Doug Charles, Eleanor Parks & Will Parks with Todd Spalti's original octopus
By the SeaDoc Society
Local wine store receives the Octopus Award for its efforts to ensure the health of marine wildlife and their ecosystems.
Last week, Compass Wines, under proprietors Will Parks and Doug Charles, received the SeaDoc Society’s coveted Octopus Award. This award recognizes groups or individuals who go above and beyond to help the SeaDoc Society accomplish its mission to ensure the health of marine wildlife and their ecosystem.
During the last two years, Compass Wines has been instrumental in helping SeaDoc fund science needed to improve the health of local marine wildlife populations. In addition to being corporate sponsors for SeaDoc’s major Wine Fundraising Auction, Compass Wines also donates a portion of the proceeds from sales of their “Salish Sea” wine to benefit the SeaDoc Society.
Compass Wines’ support has helped SeaDoc carry out a number of scientific studies ranging from determining best practices for restoring endangered northern abalone, to investigating the origins of contaminants in killer whales. Joe Gaydos, SeaDoc Chief Scientist said, “Compass Wines has truly been like four extra pairs of arms for the SeaDoc Society over the last few years.”
Will Parks was honored to receive the award. Parks, who grew up spending time on Hood Canal and loves the ocean said, “It’s a great program and we are happy to give back to the community and our ocean.” Charles also has a great affinity for marine wildlife. Doug said was “inspired by SeaDoc’s work to find scientific solutions to the problems facing our local marine waters.”
The Octopus Award recognizes an individual outside of the SeaDoc program who has made significant contributions to the success of the SeaDoc Society. Past Recipients include Malcolm Goodfellow (2004), Patti Moran-Hodge (2005), John Klacking (2007), and Lynne Greene (2008).
The SeaDoc Society works to ensure the health of marine wildlife and their ecosystems through science and education. A program of the Wildlife Health Center at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), the SeaDoc Society has a regional focus on improving the health of the Salish Sea. For more information see www.seadocsociety.org
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