"Explores" Book wins Gold Medal at 2011 Benjamin Franklin Awards

Explore the Southeast National Marine Sanctuaries with Jean-Michel CousteauFor Immediate Release
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA

Explore the Southeast National Marine Sanctuaries with Jean-Michel Cousteau wins Benjamin Franklin Award

Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society is proud to announce that Explore the Southeast National Marine Sanctuaries with Jean-Michel Cousteau has won a gold medal at the 2011 Benjamin Franklin Awards. The Independent Book Publisher’s Association (IBPA), founded in 1983, serves book, audio, and video publishers located in the United States and around the world, represents over 3,000 book publishers, and sponsors the annual award ceremony.

The Benjamin Franklin Awards recognize excellence in independent publishing. Publications, grouped by genre, are judged on editorial and design merit by top practitioners in each field. Medals were awarded to publishers of the best books during a gala awards ceremony at the Jacob Javits Center in New York, NY on May 23rd. Our publisher, Ocean Publishing, was on hand to receive this prestigious award.

Explore the Southeast National Marine Sanctuaries with Jean-Michel Cousteau is a grand adventure and an intelligent inquiry into the health of the oceans. “Cousteau” enthusiasts and modern environmental adventurers will appreciate stunning photography, engaging text, and first-person behind-the scenes narratives that guide the reader through the Southeast region (Florida Keys, Florida; Flower Garden Banks, Gulf of Mexico; Gray's Reef, Georgia) of the National Marine Sanctuaries.

Upon learning about the award, Jean-Michel Cousteau said, “I am pleased and honored to learn that the first book in our new four-book series has been recognized by IBPA as a high-quality independently published book, documenting the beauty and value of marine sanctuaries. I wish to thank our publisher Frank Gromling of Ocean Publishing, my editor Dr. Maia McGuire and chief expedition photographer Carrie Vonderhaar, and many others that participated in bringing this book to life. My goal has always been to communicate the beauty of the ocean and the necessity of protecting it to the widest possible audience. By making the content of America’s Underwater Treasures, our original book on all the sanctuaries, now available in this four-part series, it enables us to reach both a wider and a more targeted audience of visitors and communities geographically located near specific sanctuaries. This series is intended not only to inspire, but to inform the general public on specific measures that are working to preserve our ocean resources.”

To purchase copies of Explore the Southeast National Marine Sanctuaries with Jean-Michel Cousteau, autographed by Jean-Michel Cousteau please click here.

For more information please contact:

Carrie Vonderhaar, Ocean Futures photographer at
cvonderhaar@oceanfutures.org

or

Frank Gromling, Publisher, Ocean Publishing at
publisher@oceanpublishing.org

About Ocean Futures Society

Ocean Futures Society (OFS) is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization. With the motto, “Protect the ocean and you protect yourself,” the mission of OFS is to explore our global ocean, inspiring and educating people throughout the world to act responsibly for its protection, documenting the critical connection between humanity and nature, and celebrating the ocean's vital importance to the survival of all life on our planet. OFS is based in Santa Barbara, California, with offices in Paris, France; Lucca, Italy; and São Paulo, Brazil. For more information, visit http://www.oceanfutures.org.

About Ocean Publishing

Ocean Publishing's motto is "Making Waves with Quality Books" and it accomplishes this by teaming with the most talented authors with valuable information to share about marine life, nature, environment and conservation. Its Vision Statement is "Ocean Publishing helps its customers to better understand and appreciate Nature in the hope that they will take active roles in its preservation and protection." Ocean Publishing is located in Flagler Beach, Florida. For additional information, visit www.oceanpublishing.org.

About Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

The Independent Book Publishers Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association representing independent book publishers. Founded in 1983, it serves book publishers located in the United States and around the world. Its mission is to advance the professional interests of independent publishers. To this end, IBPA provides cooperative marketing programs, education and advocacy within the publishing industry. For additional information, visit www.ibpa-online.org.