BISCAYNE BAY AQUATIC PRESERVES STAFF MEMBER RECEIVES AWARD FOR MARINE CONSERVATION WORK

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 17, 2014

CONTACT: Amber Nabors, 850-245-2401, Amber.Nabors@dep.state.fl.us

BISCAYNE BAY AQUATIC PRESERVES STAFF MEMBER RECEIVES AWARD FOR MARINE CONSERVATION WORK

~Laura Eldredge recognized for her work to protect, conserve Florida's marine resources~

Eldredge

Laura Eldredge (left), Fabien Cousteau and Pamela Sweeney at the luncheon honoring Eldredge as the 2014 Blue Ambassador of the Year. (Photo courtesy LILA PHOTO).

MIAMI – Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves staff member Laura Eldredge receives the Loggerhead Marine Life Center’s 2014 Blue Ambassador of the Year Award for her significant local contributions in marine conservation through volunteer-related activities, such as her work at Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves and the Marine Rescue Animal Society.

In a recent all-staff memorandum, Governor Rick Scott congratulated Eldredge on receiving the award and recognized her contributions to the state’s marine conservation efforts.

Eldredge currently works for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as the environmental programs coordinator for Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves where she started an Adopt-an-Island program, coordinates species survey counts within the bay’s Critical Wildlife Area and assisted in the recent Ecotour Initiative for the aquatic preserves.

“We are very proud to have Laura as a member of our staff,” said Pamela Sweeney, manager of Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves. “She works so hard to educate volunteers, interns and the public about the bay and how we can all work together to ensure that its natural condition is preserved for generations to come.”

Eldredge has a bachelor’s in biology and is currently finishing her graduate degree at Nova Southeastern University's Oceanographic Center, focusing her thesis project on 20 years of Florida manatee spatial and temporal distribution data within Broward County.

The manager of Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves, Pamela Sweeney, was a finalist for the Loggerhead Marine Life Center’s 2014 Blue Friend of the Year Award, which exemplifies significant contributions in marine conservation through work-related activities.

Sweeney has a bachelor’s in marine biology and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in marine affairs and policy at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, where she also serves as a lecturer of a course in marine mammal conservation and management.

For more information about the Loggerhead Marine Life Center’s awards and their recipients, click here. To learn more about Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves, click here.