Marine biologist and coral reef conservationist John Halas has won the 2009 Ocean Hero Award run by big-time marine conservation organization Oceana. He's also the manager of the Upper Region of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
According to the Oceana blog, John has been working to protect coral reef systems in Florida since 1981. He himself developed an environmentally sound ancho and mooring buoy system that prevents damage to coral reefs. He has been working to implement the anchorage system in 38 countries.
John will receive a nice prize---a $500 gift certificate from Nautica and a special outgoing voicemail greeting recorded by actor and Oceana board member Ted Danson.
There were thousands of votes cast for the 8 finalists. Bob Schoelkopf, a marine rescuer and rehabiltator, and the creator of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, won second place. Andy Dehart, a shark experta and educator who works at the National Aquarium in Washington, D.C. and a shark advisor for the Discovery Channel, won third place. They will both receive ocean-themed entertainment packages and Oceana memorabilia.
Do you think Oceana made the right choice this year?
Marine biologist and coral reef conservationist 
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