Today I picked up some trash to help save sharks.

Each year the Pacifica Beach Coalition, located in the beachside town of Pacifica, chooses a marine animal as a symbol to honor and protect. This year, the PBC has selected the Great White Shark as their animal to feature and help raise awareness around threats to these and other species of sharks.

I was honored to be part of the Earth Week activities and spoke to school assemblies throughout the area reaching over 6000 children aged K-12. The take away is kids love sharks. Why doesn’t the rest of the world?  I also have been engaged with the Pacifica Beach Coalition and have been inspired by a community that cares about restoring wetlands, cleaning up litter and loving the ocean. Earth week culminated by a community festival and beach campaign to Take a Bite Out of Litter.

Surfers and kayakers see white sharks cruising outside the surf line regularly, and among the highest at risk, have reason to fear them most. Yet these are the same people who recognize the importance of sharks to a balanced and healthy ocean.

I've been invited into the community and shared Shark Steward's message to the general public at the Sharp Park library in a series of public talks and film screenings. 

Today I joined the PBC in a Coastal Clean up with kids, surfers and a breadth of volunteers in pouring rain. This beach clean up is part of the California Coastal Commission's effort to raise awareness about the impacts of plastic, cigarette butts and other refuse that finds itself into the ocean and into our seabirds, sea lions and other marine wildlife.

This day- long event occurs along the entire coastline, yet the Pacifica Beach Coalition does these clean ups routinely, without pay and with little recognition. 

Thanks to local leader Lynn Adams, a dynamo ex teacher who helps lead the coalition, Pacifica is a leader in coastal conservation in our State.

I am so grateful to Lynn, the PBC and all the community who loves sharks and the sea, and does something about it. 

Next Saturday we kick off our Sharktober celebrations all October honoring the shark in a shark parade as part of the Pacifica Fog Fest.  Please support the PBC and vote for Lynn Adams for the Cox Conserves Hero of Award, and join us as a shark or mermaid, celebrating and protecting sharks Saturday September 28, or at a film and talk at the Sharp Park Library October 18th, or one of our other shark events all Sharktober long.