Ocean Frontiers Premiere

One of the best things about living here: the ocean. And it's absolutely our responsibility to do what we can to preserve it for generations to come. So, whenever we have a chance to bring the boys to an event that teaches about ocean conservation, we take it!

We crowded into the historic Golden State Theatre for the Monterey premiere of the film Ocean Frontiers, watched the movie, then listened to the panel discussion - with Karen Anspacher-Meyer, the filmmaker; Greg Young, local fisherman and coordinator for Local Catch Monterey, a community supported fishery; Jeanine Chicourrat, general manager of Portola Plaza Hotel, a LEED-certified hotel; Kris Beal, Director of the Central Coast Vineyard Team who has spearheaded the SIP (Sustainability in Practice) certification for local vintners; and Dr. Steve Webster, co-founder and retired director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium - about how ocean sustainability must be a collaborative effort across all their industries...and what they are doing to make a difference.

Then we strolled to the Museum of Monterey for a reception featuring some of Local Catch's recent catches and great SIP-certified Monterey County wines.

As always, I ask that the boys share with me something that they learned. Here's what they said...

Riley: I learned how phosphorus and nitrogen go down the Mississippi River and flow all the way to the Gulf of Mexico and create dead zones. Farmers in Iowa are helping by using less fertilizer and they are making wetlands that clean up the phosphorus and nitrogen before the water hits the river.

Dylan: I learned that scientists use suction cups to tag the Northern Right whales near Boston. From the tags, they can learn about its motion, where it feeds, and, then, they can work with the ship captains to not sail where the whales are. And when the tag comes off, it has a tracking device so the scientists can pick it up.

Check out Ocean Frontiers: on facebook, on twitter, or view the trailer and website here. It's worth your time.