We are the team from Toano Middle School, VA. We are seventh and eighth graders. Even though we are all very different, we all love the ocean and are concerned about ocean problems. We are by the Chesapeake Bay and the many rivers that feed into it. We know that the climate has a major effect on the ocean as well as pollution and many other things.

Here is a little bit about our school: It is located in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. Our school was built in 1992. Toano's mascot is the tiger. It teaches sixth through eighth grade and holds about 800 students. Our two colors are blue and orange.

We’re the team from Taiwan. We all are the sixth grade students in Haidong Elementary School. My country is the island surrounded by the beautiful seas, like Pacific Ocean, Taiwan Strait, Bashi Channel. We all love oceans very much. However, our beloved ocean is in serious trouble now. Marine debris in the nearby oceans has been growing problem. As a result, we try to figure out the causes of marine debris, solve this problems, and make our environment better.

Bayou View Elementary, Gulfport, Mississippi, USA

We are fifth grade students in the gifted program at Bayou View Elementary, a National Blue Ribbon School, in Gulfport, Mississippi, USA.

We know the importance of protecting our ocean resources. We are located on the Gulf of Mexico and seafood and tourism play major roles in our local economy. Our warm weather, beaches and seafood attract many tourists. We also know the power and danger of the ocean resources. Our area was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 with towering waves washing away hotels, casinos, businesses and residences. In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, closed our beaches. Cleanup efforts went on for three years.

We know the dangers to our sea animals from marine debris. We have beach and island cleanup days several time a year, drawing volunteers from schools and local businesses. Our state has programs in place to help protect our animals and seafood industry.