America's Cup Healthy Ocean Project

Our Mission	Take Action: Protect the Ocean	Get Involved!
Sustainability Plans	Message from Dr. Jeff Boehm	ACHOP Partners

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America's Cup Healthy Ocean Project - Our Mission:

To inspire millions of people to CARE about the ocean and its inhabitants, encourage public ACTION to benefit ocean life, and leave a positive ocean LEGACY to benefit marine life and future generations.

Through the America's Cup Healthy Ocean Project, The Marine Mammal Center, in partnership with other Bay Area environmental conservation organizations, including: Aquarium of the Bay; The Bay Institute; Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary; Mission Blue; Monterey Bay Aquarium and Save the Bay, will provide education and advocacy on three core issues - Marine Protected Areas, Sustainable Seafood and Marine Debris/Plastics.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

• Help the America's Cup Healthy Ocean Project team create more Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)! MPAs are to oceans what National Parks are to land. Support our efforts to expand the National Marine Sanctuary off the Golden Gate Bridge to help protect Sevengill sharks, Harbor porpoises, California sea lions and other marine life that call the Bay their home.

• Learn more about the California Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) and help us leave a legacy for future generations to enjoy!

Sustainable Seafood

• The way we farm and catch fish is having a huge impact on the health of the ocean. Make a pledge to choose sustainable, ocean-friendly food!

• Visit our partners' websites - Monterey Bay Aquarium and Aquarium of the Bay - to learn more about sustainable seafood, where to find it, and how you can "vote with your dollar" by only supporting restaurants and markets who supply sustainable seafood!

Marine Debris/Plastics

• When you throw things away, where is "away"? More often than not, human trash ends up in the ocean which hurts hundreds of thousands of animals each year. Let's stop trashing our oceans! Make a pledge to reduce your plastic usage and learn about how marine debris and plastic pollution negatively affects the ocean - the world's largest life source and a place that the seals and sea lions we care for call home.

• Learn more on our Stop Trashing Our Oceans webpage and take action to stop plastic bag pollution today at Save the Bay's website.
  
  

 For more information: HOP@americascup.com

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Events and Outreach Activities

Join a beach cleanup, attend one of our Film and Lecture Series events and more! Check back often for upcoming Healthy Ocean Project events you can get involved in.

Join a Beach Clean up!

• Saturday, March 9th from 10 - 12 PM.  
• Meeting point is 1150 Carroll Avenue, San Francisco. This location is in the south part of San Francisco, and one that is normally FILLED with trash! 

• Sunday, April 7:  Treasure Island with National Geographic Photo Camp, 9:30 - 12:00 PM. More details to follow.
• Saturday, April 13:  Strictly Sail Clean Up in the East Bay, 10:00 - 12:00 PM. More details to follow.

For an overview of the Healthy Ocean Project outreach activities, click here.

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Take the Pledge to Support Marine Protection Off the California Coast

The 34^th America’s Cup Healthy Ocean Project is pledging it’s support for two critical initiatives to protect the marine environment and give animals like this rehabilitated sea lion, a healthier home. Launched by Dr. Sylvia Earle, Global Healthy Ocean Project Ambassador, on October 5, 2012, we are calling on all of you to join us in support of these two important ocean protection measures. Join our pledge to Protect the Ocean!

Support California’s Marine Protected Areas: On behalf of the America’s Cup Healthy

Ocean Project, we proudly announce our support for the world-class network of Marine Protected Areas along California's 1,100-mile coast. Full implementation of this network will require sustained support for enforcement, education, outreach and programs for monitoring and research. This network is a national model, and if adequately supported will play a critical role in restoring the marine life resources off the California Coast.

Support Expansion of California National Marine Sanctuaries:

The America’s Cup Healthy Ocean Project also supports the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s intent to extend the boundaries of the existing National Marine Sanctuaries to include the waters under the Golden Gate, and along the San Francisco coast. We also support their proposal to expand Sanctuary waters along the north central California coast. This extension will help preserve vital habitats and our maritime heritage, promote the health of wildlife populations, and create a more sustainable future for nature and business. These waters include a nationally significant ecosystem, and marine resources that attract visitors from around the world. By protecting this area, we can help protect and preserve the wildlife and waters of one of the greatest natural treasures in the United States and even the world.

Join Us In Supporting Our Oceans

Please sign our pledge today. The ocean will thank you.

Thank you,

Jill McCarthy                                    John Frawley
Head of Partnerships                        CEO, Aquarium of the Bay
America’s Cup                                 Chairman of the Local Healthy Ocean Project

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Sustainability - The 34th America’s Cup Is More Than A Sport

The America’s Cup Event Authority has embraced the opportunity to showcase the 34th America’s Cup as a model sustainable event. For the America’s Cup Event Authority, sustainability is about optimizing the social, economic and environmental impacts of the activities in delivering the 34th America’s Cup, to enrich the local communities and protect natural ecosystems.

The America’s Cup has developed a Sustainability Planthat outlines their approach to delivering sustainable 
events in San Francisco.The following sustainability themes are aimed at minimizing potential negative event impacts and maximizing legacy benefits:

• Energy and Emissions - Optimize use of energy and minimize associated air emissions through efficient planning and technological innovation.
• Resource Efficiency - Maximize natural resource and land use efficiency, minimize waste, and sustainably source materials and products.
• Natural Habitats and Wildlife - Protect biodiversity, habitats and wildlife.
• Inclusion - Provide an inclusive and welcoming experience for event spectators and the event workforce, and maximize legacy benefits for the 
City’s residents and businesses.
• Engagement - Raise sustainability awareness, foster pro-environmental behavior and sustainable lifestyles

Read about their latest results in achieving the goals of our Zero Waste Plan here.

Learn more about how the 34th America's Cup sustainability program will set a benchmark for all sporting events to come.

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A Message from Dr. Jeff Boehm

“Nurturing ocean stewardship and cultivating care for the marine mammals that call these waters home is at the heart of The Marine Mammal Center’s work. To partner with local like-minded organizations, under the umbrella of the America’s Cup Healthy Ocean Project is a natural extension of our mission, and highlights the fantastic interface between people, bay waters and wildlife.

The America’s Cup draws attention to our Bay Area waters allowing us to speak about the importance of ocean health, and show local and global audiences how we are all connected. After all, the more we can do to educate and inspire conservation of the world’s largest life source, the better off all of the ocean’s dependents, including humans, will be.”

Jeff Boehm
Executive Director, The Marine Mammal Center

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America’s Cup Local Advisory Board member organizations:

• Aquarium of the Bay

• Gulf of the Farallon National Marine Sanctuaries

• Mission Blue, Sylvia Earle Alliance

• Monterey Bay Aquarium

• Save the Bay

• The Marine Mammal Center

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