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Oceana, the largest international organization focused solely
on protecting the world’s oceans, recently hosted a reception
and exclusive preview of Christie’s New York maritime art
exhibit. Featured items included oil paintings, watercolors,
prints, antique ship fittings, carvings, figureheads,
instruments, models and ephemera. Silent auction items were
also donated by Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour, Martha
Stewart, Tiffany & Co., TOUS® and West 57th Street by Hilton
Club.
All proceeds from this high-class event, sponsored by Blue
Fish Estate Bottled Wines, benefited the marine conservation
efforts of Oceana. Attendees received a private tour of
Christie’s maritime art exhibit and had the opportunity to
learn more about the significance and history of each auction
item, some dating as far back as the mid 18th century. Oceana
CEO, Andrew Sharpless, also made a special presentation on
Oceana’s critical work to protect the oceans for future
generations.
“Everyone who attended our gathering at Christie’s helped
Oceana’s efforts to bring our oceans back to the bountiful
glory represented in some of the featured works of art,” said
Sharpless.
Oceana’s work is becoming increasingly important as scientists
now predict that our seafood supply could collapse before the
middle of the century if excessive catches of ocean species
continue at current rates. A report by an international team
of marine scientists, published in the journal Science
(November 3rd, 2006), found that catches of 29 percent of wild
populations of seafood have already dropped to less than 10
percent of their historic maximum.
To reverse the declining health of the world’s oceans,
Oceana’s team of marine scientists, economists, lawyers and
advocates focus on specific and concrete policy changes.
Oceana’s campaigns seek to protect essential ocean habitat
such as corals from destruction by bottom trawling; reduce the
accidental killing of marine wildlife as bycatch from
industrial scale commercial fishing; reduce fish contamination
from mercury pollution; and eliminate government subsidies
that promote over-fishing. To support Oceana’s efforts, visit
www.Oceana.org/support.
Christie’s New York leads the international market for
maritime collectibles and is the only major U.S. auction house
to handle this category. |