FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--Lincoln, MA, June 10, 2008—Ocean Alliance announced today that it will purchase for--preservation and restoration-- the iconic Tarr and Wonson Paint Manufactory located at the entrance to the inner harbor of Gloucester, Massachusetts. The historic 1863 site will be saved for marine use as a future oceanographic research center to be operated by Ocean Alliance.

The $2 million purchase of the property was made possible by philanthropist Wallis Annenberg and the Annenberg Foundation with a grant of $3 million toward the project. The complete restoration of the landmark, estimated at $10 million will begin once additional funds are raised.

The buildings stand at the tip of Rocky Neck, one of America’s oldest art colonies. The charm of the factory’s architecture has inspired generations of artists, who have come from around the world to paint it. The factory appeared as a backdrop in the 2000 movie The Perfect Storm. But the buildings have been vacant for 28 years, since the closure of the factory in 1980. For over a century local fishermen used the factory's smokestack as a navigational guide.

Ocean Alliance Founder/President, Roger Payne says; “Wallis Annenberg and her family’s foundation saw the importance, beauty, and iconic nature of the paint factory from across the continent in Los Angeles. We want to return the factory to as close to its original appearance as possible, and while doing so, use techniques that are as green as possible. We hope to demonstrate, through its restoration to a healthful and non-polluted state, what is possible for Gloucester’s unique harbor and structures.”

Tarr and Wonson Paint Manufactory

“Like generations before us who have lived in Gloucester, we make our living from the sea, and our intention is to move forward hand-in-hand with the community. We believe that our planned use of the buildings will not only respect the community’s past, but will be a natural fit with the current environment and with our mission. We fully realize that acquiring and restoring the paint factory is the biggest challenge Ocean Alliance has yet faced, but we believe that the iconic value of the location and its role in maritime history offers a priceless reinforcement of our message.

Our greatest hope is that others will see what a great opportunity is being created by the generosity of the Annenberg Foundation, and will recognize that the time to restore this fragile and unique piece of history is limited and that we must move swiftly to achieve that end.”

Wallis Annenberg said, “I am delighted to help Ocean Alliance preserve this landmark for Gloucester and our nation. Its restoration is a clear example of how historic properties can be saved for community use. With a research institute in this space, the citizens of Gloucester and our country will benefit from expanded knowledge of our most important resource---water. It is a privilege to be a part of American history.”

Jeff Kunz, Chairman of the Board of Ocean Alliance comments, “The Trustees of Ocean Alliance are grateful to the Annenberg Foundation for its generous gift and for the wonderful opportunity it has created. We are overwhelmed by the welcome the city and residents of Gloucester has extended. I believe that the management team and staff of Ocean Alliance will help insure an exciting and respectful outcome for this historic landmark. Our objectives are to insure that we meet or exceed the expectations of the Foundation, the community and our mission, as we strive together to understand, learn from and protect the waters of the western North Atlantic.”

Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk said “Ocean Alliance's commitment to preserving and restoring the building ensures this part of our maritime heritage will not disintegrate anytime soon."

History of the Tarr and Wonson Paint Manufactory

In 1863, Messrs. Tarr and Wonson invented a revolutionary paint that played a vital role in ocean fisheries worldwide and even naval warfare. Their paint contained antifouling properties which prevented marine life from growing on the bottoms of boats thus enabling higher performance and efficiency. The factory was built near the end of the Civil War, and the success of the innovation and resulting growth of the factory, helped Gloucester become the biggest fishing port in the United States, and one of the largest in the world.

About the Annenberg Foundation

Established in 1989 by Walter H. Annenberg, the Annenberg Foundation provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations in the United States and globally through its headquarters in Radnor, Pennsylvania and offices in Los Angeles, California. Its major program areas are education and youth development; arts, culture and humanities; civic and community life; health and human services; and animal services and the environment. In addition, the Foundation operates a number of initiatives which expand and complement these program areas. The Annenberg Foundation exists to advance the public well-being through improved communication. As the principal means of achieving this goal, the Foundation encourages the development of more effective ways to share ideas and knowledge.

About Ocean Alliance

Ocean Alliance, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization, was founded in 1971 by biologist Roger Payne. Led by Dr. Payne and CEO Iain Kerr, Ocean Alliance collects a broad spectrum of data on whales relating particularly to toxicology, bioacoustics, behavior and genetics. Working from that data we give information to policy makers, politicians, non-governmental organizations, educators and students about ocean pollution and the health of sea life, especially marine mammal populations. Our data is the basis of many conservation success stories. Our longstanding scientific partner is the Wise Laboratory of Environmental and Genetic Toxicology, which conduct’s state-of-the-art research aimed at understanding how environmental contaminants affect the health of humans and marine animals. Their mission is accomplished through the pursuit of a number of key objectives, including conducting innovative and multidisciplinary research in toxicology and molecular epidemiology to further our understanding of disease in humans and marine organisms, particularly as they relate to cancer, asthma and reproductive/developmental effects.

Contact:

Iain Kerr, CEO, Ocean Alliance
191 Weston Road,
Lincoln, MA 01773
Tel: 781-259-0423
Cell: 978-760-1784
kerr@whale.org

NPR's Living On Earth visits the Odyssey

BAD NEWS FROM THE BLUBBER

GLOUCESTER, Mass., February 15, 2008 ­ It's Living on Earth. I'm Steve Curwood. Gloucester Harbor—north of Boston—is perhaps best known as a fishing port. It's also where the 93-foot ketch "Odyssey" is docked. The Odyssey is a unique research vessel. It's designed to study the behavior and biology of the world's largest and longest-lived mammals: whales . . .
Read the full transcript at National Public Radio's Living On Earth Website
Real Player audio of the broadcast
MP3 audio of the broadcast

Dolphins Bowriding

IRISHDOLPHINS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN SUPPORT OF INTERACTIVE DOLPHINS

DINGLE, County Kerry, Ireland, May 12 - 14, 2008 ­ Share the experience, explore the positives, connect and communicate. Irishdolphins is holding it's International Conference in Support of Interactive Dolphins May 12th thru the 14th. This conference is an excellent opportunity to share experiences and insights into dolphin-human interactions, to explore the positive aspects of dolphin-human interactions, to create connections and encourage communication within our community, visit www.irishdolphins.com/conference/
Learn more about the Irishdolphins Conference
Visit the Irishdolphins website

At the 2005 & 2006 IWC meeting's Japan announced that it will add Humpback whales to its list of target hunted species. Although there is a zero quota in place for commercial whaling, Japan is doing what it claims to be "Scientific Whaling". Here's how it works: the International Whaling Commission allows nations to issue permits to its scientists to kill whales for research purposes. So Japan simply changed the name of what it was doing from 'Commercial Whaling' to 'Scientific Whaling' and the world now has to stand by helplessly, watching Japan kill whales for what is, as the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission has pointed out repeatedly, a commercial hunt, not science.

Dr. Roger Payne

Ocean Alliance founder and president, Dr. Roger Payne has written an open letter to the youth of Japan and has put one of his famous recordings of Humpback whale song on our Voyage of the Odyssey website for anyone to download for free.

Roger Payne -
"I am a biologist who has spent his life studying whales. Back in the 1960s, a colleague, Scott McVay, and I discovered that the long, hauntingly beautiful, uninterrupted streams of sounds that humpback whales make (sometimes for hours at a time) are actually rhythmic, repeated, patterns of sound, and that means that they are, properly speaking, songs . . . I have recorded humpback whales all over the world, and in doing so have found that every ocean basin has a unique song that all the humpback whales that live there sing. The most beautiful songs I ever heard came from humpback whales around Bermuda. A Bermudian friend of mine, Frank Watlington, made some of the best recordings. Later, I also recorded some lovely songs during the springs of the late 1960s. The whales were passing Bermuda as they migrated between Caribbean breeding grounds and feeding grounds much further to the north — singing as they went. "
Read the open letter from Dr. Roger Payne

Plastic Pollution is an increasing problem for our oceans.

10 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO SAVE THE OCEANS.

There are many things people can do in their daily life to help our oceans - recycle used motor oil, don't throw heavy metals down the drain, be careful what you flush down the toilet and educated yourself about your household cleaners. These are some of the simple things recommended by Lisa Harrow - author of the book "What Can I Do?".
Click here for more information

PACIFIC LIFE FOUNDATION PRESENTS OCEAN ALLIANCE WITH WALTER B. GERKEN COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

Ocean Alliance President Dr. Roger Payne, CEO Iain Kerr, and Board Co-Chairman Jeff Kunz were presented the 11th Annual Walter B. Gerken Community Service Award by the Pacific Life Foundation this afternoon at a reception held at Pacific Life's headquarters in Newport Beach, CA.

Robert Haskell, President of the Pacific Life Foundation, said, "This award stands as a commendation to retired Pacific Life Chairman and CEO Walter B. Gerken and to the spirit of community involvement established by his predecessors and perpetuated by his successors. Mr. Gerken is a man intensely devoted to the betterment of society and a big supporter of those who share that devotion. We are proud to acknowledge Ocean Alliance as an organization that shares his heartfelt commitment."
Read more

SEACHANGE: REVERSING THE TIDE & WHAT CAN I DO? By Lisa Harrow

Purchase What Can I Do? from Chelsea Green

SeaChange Institute website

Concern for the health of our planet led award-winning actress Lisa Harrow and her husband, Ocean Alliance founder and President Roger Payne, to create the performance piece SeaChange: Reversing the Tide. But Lisa and Roger found that, following performances of their show, audience members frequently wanted to know: What can I do to help? What can we all do to stop the destructive impact of our current way of life?

What Can I Do? is Lisa's response, a guidebook on how to take action. The book is written as "An Alphabet for Living," providing readers with an extensive annotated list of Web sites where anyone can begin to explore the practices of sustainable living.

Buy the book online - http://chelseagreen.com/2004/items/whatcanido