January 12, 2012: Gulf Commitment: The seafood enerations of fishermen have made their livelihoods and their homes on the Gulf Coast. They want you to know that seafood -- shrimp, oysters and all sorts of fish -- from the Gulf of Mexico is the most inspected and most tested in the world. The confidence they have in their catch has never been higher, and they want you to try it for yourself. View video of "Gulf Commitment: The seafood."

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Restoration Gulf Coast: Florida's sea turtles

From the moment it hatches and for most of its life, a sea turtle is faced with multiple perils. For this reason, the efforts of marine biologists at the Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet, Florida are very important. Just 1 in 10,000 sea turtles survives to adulthood, and these conservationists help to give the few in their care a fighting chance. The important work of the Marine Science Center is funded in part by a grant from BP's Recovered Oil Fund for Wildlife. 

View video of "Restoration Gulf Coast: Florida's sea turtles.

Successful ‘Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash’ wraps up in New Orleans

New Orleans – Two spectacular college football games are in the books and so is BP’s successful Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash. BP created the event in partnership with Gulf Coast tourism planners as a way to celebrate Gulf Coast culture, seafood and tourism – and to maximize exposure for the area during the Allstate Sugar Bowl and BCS National Championship.

Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash events included celebrity chef appearances by Emeril Lagasse and John Besh who both conducted dozens of national TV interviews to share Gulf seafood recipes and the news that the Gulf is open for business. “We’re in heaven, the beaches are open and the seafood has never been better,” said Besh to a Chicago reporter. “It’s all about seafood and tourism for us and the city right now, here in New Orleans – it’s electric.” 

Read more about the 'Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash' here.

View video of Gulf Coast Seafood and Tourism Bash.

BP scholarships sending 600 students to Challenger Learning Center

Tallahassee, FL – Some students arrive at the Challenger Learning Center in Tallahassee, Florida with textbook knowledge of science and math, but it only takes a few hours in the facility for kids to discover a world of knowledge beyond their books.

The Challenger Learning Center, an outreach facility of both Florida A&M and Florida State Universities, allows students from kindergarten through college to become NASA engineers and astronauts for a day.

This year, BP is funding scholarships to eighth grade classes from Northwest Florida schools. As a result, 20 entire classes from Escambia, Okaloosa, Bay and Gulf Counties are taking field trips to the Challenger Learning Center – more than 600 children in all.

Read more about the BP scholarships program for the Challenger Learning Center.

BP's quest to earn back America's trust

In a speech to the Economic Club of Chicago, CEO Bob Dudley reaffirmed BP's commitment to US energy security. 

Read BP CEO Bob Dudley's speech. 

BP updates Gulf restoration activity in new television ad

BP has launched a new nationwide television advertising campaign to update the American people on progress being made to clean up and restore the Gulf Coast region in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon accident.  It comes as the cleanup phase of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill response is nearing completion and the first set of early restoration projects is preparing to move forward.

“We made a commitment not only to restore the Gulf, but also to keep the American people informed of that effort,” said Geoff Morrell, BP America’s vice president for communications. “We’ve made significant strides over the past year and believe it’s a good time to provide a progress report to the nation.” 

The new advertisement can be viewed here.

Gulf seafood and tourism in spotlight

With the Allstate BCS Sugar Bowl as a backdrop, BP and Gulf Coast tourism and seafood officials launched the Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash to celebrate Gulf Coast seafood, culture and tourism through special events and promotions throughout New Orleans.  

View video of Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash.

BP’s ‘Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash’ offers fresh seafood, vacation contest

New Orleans – In addition to having great football this January with the Sugar Bowl and the BCS National Championship, New Orleans is also having great seafood – thanks to BP’s Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash.

BP created the event in partnership with Gulf Coast tourism planners as a way to celebrate Gulf Coast culture, seafood and tourism – and to maximize exposure the region receives during the two bowl games in New Orleans.

“We're working with the Gulf Coast's seafood and tourism industries to spotlight two of the best things about this unique region," said Crystal Ashby, BP executive vice president of government and public affairs. “Together, we want to deliver a clear message that the Gulf's beaches, restaurants, fishing and attractions provide unsurpassed vacation experiences.” 

Read the full story

New Orleans welcomes BCS Championship with "Peacemaker po' boys"

Legendary quarterbacks Ken Stabler of Alabama and Bert Jones of LSU share a ceremonial 30-foot "Peacemaker po' boy" as part of the Gulf Coast Seafood & Tourism Bash presented by BP. New Orleans chefs teamed up to bring together Louisiana shrimp and Alabama oysters in celebration of the 2012 Allstate BCS National Championship. 

View more photos of the Gulf Coast Seafood and Tourism Bash.  Read more about the Gulf Coast Seafood and Tourism Bash.

Initial early restoration projects selected for Florida

State and federal Trustees unveiled the first set of early environmental restoration projects that are proposed for funding under the landmark agreement BP signed with the Trustees in April 2011. The eight proposed projects are located in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. The two proposed initial Florida projects are:

Florida Boat Ramp Enhancement Project will repair two existing public boat ramps and construct two new public boat ramps in Escambia County to improve access and provide additional opportunities to the public for water and boating related recreational activities. In addition, new visitor kiosks will be installed to provide educational information to boaters and the public. 

Florida Pensacola Beach Dune Project will restore 20.4 acres of dune habitat near the western end of Santa Rosa Island in Escambia County, Florida with a mix of native dune vegetation along 4.2 miles of beach.  

Read more about early restoration projects. Read the Department of Interior press release on early restoration projects.

Florida tourism numbers rise again

Tallahassee, FL – Visitors from across the world helped Florida with another successful quarter for tourism. That according the official marketing corporation for the state, Visit Florida. 

Read more about Florida’s rising tourism numbers.

Going home: Sea turtles released into the Gulf

“It feels wonderful, just wonderful, to see them be released and to see them go like they’re supposed to go,” says Dr. Connie Chevis, chief veterinarian for the Institute of Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) in Gulfport, Mississippi. In the third segment of a special three-part video series, Chevis and other IMMS officials take viewers along as they release 11 sea turtles -- including four equipped with satellite tracking devices -- into the Gulf of Mexico. 

View video of Going home: Sea turtles released into the Gulf. Learn more about the work of the IMMS.

My Gulf Go Dawn Moliterno fell in love with Miramar Beach while visiting for work. Her passion for the area was so great that she moved her family from Ohio to the beaches of South Walton.

My Gulf Go A longtime educator in the State of Florida, Ron Hardy was looking for a way to enjoy his retirement while, at the same time, give back to the community that he loves.

Tourism Information Go Read the latest news about Florida’s beaches and tourism industry.