Canoeing for conservation

A mother of two recently completed a two and a half month canoe quest from Florida to Maine in the hope of raising awareness about ocean conservation. As she finished her journey on July 20th, she was met by a large number of boats who joined her in the harbor to celebrate her achievement.

“This is just the beginning. It’s ain’t over yet,” said Margo Pellegrino, a 40-year-old from Medford Lakes, N.J. She announced her intention to continue campaigning for conservation even though the 2,000 mile canoe trip has ended.

Pellegrino began her adventure on May 9th and paddled a 20-foot outrigger canoe. In the course of her journey she passed through 74 communities, averaging about 40 miles a day.

But she wasn’t just paddling. Pellegrino has been doing a lot of talking as well. She’s trying to get people more interested and knowledgeable about issues like depleted fishing populations, pollution along the coasts and coastal development.

“I said if I could paddle that and then come home and cook dinner for the kids, I must be OK,” she said.

She was helped along the way by a number of volunteers and she took time out to go to Washington and speak before the congressional Ocean Caucus.