Ocean Champions

Ocean Champions was founded by marine biologist, David Wilmot and environmental attorney Jack Sterne in 2003.^[4][5][6] Currently (2011), David Wilmot is the group’s President and the Executive Director is Mike Dunmyer.^[3] The group is headquartered on the west coast in Capitola, California,^[7] and has since added an office on the east coast in Delaware.

On Earth Day 2011, Ocean Champions was recognized as a certified Monterey Bay Area Green Business.^[8]

Some of the issues that Ocean Champions has lobbied in Congress include: harmful algal blooms, ending over-fishing, national ocean policy (OCEANS-21), national endowment for the oceans, offshore oil drilling, water pollution prevention and ocean acidification.^{[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]}

Ocean Champions has supported over 50 Congressmen/women since the 109th United States Congress election in 2004. Ocean Champions works with both Democrats and Republicans.^[4][1]

Ocean Champions supported Rep. Farr and worked to defeat re-election of Representative Richard Pombo in 2006.^[22][23]

From 2004 to 2014, Ocean Champions has had an 86% success rate of endorsed candidates winning their respective elections. In 2014 Ocean Champions defeated Ocean Enemy #1 Steve Southerland and support 68 champions serving in the 114th Congress.^[3]

Though young, Ocean Champions has already achieved several legislative victories, and that influence continues to grow. Ocean Champions was a major player in the re-authorization of a stronger Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Management Law, and helped defeat a farm bill amendment that would have exacerbated over-fishing.^[11]

Key Champions in Congress helped protect the moratorium on new oil drilling off our coasts in 2006 and 2007 and led the efforts in holding BP accountable in 2010.^{[24][16][17][18][19][20]}

Ocean Champions played a key role in obtaining the President’s Executive Order for a National Ocean Policy.^[10][25] Also in 2010, the organization led the charge on a House bill to reduce toxic algae blooms and ocean dead zones that passed the House, but just missed passing the Senate.^[26] This bill enjoys bipartisan support and has good prospects in 2011.^[9]

In the 112th Congress, Ocean Champions are focusing on a number of ecosystem issues, including ending over-fishing, reducing coastal water pollution and protecting coral reefs, such as through the introduction of The National Endowment for the Oceans, Coasts, and Great Lakes Act.^[21] This proposal is meant to preserve the ecosystems that coastal communities and economies depend on.^[21]