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Events, Education, Outreach
The next generation holds the key to better understand the importance of our planet's ocean ecology. Learning and understanding reveal the value and critical importance of our being stewards of the animals and environment entrusted to us.
Peggy Stap, Executive Director and Founder Researcher, Educator and Speaker
- Instrumental in the formation of W.E.T. (Whale Entanglement Team) for Central and Northern California. Worked with governmental agencies, academic institutions, NGO’s, etc. to create a formalized trained team to respond to whales entangled in fishing gear and marine debris.
- Educate the public of the dangers of marine debris and promote the use of cloth shopping bags to reduce the risk to wildlife. California alone uses 19 billion plastic bags per year.
- Research is essential to the cooperation necessary to preserve marine mammals and protect their habitat. We share our findings with other researchers and students. Our research is used to develop programs for the public.
- Marine Life Studies “Joey Jones Scholarship and Educational Fund” in honor of Moss Landing resident and commercial fisherman, Joey Jones, who lost his life at sea April 3, 2008. Joey’s love of the sea and fishing was the inspiration behind the scholarship. He wanted to bridge the gap between the marine science and commercial fishing communities through cooperation, dialogue and education.
- Make the switch to cloth shopping bags today.
- Contact your local school about our free programs.
- Volunteer for Marine Life Studies.
- Make your tax-deductible donation by mail or on-line.
Marine Life Studies is committed to protecting marine wildlife and the health and beauty of our oceans now and for the future. As we teach, we encourage a new generation of stewards and scientists.
Environmental conservation depends on good research. Sharing the results of our research helps educate the public and creates awareness of the need to protect marine wildlife, especially from man-made disasters, hazards and pollution. The more we know, the better we can protect our precious oceans, and the whales, dolphins, birds and all life that depend on it.
I was delighted to be invited to speak to Mr. Anderson’s 3rd grade class from the Robert Down School in Pacific Grove on May 20th as part of “Classroom on the Bay - Squid Kid Day”. Abalonetti Seafood on Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey hosted the field trip. The presentation “The Squid Eaters”, whales and dolphins that love to eat squid, was engaging and fun. It kicked off our new project, Marine Life Studies Junior Research Scientist Program. Students learned how scientists use the unique markings on flukes and dorsals to identify individual animals.
California W.E.T. is tasked with responding to whales entangled in fishing gear and marine debris. We are excited to announce that W.E.T. now has a designated toll-free number to call and a Marine Mammals in Distress Reporting Card printed on waterproof paper.
We are distributing the Response and Reporting Card to boaters in the Monterey Bay area. If interested in a water-proof card for your boat please contact us.
Download a pdf of the Response and Reporting Card. Download W.E.T. Handout for Response and Reporting Card here.
Marine Life Studies coordinated a hands-on water training for W.E.T. in December. Cheryl McCormick, Executive Director of the American Cetacean Society (ACS), joined us. The article about W.E.T. is now available on page 5 of “Spyhopper, ACS Newsletter”.
Clay Foundation’s ClayForEarth.org
Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary
Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary
Hawaii Whale Research Foundation
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Save the Whales-Balloon Hazards
Synthetic Sea
Voices of the Bay
Whale Quest School Outreach Programs
Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program:
STOP BALLOON RELEASES!
Balloons
and other plastics mean death for marine mammals. Balloons are ingested
by whales, dolphins, turtles,seals, fish and waterfowl, who innocently
mistake them for food such as jellyfish or squid.
These
shredded balloons resemble Sea
nettle.
Learn
more here...
Go H2O! Camp in July for kids 9-12!
Peggy Stap of Marine Life Studies presents a special Whale and Marine Wildlife Adventure Activity at Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District Go H2O! Camp, held in Monterey Monday – Friday July 12-16, 2010. The adventure includes a photographic journey, fun facts and hands-on activities. Children will learn how to recognize and identify marine wildlife, and how the animals eat, sleep and stay warm. During the Guided Whale and Marine Wildlife Watch, children will learn more as they see and experience marine wildlife in their natural environment. Each child will receive a Marine Life Studies Whale and Marine Wildlife Adventure Kit and a certificate.
Sign up your kids (9-12) now. Don’t miss out – only a few spaces left! Learn more and register today! Call: 831-372-3196 ext. 105 for more info.
Victory For Whales
Your efforts saved the whales. You made the difference by sending emails and calling the White House. The International Whaling Commission proposal to lift the moratorium on commercial whaling failed. Official announcement came Friday, June 25, 2010.
Whiskie says, "Help is on the way!
Tell the whales we are
CALLING THE PRESIDENT!
Peggy Stap worked with the researchers for the filming of the PBS Nature special “The Fellowship of the Whales”. If you saw that program, you learned how whales are amazing and their songs are beautiful.
You spoke up for whales and your efforts helped save them. It just proves what Margaret Mead said: “Never underestimate the power of a small but committed group of people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Our work - as you know - is never done. At some point down the road, there will be another proposal, and we’ll have to speak up for the whales again. Marine Life Studies teaches and inspires people to protect marine wildlife. We know that the next generation holds the key to better understand the importance of being stewards of the environment entrusted to us. We just launched our new Junior Research Scientist Program for kids with educational programs to start this summer. The more we learn about marine wildlife, the more we can help.
On behalf of Marine Life Studies and the whales - Thank You!
Your support every Monday in May was wonderful. Spreading the word about Marine Life Studies and our mission to Teach and Inspire the public to protect Marine Wildlife helped us raise $1100 for the month of May from the event. Thank you to Hula’s Island Grill in Monterey for sponsoring Marine Life Studies for Mahalo Mondays in May.
Mr. Anderson, third grade teacher from the Robert Down School in Pacific Grove, raising his hand to ask Peggy a question.
May 2010:
Peggy Stap was invited to speak May 20th as part of “Classroom on the Bay - Squid Kid Day”, hosted by Abalonetti Seafood on Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey. Peggy’s presentation, “The Squid Eaters” - whales and dolphins that love to eat squid - kicked off our new project, Marine Life Studies Junior Research Scientist Program. This program, designed to teach and inspire the next generation to protect marine wildlife, is funded by Marine Life Studies' Joey Jones Scholarship and Educational Fund. Mr. Anderson, the teacher of the students from the Robert Down School, wrote:
“My class went on an amazing trip to the Monterey Wharf to study calamari. ‘Squid Eaters’ presented by Marine Life Studies was a very interesting and informative part of the trip. The pictures of the Risso’s Dolphins with all the scratch marks on their skin from eating squid were incredible. I learned a lot from the presentation.”
Victoria Wade playing the matching game
with third grade students at Stevenson School, Carmel Campus.
• February 2010 Marine Life Studies Outreach Programs: Kicked off our first free educational program on Monday, February 15, 2010 as part of Marine Life Studies “Joey Jones Scholarship and Educational Fund”. We visited third graders at Stevenson School, Carmel Campus and it was so much fun. It is really important to give back to the community.
• February 22, 2010 DONATIONS HONOR FISHERMAN’S LEGACY AND OCEAN CONSERVATION AT AT&T PRO-AM GOLF TOURNAMENT by Leslie Miller
Marine Life Studies Raises Funds for Children’s Free Oceanic Programs PEBBLE BEACH, California - February 22, 2010
- At 5’4’’ with thick auburn hair graying at the temples, Peggy West-Stap, has the passion and dedication of a young Olympian. As the Founder of Marine Life Studies, a non-profit organization devoted to the study and conservation of marine mammals, Stap spends most of her time in the Pacific Ocean observing and recording the behavior of Orca and Humpback whales.
In addition to collecting scientific data from her small research vessel moored at Moss Landing, Stap takes photographs of her wild, multi-ton subjects, swimming cheek to cheek with Humpback whales in the warm waters of Maui. Now she wants to bring her brand of enthusiasm to students in Monterey. (see full article)
• PBS aired “Fellowship of the Whales” on November 15, 2009. Peggy Stap worked side by side in the water with Ross Isaacs in Maui for a couple of years during the filming of “Fellowship of the Whales” (original title “Humpbacks from Fire to Ice”). Can see full episode at:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/
fellowship-of-the-whales/introduction/5263/
See more info under Researchers’ Blog.
Download Humpback Whale Wallpaper “Whales with Bubbles.” Photo by Peggy Stap
• "ABC7 News had the opportunity to learn first-hand about the many whales that are visiting Monterey Bay right now and the challenges they face. Our guide was Peggy Stap, a researcher with Marine Life Studies." By Cheryl Jennings, News Anchor ABC 7/KGO TV, San Francisco aired November 24, 2008.
• February 2009 Whale Quest School Outreach Programs: Peggy Stap led the Marine Debris Workshop for fifth grade students from several elementary schools that visited the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua for a day of science, art and discovery. The students rotated through a number of workshops. Besides learning how to help eliminate marine debris from our ocean and waterways, Peggy passed out Chico Bags to all the students that Chico Bags generously donated for the event. These Educational Workshops are a favorite of the students each year and are specially designed by Whale Trust Executive Director, Meagan Jones.
Some of the other workshops were led by Sue
Flood (BBC filmmaker), Greg
Marshall (inventor of National Geographic’s Crittercam), and Flip
Nicklin and Paul
Nicklen (National Geographic photographers).
• Battle Creek Enquirer article (07/10/07)
• January 2007 National Geographic features Hawaii Whale Research Foundation Humpback research. PDF version