The Coast Guard

Author and Blue Frontier campaign founder David Helvarg was on the Diane Rehm show today talking about the U.S. Coast Guard and their exemplary record in protecting human life and the marine environment. You can listen to the segment here.

The Coast Guard also does a lot of great international work at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), taking an active role in promoting the global implementation of rules that enhance safety and curb environmental damage. These include some rules that ASOC believes would help protect the Antarctic environment by minimizing the risk of oil spills. Closer to home, they help protect endangered species and crack down on fish poachers. Anyway, the more you learn about the Coast Guard, the more you'll realize that they are, as Helvarg asserts, "forgotten heroes." They've done a fantastic job despite having an incredibly broad portfolio - I only wish we could dispatch them to the Southern Ocean to roust out illegal fishing operations!