FRED FELLEMAN
 

Fred Felleman is a marine mammal biologist, photographer and NW Director of Ocean Advocates in Seattle. He received his Bachelors of Science in the study of animal behavior from the University of Michigan in 1981 and his Masters of Science from the College of Ocean and Fisheries Science at the University of Washington in 1986. His graduate research addressed the feeding ecology of Greater Puget Sound killer whales, a population for which he has now petitioning for protection under the ESA. Fred has also conducted field studies on humpback whales and killer whales in Hawaii and Alaska, including having participated in the damage assessment from the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

Fred's involvement with marine policy began in 1988 when he was contracted to identify sites in the Pacific Northwest to be considered for designation as national marine sanctuaries. After having successfully lobbied Congress to see both his recommendations (Olympic Coast, Greater Puget Sound) incorporated into legislation he returned to Washington State in 1989 to work as the Ocean Issues Coordinator for the State's four Coastal Counties. During that time he helped to oppose offshore oil and gas development from the Washington Coast, sued to stop the Navy from bombing Sea Lion Rock in the Copalis National Wildlife Refuge, and drafted the coastal county's position on the Olympic Coast Sanctuary. He then received grants to identify for the public the role they can have to shape the two national marine sanctuaries being evaluated in Washington.

Fred has participated with the State Department of Ecology and the U.S Coast Guard in establishing methods of protecting the State's sensitive biological resources from oil spills. This effort has included the stationing of a rescue tug at the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca for the past five winters. He was appointed by Governor Gardner to his Ocean Policy Work Group and by Governor Lowry to the Washington State Maritime Commission. He served on advisory committees to the Washington State Office of Marine Safety and the State legislature appointed him to be an advisor to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. He has been contracted by the Center for Environmental Education, the American Oceans Campaign, Ocean Advocates and has served on the Board of Directors of the Washington Environmental, Fuel Safe Washington and the Orca Conservancy.

Fred is also an accomplished photographer. His marine wildlife photographs have been published in many national and regional publications. He is co-owner of WAVE: Wildlife and Visual Enterprises and his stock photography is represented by Getty Images in Seattle.