-Local Congresswoman receives National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s 2007 Leadership Award for efforts to protect Sonoma coast-

Washington, DC - A tireless advocate for California’s coastline, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) last night received the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s 2007 Leadership Award for her strong leadership on ocean and coastal resource protections.

“We are pleased to honor Congresswoman Woolsey, who has spent her 14 years in Congress as a passionate steward of marine conservation and environmental issues, helping to introduce important legislation to protect America’s underwater treasures, our national marine sanctuaries,” said Lori Arguelles, President and CEO of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

For several years one of Woolsey’s top domestic priorities has been ensuring the protection of Sonoma’s coasts and waterways.  After drafting The Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Boundary Modification and Protection Act in 2004 with the help of local conservation and fishery groups, Woolsey’s re-introduced the legislation in February, broadening the proposal’s protected coastlines.  The proposal, H.R. 1187, would expand the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries to include the entire Sonoma Coast, and parts of the Mendocino Coast, protecting the region’s vital biodiversity, and local tourism industry.  Former Congressman, and foundation board member Leon Panetta introduced Woolsey, calling her one of the strongest “fighters,” in the Congress, and someone who always stands up for the issues that are important to her.

“The incredible beauty and bio-diversity of this coast makes it a special body of water that truly deserves sanctuary designation,” Woolsey said when accepting the award.  “The Sonoma coast is within one of only four coastal areas in the world that comprise 1 percent of the ocean's surface, but 20 percent of its fish.  We must do everything we can to preserve this amazing underwater treasure, while protecting it from offshore development.”

Woolsey’s proposal has broad support throughout the Bay Area including many of the region’s local governments; leading environmental groups; and fishermen, including the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association, and the Bodega Bay Fishermen’s Marketing Association.  The Mendocino Board of Supervisors City Councils, and the California State Lands Commission also recently voted to endorse the proposal.