FWC Officer Philip Stone Receives Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Award

7/17/17

Lake Worth resident Philip Stone, a law enforcement officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), has received the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF) Award for Marine Conservation. 

Stone was honored for his dedication, particularly to the protection of sea turtles, at the FWC Commission meeting in Orlando. Fish & Wildlife Foundation CEO Andrew Walker made the presentation on behalf of the GHOF.

“Well before joining FWC as a marine law enforcement officer in 2009, Officer Stone was active as a volunteer in sea turtle conservation in the Palm Beach area,” Walker said. “His desire to do even more to conserve Florida’s marine life and fisheries was a chief motivation in joining the FWC.”

As an FWC officer, Stone has worked with local law enforcement agencies to minimize the impact on nesting and hatchling turtles while they conduct essential nighttime beach patrolling. He’s also helped Palm Beach and Martin County businesses and homeowners reduce coastal lighting that can disorient turtle hatchlings, luring them away from the ocean. 

Widely covered in the media in 2016 was the FWC’s apprehension of an individual whose poaching threatened loggerhead turtle eggs from Jupiter Inlet in Palm Beach County, an investigation led Stone. By apprehending the person in the act of digging up eggs, 92 eggs were reburied, which led to the hatching of 32 loggerhead turtles. 

When off duty, Stone continues to serve as a sea turtle volunteer, conducting nesting surveys, responding to sea turtle strandings, and ­­­­­-- as a volunteer and officer -- helping recover sick or injured turtles.

“We think Officer Stone is a fitting choice for this award,” said Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Executive Director Greg Jacoski.  “He exemplifies all that Guy Harvey and our Foundation stand for – an unwavering lifetime commitment to understanding, conserving and appreciating the irreplaceable creatures that inhabit our oceans. We congratulate him and the FWC for all they do.”

Founded by world-renowned marine artist, conservationist, and biologist Dr. Guy Harvey, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation is an organization of philanthropists, conservationists, scientists, and educators focused on developing sensible strategies for promoting the conservation of our oceans and nurturing the next generation of marine scientists and guardians of our seas.

Through the generous philanthropy inspired by Dr. Harvey’s art, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation also funds exceptional research and innovative educational programs developed by universities, colleges, institutes and non-profit organizations.

About Guy Harvey:

Guy Harvey is a unique blend of artist, scientist, diver, angler, conservationist, and explorer, fiercely devoted to his family and his love of the sea. His childhood passion for the ocean and its living creatures not only inspired him to draw but fueled a burning interest that prompted a formal education in marine science. Having graduated with honors in Marine Biology from Aberdeen University in Scotland in 1977, Guy returned home to Jamaica to resume his education, earning his Ph.D. from the University of the West Indies in 1984. Though he gave up a budding career as a marine biologist for that of a highly acclaimed artist, Guy has continued his relentless pursuit to unravel the mysteries of the sea, traveling the world to better understand the habits and habitats of the marine wildlife he paints. For more information, please visit www.guyharvey.com.

About the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation:

The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF) conducts scientific research and hosts educational programs aimed at conserving the marine environment. The GHOF also funds affiliated researchers working to better understand our ocean ecosystem and educators helping to foster the next era of marine conservationists. The GHOF will help ensure that future generations can enjoy and benefit from a properly balanced ocean ecosystem.

About the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida:

The Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida (FWFF) is a not-for-profit organization that raises funds to enhance the conservation work of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and other public and private conservation partners.  FWFF also supports the Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network, which provides annually more than 100,000 Florida children with formative outdoor experiences via summer camps, school programs, and other activities.  For more information, visit www.wildlifeflorida.org or call 941 809-7805.

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