Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/506796
T The Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program will soon extend its consumer and culinary industry impact, thanks to a $10 million gift from Google executive Eric Schmidt and his wife, Wendy. Seafood Watch supports the Aquarium's ongoing ocean conservation efforts by helping members of the public choose seafood that is sustain- ably fished or farmed. Consumers have picked up more than 45 million seafood guides since the program's 1999 launch, and a corresponding smartphone app has been downloaded more than one million times. Seafood Watch also partners with some 200 chefs, restaurants and food service companies throughout the United States. With the five-year Schmidt Family Foundation grant, Seafood Watch administrators will continue working closely with researchers, nonprofits and industry leaders to make the seafood supply chain more sustainable. The gift also funds new international initiatives related to fishing and aqua- culture practices. Though practices and perceptions are changing, much work remains, notes Monterey Bay Aquarium Executive Director Julie Packard in a com- ment on the Seafood Watch website. "While we've seen tremen- dous progress in recovery of US fisheries, so much more needs to be done globally to ensure food security and healthy oceans for the future. It's gratifying to have our successes recognized by the Schmidts," she says. "With their support, we will now be able to accomplish so much more." Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Robert McDonald recently recognized local gallery owners and advocates Gary and Emma Koeppel with an invitation to Washington, DC. In 1990, Gary Koeppel found- ed the Enduring Freedom Foun- dation, a nonprofit that pays tribute to United States military members through public art. At that time, he asked Big Sur sculptor Robert Signorella to create a 7-by-6-foot patriotic sculpture honoring America's Gulf War veterans. The monument features a life-sized American eagle spreading its wings over five US Armed Forces medallions, and is now on permanent display at the main Pentagon metro entrance in Washington. The Koeppels have since donated 33 replicas of the original Enduring Freedom sculpture to the Department of Veterans Affairs, to be dis- played at VA clinics nationwide. In a letter to the foundation, McDonald called the donation a "mean- ingful and memorable gift that will be admired and appreciated" by vet- erans, staff members and families. Gary and Emma Koeppel have owned and operated Coast Galleries in California and Hawaii and have represented more than 2,000 American artists over the past four decades. Clint Eastwood's "American Sniper" won an Oscar for best achieve- ment in sound editing at this February's Academy Awards. The film earned five additional nominations as well, including best motion picture, best BEST OF THE CARMEL POLICE LOG… Officers responded to possible burglary with extensive interior damage, but quickly determined the damage was likely caused by an animal— possibly a squirrel. Nothing was taken. Claw and teeth marks were present. Animal probably entered and exited through chimney. SHORTCUTS CARMEL CONFIDENTIAL Seafood Watch Program at the Aquarium Gets a Big Boost Google executive Eric Schmidt's foundation recently gave $10 million to promote ocean awareness through the Monterey Bay Aquarium's sustainable Seafood Watch program. 50 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 5