Wyland and Halls Receive Coveted Ocean Conservation Awards

The world’s largest marine conservation organization, the Reef Check Foundation, announced that this year’s prestigious marine conservation awards were presented to the marine artist Wyland and underwater filmmakers Howard and Michele Hall at the “Save the Reefs, Save the Oceans” charity Gala on Friday, September 16, 2011, at the Jonathan Beach Club in Santa Monica, California. Reef Check’s mission is to empower people to save our reefs and oceans.

 

The Poseidon Award was presented to underwater filmmakers Howard and Michele Hall for their work in films about reefs and the ocean such as Coral Reef Adventure that have been seen by millions of people throughout the world. In 1994 Howard directed the first underwater IMAX 3D feature, Into the Deep. In 1998 Michele produced and Howard directed the IMAX feature, Island of the Sharks, which was an enterprise of Howard Hall Productions. Prior to the presentation the Halls showed never-before-seen footage from their films.

 

The Reef Stewardship award was presented to the artist Wyland who has communicated a conservation message to over 1 billion people using paintings and sculpture of underwater themes from whales to coral reefs. Wyland worked with Reef Check to raise ocean awareness in American Samoa during the International Year of the Reef.