MEDIA RELEASE

Registration is open for the 2011 Sanctuary Ocean Count – Get involved in this fun volunteer event!

Volunteers count the number of humpback whales which can be seen around the islands over a four-hour period and record their behavior.

Two event dates remain for 2011: 8 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Saturday February 26, & March 26.

Register online at http://sanctuaryoceancount.org

Find out more about the project at: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov

Thank you to those who volunteered for the January event – we had record participation by over 900 volunteers. Preliminary data from that count is now available online at: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/involved/ocprojectresults.html

The 2011 T-shirt is available now from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. The final T-shirt order is arriving in the office soon, so don’t miss your chance to get one.

Visit the Sanctuary Store at http://nmsfocean.org
Or call 1-888-55-WHALE ext 253

T-shirt proceeds benefit the Sanctuary Ocean Count Project.