On World Oceans Day, Oceana honors those who have made a significant, ongoing contribution to ocean conservation. This year, hundreds were nominated, and a panel of experts selected the following finalists. Vote now for your favorite in both categories: adult and junior.

Adult Hero Nominees(Pick One)

Zander Srodes

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In 2001, at age 11, Zander Srodes created Turtle Talks, an interactive sea turtle seminar for kids. He also wrote a sea turtle activity book to promote conservation in coastal communities around the world. 250,000 of the books have been printed and distributed from Cuba to Australia. In 2010, Zander spoke at the International Sea Turtle Symposium and hosted college students on two sea turtle conservation trips to Costa Rica.

Maria Rita D’Orsogna

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Since 2007, Maria D’Orsogna has been fighting offshore drilling in the Italian region of Abruzzo. She has been dubbed the “Erin Brockovich of Abruzzo” for her efforts to rally the public and officials to end drilling in the area. In part as a result of her work, in 2010 the Italian government denied at least a dozen permits to drill in Abruzzo, and its coast remains free of oil wells. Plus, she works full-time as a math professor in California.

Nancy Caruso

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Marine biologist Nancy Caruso started the non-profit organization Get Inspired!, which works with students to restore the giant kelp forest ecosystem, teaching them to grow giant kelp in classroom nurseries. Nancy has taught around 4,000 students to grow giant kelp, white sea bass and green abalone. In 2010 Nancy started Kelpfest!, an annual festival in Laguna Beach, CA, to celebrate giant kelp forests.

Peter Wallerstein

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For more than two decades, Peter Wallerstein has been rescuing marine animals on the coast of California. In 1985 he founded the Whale Rescue Team -- now part of Marine Animal Rescue -- which started a 24-hour hotline for citizens to report stranded or injured marine mammals. Peter has personally rescued more than 4,000 marine mammals and birds in Southern California, from stranded dolphins to whales tangled in gill netting.

Zach Rome

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After working as a scuba instructor and middle school science teacher, Zach Rome founded The Schooba Academy, a non-profit organization in Brooklyn, NY that teaches science to students from low-income communities through scuba diving. The Schooba Academy provides low-income students with private science tutoring, scuba training, and weekend field trip expeditions -- all at no cost.

Dirk Rosen

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An engineer of custom robotic subs and remotely operated vehicles, Dirk Rosen founded the non-profit Marine Applied Research and Exploration (MARE) in 2003. Using advanced technological tools, MARE collects deepwater data on Marine Protected Areas and the impact of commercial fishing techniques. MARE's research helps scientists and policymakers determine whether current ocean management practices are sustainable.

Junior Hero Nominees (Pick One)

Andrew Hayford

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When Andrew, a high school junior in York, Maine, was learning to surf, he noticed trash in the water and on the beach. He has since participated in nearly 30 beach clean-ups and hosted more than 10 of his own. Working with Blue Ocean Society, Andrew designed the “Keep Our Beaches Clean” campaign, in which he worked with elementary school students to develop artwork and slogans for his campaign.

Carter and Olivia Ries

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Ten-year-old Carter and his eight-year-old sister Olivia started the non-profit organization “One More Generation”, which raises awareness about endangered species around the world. After learning about ocean acidification, they met with the Georgia governor’s office to ask him to support a bill to control carbon emissions. In addition, they recently launched a Plastic Awareness Week program to offer to schools.

Dylan Vecchione

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After 12-year-old Dylan Vecchione noticed that sections of Maui’s Kahekili reef were becoming bleached, he created an organization called ReefQuest, which engages kids in reef conservation and stewardship. Over 4,000 kids have taken ReefQuest sponsored classes, and ReefQuest chapters have been created in Puerto Rico, the UAE, Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and many Pacific islands.

McKenzy Haber

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Fourteen-year-old McKenzy Haber hosted the first ever TEDx conference for teens in Homer, Alaska last year, with the theme of sustainability. In 2009 he attended the 9th World Wilderness Congress, where his presentation about teen leadership and protecting wild Alaskan waters moved many delegates to tears. And as a member of the Alaska Youth for Environmental Action, McKenzy made a movie called “Melting Giants” about climate change in Alaska.

Sophi Bromenshenkel

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Sophi Bromenshenkel, eight, from Richfield, Minnesota, adores sharks. After she saw a dead pregnant bull shark on a beach during a fishing trip, she was inspired to take action. Through e-mail campaigns, fliers, lemonade and hot chocolate stands, shark cookie sales and wristband sales, Sophi has raised more than $3,500 for the University of Miami’s marine conservation program, where her funds pay for satellite tags on sharks.

Wyatt Workman

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Eight-year-old Wyatt Workman is passionate about stopping plastic pollution in the oceans. Through his artistic endeavors, including a book, clay figures, and a claymation movie, “Save the Sea from the Trash Monster!”, Wyatt has raised nearly $4,000 for ocean conservation. In late 2010, more than 200 attended Wyatt’s art show, where he displayed and sold his art, and asked visitors to sign a pledge to use less plastic.

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