Mary Jane Schramm

MJ is an ocean advocate and activist, journalist and author, who dove deep into conservation during the devastating 1982-83 El Niño, rescuing stranded pinnipeds and cetaceans and becoming The Marine Mammal Center’s Public Relations Director. For Oceanic Society Expeditions she managed vessel-based ecotours and citizen science programs, and was Media Liaison/Outreach specialist with NOAA’s Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, on its Ship Strike Reduction Team, and NOAA’s Large Whale Entanglement Response Team.

MJ has led cruises into Baja California’s whale calving lagoons, the Gulf of California, and to the Farallon Islands. She’s assisted with whale research and shipwreck investigations; intertidal monitoring and elephant seal tagging on the Farallones; photo-identified whales off California and Alaska and dolphins in the Bahamas. Currently, MJ serves on the Marin Audubon Society’s Conservation Committee.

MJ began with the IOFF in 2004, is a Screening Committee member.