean

— A Decade of Successful Ocean Partnerships: The National

Oceanographic Partnership Program

— Charting the Course: A conversation with Ocean Policymakers

For a full list of invited guests, panels, and speakers, and an up-to-date schedule, please visit http://www.nmsfocean.org/chow2008/ index.html.

For a copy of IFAWs report On Thin Ice: The Precarious State of Arctic Marine Mammals in the United States Due to Global Warming or to speak with a specialist on the impacts of climate change on ice- dependent and marine species, please contact Brandon Frazier at 202 536-1907.

About IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare)

Founded in 1969, IFAW is an international animal welfare and conservation organization that works to protect wild and domestic animals and to broker solutions that benefit both animals and people. With offices in 16 countries around the world, IFAW works to protect whales, elephants, great apes, big cats, dogs and cats, seals, and other animals. To learn more, visit www.ifaw.org.

SOURCE International Fund for Animal Welfare

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