Contact: Lou Cafiero

Silver Spring, MD - In recognition of World Ocean Day and National Marine Sanctuaries, the top of the world’s most famous building, the Empire State Building, will be lit blue on June 8, 2009.

The Empire State Building is known for its ceremonial lighting which bathes the top of the building in a variety of colorful lights in recognition of various special events and holidays. The building and its lights can be seen for miles around. This is the very first time it will be lit in all blue to recognize our planet’s ocean.

The ocean makes up 73% of our planet. The air we breathe the water we drink, the food we eat and the medicines that heal us, all come from the sea. Overfishing, pollution, marine trash, and climate change are having a devastating effect on the world ocean.

“On World Ocean Day let’s remember how important the ocean is to our lives and that we can do things daily to help protect it,” said Joy Williams, Acting President and CEO of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

People are encouraged to properly dispose of their trash and recycle, avoid pouring chemicals or oil down sewer drains, and to join local efforts and groups that support ocean conservation, like the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. They can also contact their elected officials and encourage them to do more to help protect the ocean, like supporting America’s National Marine Sanctuaries System.

The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is the private, non-profit partner to NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. The Foundation supports efforts to educate and motivate people on ways they can help preserve, protect and promote our nationwide network of marine sanctuaries. The 14 sites within the National Marine Sanctuary System encompass more than 150,000 square miles of special protected places in the ocean and Great Lakes, from the Florida Keys to the Hawaiian Islands and from Lake Huron to the Gulf of Mexico.

For more information and a photo of the Empire State Building, visit www.NMSFOcean.org.