1/28/98





DALEY ANNOUNCES NATIONAL OCEAN CONFERENCE AT INTERNATIONAL
YEAR OF THE OCEAN LAUNCH

WASHINGTON -- Commerce Secretary William M. Daley launched the International Year of the Ocean today, with the
announcement of a national conference later this year to focus on the ocean. The Department of Commerce will work to
coordinate the conference, which will include other federal agencies, Members of Congress, and interested ocean groups.

"The goal of Year of the Ocean is to highlight the important role the ocean plays in the daily lives of all Americans and the
Ocean Conference will help us do that," Daley said. "This is especially important when you consider that one of every six jobs
in the U.S. is marine-related and one-third of the nation's gross national product is produced in coastal areas through fishing,
transportation and recreation. All of these industries are dependent on healthy waters and marine habitats."

The announcement also featured an opportunity for the students, the next generation of ocean caretakers, to interact live with
National Geographic Explorer in Residence Dr. Sylvia Earle. Earle joined the kick-off from underwater in the main kelp forest
tank at the Monterey Bay Aquarium to talk with the students about the future of the ocean.

"Any campaign of this magnitude would be incomplete if we didn't include our next generation," Daley said. "The children of our
planet will take over our stewardship of the Earth and of the oceans. We have to instill a curiosity and respect for our ocean
through our children if the ocean is to have a future."

"The Year of the Ocean public awareness campaign is aimed at both students and adults. It will provide both individuals and
organizations with the opportunity to raise public awareness of the role the ocean plays in our lives, and to initiate changes
needed to sustain the marine resources on which we depend," said D. James Baker, Commerce Under Secretary for Oceans
and Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The campaign includes a number of activities throughout the year with a variety of partners, both in the public and private
sector. The campaign includes a colorful poster of marine life donated by artist Steve Shachter; a companion guide talking
about the species depicted on the poster; print and television public service announcements; a brochure that includes an insert
with information about how to help the ocean; a Web site (www.yoto.com) and a toll-free number for people to get more
information and materials (888-4YOTO98).

"It's vital that we pass on not just a love of the ocean, but an understanding of how important the ocean is to our lives. Children
can make a big difference. Even little things, like recycling or spending a few hours picking trash up from the shoreline, can
ripple out and have a big effect on the ocean," Earle said.

Participants in the interactive event included students from C.D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, Va. and Loch Lomand
Elementary school in Manassas, Va. The live interactive broadcast was produced by Passage Productions in conjunction with
SKYtron Corp.

Other partners in the Year of the Ocean include: Ted Danson, Founder of the American Oceans Campaign, who narrated the
public service announcement; Floyd Christofferson, president of Potomac Television, who helped produce and distribute the
PSA nationwide; the Environmental News Network, which developed the Year of the Ocean Web site; Jack Thomasson, the
Associate Publisher of Coastal Living magazine, who produced and published the print public service announcements; Bob
Talbot, whose photography illustrates the brochure; artist Steve Shachter, whose original artwork was made into the Year of
the Ocean poster; The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; the Henry Foundation; the Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation;
Passage Productions, Inc., Santa Barbara, Calif.; and SKYtron Corp. of Irvine, Calif.

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EDITORS NOTE: Visit Year of the Ocean on the Web at http://yoto.com or call the toll-free number at 888-4YOTO98.