Where Are They Now?

2009 State Fellow Ashley Blacow

Contact:

Shauna Oh
Assistant Director
California Sea Grant College Program
La Jolla, CA
E.: shaunaoh@ucsd.edu
T.: (858) 822-2708

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Revised:

November 16, 2011

Ashley Blacow

Ashley Blacow

Meet 2009 California Sea Grant State Fellow Ashley Blacow, a former high school teacher and environmental planner, now the Pacific Policy and Commu­ni­cations Coordinator with the nonprofit conservation organization Oceana.

She's been at Oceana for about 18 months, and in this time supported two of its major, high-profile initiatives.

You may have seen her work in the media lately. That ban on shark fin soup? Oceana championed the legislation that has made it illegal to possess, sell or buy shark fins in California. To help gather support for the bill, Blacow wrote press releases and action alerts, called reporters, gave interviews, and lobbied the California Legislature on why the law was needed.

"My job is two jobs rolled into one," says Blacow who holds a master's in international environmental policy, a bachelor's in aquatic biology and a minor in professional writing. "One day, I am working with the media, writing press releases and calling reporters. The next I could be lobbying for a state bill or advocating for a policy to improve conservation. This is what I love about my job."

Recently, she co-authored a 42-page report, "Forage Fish: Feeding the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem," as part of Oceana's ongoing effort to pass a forage species conservation act. The bill passed the Assembly this year, and is halfway through the Senate process.

"The small fish really go un-noticed," Blacow says explaining. "They don't draw attention like whales but they play an inordinately important role in the marine ecosystem by feeding marine life. The small fish are what make recreational fishing, tourism and wildlife viewing possible. Fisheries managers need to think more about how many small fish need to stay in the ocean to provide all these other services. Oceana is working to get that message out there. That is really my job."

As a State Fellow, Blacow was placed with the California Resources Agency, where she worked on issues related to climate change and marine resource management.

"The fellowship was amazing and a pleasure," she says. "The contacts I made are still valuable."

To learn more about California Sea Grant State Fellowships, visit: http://www-csgc.ucsd.edu/EDUCATION/STATEFELLOW/StateFellow_current.html