Oceana's First Ocean Hero: Reef Conservationist John Halas

The contest, launched in early May of this year, was created to honor ocean advocates who have made a difference for the oceans on a local or international level.

John and Judy Halas with the tools and materials that go into the mooring buoys. (Photo courtesy John and Judy Halas/Oceana)

Halas has been working to protect coral systems in Florida since 1981. After observing coral damage caused by careless anchoring, he took it upon himself to develop an environmentally friendly anchor and mooring buoy system that prevents damage to coral reefs. Then he worked to implement this anchorage system worldwide.

"My work is something I have felt strongly about and it is really a great honor to receive this acknowledgement," Halas said.

One of the eight finalists selected by a panel of Oceana's policy, science, advocacy and communications experts from nearly 500 nominations, Halas received the most votes by Oceana Wavemakers, the group's online members.

Halas will receive a $500 gift certificate from Oceana's corporate partner Nautica and a special outgoing voicemail greeting recorded by Oceana board member and actor Ted Danson.

Reef mooring buoys eliminate the need to drop anchor on fragile coral reefs by providing boaters with a convenient means of securing their vessels.

In July 1981, Halas initiated the first experimental embedment anchor mooring system at French Reef, Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary in the Florida Keys. Drawing on coral core sampling techniques, a hole was drilled into the ancient limestone substrate and a stainless steel eye pin was cemented into the bottom, creating a strong attachment point for a riser, buoy, and polypropylene line.

Over the next few years, over 80 buoys were placed out in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Later, nonprofit organizations established buoys following Halas' design off Key West, Marathon, and Islamorada. Now, there are nearly 400 buoys in the Florida Keys Sanctuary.

International training in placing buoys has been happening since September 1986 when the Cayman Islands began a buoy system based on Halas' Florida Keys embedment anchor system, now used in more than 50 countries and regions.

Oceana members voted Bob Schoelkopf into second place for his work rescuing and rehabilitating seals, dolphins, sea turtles and other marine animals. In 1978, Schoelkopf helped start a program in Brigantine, New Jersey to save stranded sea mammals. The program evolved into the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, which rescues and rehabilitates hundreds of injured marine creatures every year.

Shark expert Andy Dehart earned the third most votes in recognition of his work educating the public about sharks. Dehart works at the National Aquarium in Washington, DC and is a Discovery Channel shark advisor. He helps to educate the public on the important role sharks play in the ecosystem and the need to protect them.

"Our winners are true ocean heroes," said Andrew Sharpless, Oceana's chief executive. "Their work results in positive change for our seas, and I hope they inspire others to get involved."

Second and third place prizes include an ocean-themed entertainment package and an assortment of Oceana memorabilia.

The other finalists included Girl Scouts and World Oceans Day advocates Chanel Gemini, Nika Kashyap and Sabina Van Tilburg from Hawaii; teenage anti-pollution activist Emily Goldstein from Louisville, Kentucky; South Florida coral reef steward Lynora Indiviglio; legendary ocean educator Jeff "Mr. Fish" Sandler from Maine; and Casey Sokolovic, an 11-year-old grassroots sea turtle activist from North Carolina.

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