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Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis): Blue Mussels are a species of mussel native to the North Atlantic & Pacific. They are frequently found in intertidal zones across the Northern Hemisphere. Their shell is triangular, as well as elongated, with rounded edges. They are a deep shade of blue or black. Individuals will sustain themselves by straining marine microorganisms from the water column. They will also strain pollutants, making the water column cleaner.

Adopt-A-Cleanup Program For individuals and corporations who wish to showcase their environmental values more meaningfully, we offer an Adopt-A-Cleanup program in which willing sponsors can sponsor one of our public cleanups. These sponsors can be individuals or companies with environmental values, looking to make a meaningful impact. Each sponsor in this program will receive; A certificate of gratitude from our organization. Your company's logo, or your name if you are an individual sponsor, on all the cleanup promotionals. A special thanks in any social media posts or articles about the cleanup. Please see this informational document for more information , & don't hesitate to email us at thepersaudfoundation@gmail.com if you are interested in sponsoring a cleanup, or have any questions at all,

Our Volunteer Program Our organization operates a dedicated volunteer program for individuals aspiring to make an impact, possessing a profound appreciation & admiration for marine life, and who enjoy the oceanic environment. We value every one of our volunteers, regardless of whether their commitment is long-term or limited to a single afternoon spent participating in one of our beach cleanups. We kindly request that you complete this form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTrkkKLvzZRN4iHBhMzsbUyl25CkhYE7WbRh9utDlRIdQ6A/viewformif) you are interested in volunteering with our organization in a long-term capacity. Upon completion, you will receive an email within fourteen business days either accepting you into the organization or politely declining your services. Each new volunteer will receive a complimentary sticker & pin upon joining the organization. The two principal categories of long-term volunteers are Science Communication Volunteers and Social Media Volunteers. Each role, along with its associated responsibilities, is detailed below. Science Communication Volunteers: Science Communication Volunteers take on a variety of responsibilities within the organization. Typically, Science Communication Volunteers will design educational graphics for our social media accounts, as well as our online courses, assist with designing courses, & assist in writing guest articles. The responsibilities are relatively fleshed out, however, they can be tailored to the individual strengths of the Volunteer. These individuals are integral to our educational programs & are imperative to the organization. For this role, we are requesting a time commitment of 3 to 9 hours per week depending on what exactly the Volunteer can do. Social Media Volunteers: Social Media volunteers also take on a variety of roles within our organization. Their primary responsibilities are to maintain our social media accounts, such as our Facebook & Eventbrite page. They work closely with our Science Communication team to design valuable educational graphics. These individuals are integral to promoting our organization, as without their valuable contributions, our organization would not be able to promote our programs, & message. For this role, we are requesting a time commitment of 3 to 7 hours per week, depending on what exactly each Volunteer can do.

Our Wonderful Staff Gwenevere Persaud - Executive Director Gwenevere Persaud is our faithful, dedicated, & extraordinarily industrious Executive Director. She has written the majority of our articles, operates every program, hosts every event, & coordinates our volunteers. In December of 2022, she founded The Persaud Foundation with the goal of protecting the ocean through conservation, education, & public involvement. Her favourite marine organism is the gorgeous Wolf Eel (Anarrichthys ocellatus). Jaela Balugo - Board Member Jaela Balugo is one of our amazing members of the dedicated Board of Directors. She is one of the most enthusiastic people about the ocean, about ocean education, & about marine science who has ever graced this planet. Jaela assists with overseeing our programs as a board member, votes on important issues, & assists with advising our science communication programs. Her favourite marine animal is the Baluga Whale for its intellect (and after her last name!). Our Wonderful Volunteers Jasper - Science Communication Volunteer Jasper is one of our delightful, passionate science communication volunteers, dedicated to sharks! Jasper adores sharks, & is currently assisting us in our online course program. Jasper's favourite shark is the Epaulette shark, pictured above! Kapish - Science Communication Volunteer Kapish is an intelligent, devoted science communication volunteer of ours, dedicated to the ocean. Kapish is currently assisting us in our Online Course program, working to create free micro-courses to educate the public on various issues plaguing our oceans. One of Kapish's favourite animals is the Sea Turtle, photographed above! August - Social Media Volunteer August is one of our lovely Social media volunteers, in charge of designing graphics for our social media & ensuring that our message gets heard by as many people as possible. He is one of the most passionate people about the ocean to ever grace this earth, & is the self-proclaimed biggest Squid Enthusiast in Europe. His favourite animal is the beloved Magnapinna Squid, photographed above in all of its eerie glory! Peyton - Science Communication Volunteer Peyton is one of our newest volunteers, with her work primarily focused on science communication through Social Media. She is incredibly passionate, affable, & one of the friendliest as well as most affable people we have had the pleasure of volunteering with us. Her favourite marine animal is the gorgeous & gargantuan Whale Shark! Micah - Science Communication Volunteer Micah is one of our esteemed volunteers, with his work primarily focused on science communication through our newsletter, The Persaud Catalog. He is determined, rises to the challenge. & one of our most disciplined volunteers. One of his favourite marine animals is the Sunfish, also known as the Mola Mola, featured above in its sun-kissed glory! Credit to Leonardo Patrizi. Onifade - Social Media Volunteer Onifade is one of our creative social media volunteers, with his work primarily focusing on developing captivating informational graphics to be featured on our social media pages. He is determined, industrious, & has been an asset to our organization. His favourite marine animal is the dolphin, with the Pantropical Spotted Dolphin featured above in its oceanic glory. Luna - Science Communication Volunteer Luna is one of our esteemed science communication volunteers who primarily assists in designing our online micro-courses. Currently, she is assisting us in designing a free micro-course on How to Sustainably Tide Pool. She is kind & extraordinarily productive. Her favourite marine creature is the Sea Turtle, with the Leatherback Sea Turtle being photographed above. Orsolya - Science Communication Volunteer Orsolya is one of our extraordinary science communication volunteers who contributes to the newsletter, enabling us to publish as often as we do. She is our primary writer on our The Pacific Tide article series & contributes actively to our Marine Biological Hall of Distinction article series. She is a freelance historian, model, former goat wrangler, & ocean enthusiast. She is detail-oriented & extremely industrious. Her favourite animal is the horse, & she is represented by the Slender Seahorse pictured above. Emily - Science Communication Volunteer Emily is one of our lovely Science Communication Volunteers who contributes to our newsletter, enabling us to publish as often as we do. She is the primary writer for our new article series "Disasters at Sea". She also writes for another climate publication, GlacierHub, & is a graduate of UCSB, as well as an MA of Columbia University. Her favourite marine animal is the Mantis Shrimp, photographed above in its rainbow glory. John - Science Communication Volunteer John is one of our dedicated social media volunteers. He has been an asset to us throughout his time with the organization, & has been assisting with designing a new informational graphic series all about dolphins. In addition to volunteering with The Persaud Foundation, he volunteers with various organizations related to mental health & youth. Kathia - Social Media Volunteer Kathia is one of our esteemed Social Media Volunteers. She primarily focuses on our informational graphic series on social media. Apart from volunteering with our organization, she enjoys listening to music, gaming, & playing basketball. Her favourite marine animal is the seal, photographed above in its adorable glory. Eleanor - Science Communication Volunteer Eleanor is one of our esteemed Science Communication Volunteers. She primarily assists with research & writing for our online courses, along with research for our social media initiatives. Her favourite marine animal is the charismatic dolphin featured above.

We are a marine biology nonprofit organization, based in the United States. Our goals are to protect the ocean through education, conservation, & public involvement. Interested in receiving each of our articles & updates about our newsletter? Please fill out the following form with your name, & email. We thank each & every one of our supporters, & appreciate your dedication to marine life. Join our mailing list Email First Name Last Name Subscribe Thanks for subscribing!

Pacific Dulse (Palmaria mollis): Pacific Dulse is a kind of red algae frequently found growing in the intertidal zones in the Northern Pacific & Northern Atlantic. It is well known for its reddish purple colour. When dried, it allegedly tastes similar to bacon. Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera): Giant Kelp is a species of brown kelp native to the Pacific. It is often associated with temperate kelp forests. It is not a true plant; it is a protist, specifically a heterokont. Individuals may grow as long as 150 feet. They are well known for their beauty, ecological importance, & culinary uses.

We are a marine biology nonprofit organization, based in the United States. Our goals are to protect the ocean through education, conservation, & public involvement. Join our marine biological nonprofit and become a vital part of our mission to protect and preserve our oceans! With two membership tiers, you can choose the level of support that best suits you. Membership Tiers: Atlantic Membership: For just $10 a month or $96 a year, you can make a meaningful impact as a member of our first tier. The benefits of this tier include: - A free tote bag of your choosing with one of 3 designs to choose from. - A free branded enamel pin. - You receive each article one day early. - You get your name listed at the bottom of our articles for the lifetime of your membership. Pacific Membership: If you're ready to dive deeper, our second tier offers even more opportunities for involvement at $13 a month or $135 a year. Together, we can create a brighter future for our marine ecosystems! The benefits for this tier include: - A free tote bag of your choosing with one of 3 designs to choose from. - A free branded enamel pin. - A free branded coffee mug. - A free branded nonprofit tee-shirt. - You receive each article one day early. - You get your name listed at the bottom of our articles for the lifetime of your membership. Please fill out the application below, & you will receive an email within 7 business days with more information. Become A Member Today! Email First Name Last Name Birthday (Optional) Please specify which membership tier you would like. Join Please specify whether or not you would like to have a monthly or annual contribution. Thank You For Being A Member!

We are a marine biology nonprofit organization, based in the United States. Our goals are to protect the ocean through education, conservation, & public involvement. This page is specifically for the events calendar. All planned events will be added to this calendar before they are announced in any articles.

California Gull (Larus californicus): The California Gull is a species of gull native to western North America. They are frequently seen along the Pacific Coast. Individuals are 21 inches long on average, with a 54 inch wing-span. They are currently ranked Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, with an estimated population of 500,000 to 1 million individuals. Rock Pigeon (Columbia livia): The Rock Pigeon is a species of bird frequently seen in urban environments. They are known for their distinctive green, purple, blue, & grey plumage, as well as their soft call. They are frequently seen in flocks of 50 to 500 individuals. As of 2026, there is a colony of pigeons located under the Santa Monica Pier. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos): The American Crow is a species of crow known for its elegant black appearance, intellect, & iridescent feathers. They are omnivorous & native to North America. They are typically 16 to 21 inches in length, with a wingspan of 33 to 39 inches. Individuals may be seen in small or large flocks numbering in the 100s or 1000s.

Oceanic Literacy Days Our organization began hosting "Oceanic Literacy Day" events in 2025. These events typically consist of one of our staff members giving a storytime using books geared toward children aged 4 to 12, followed by a Question & Answer Session in which children & families in attendance ask our staff member any questions they may have about marine science & the ocean at large. We typically host these events in collaboration with local bookstores, schools, or literacy centers. We thank The Open Book, Topanga, for their continuous generosity in allowing us to host in their stores. If you are interested in having one of our representatives host one of these events for your school, daycare, literacy center, library, bookstore, or recreation center, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at thepersaudfoundation@gmail.com . At this time, these events are limited to the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, including Riverside County, Ventura County, Orange County, & San Bernardino County.

The Persaud Foundation is always looking for partnerships with other scientific organizations, student organziations, volunteer groups, nonprofit organizations, & newsletters. To discuss a potential collaboration, please email thepersaudfoundation@gmail.com. Partnerships & Partnership Opportunities The Persaud Foundation is always looking for partnerships with other scientific organizations, student organizations, volunteer groups, & newsletters. These organizations, or groups, assist us in a variety of ways, & support, as well as assist us in our mission to protect the ocean through conservation, education & public involvement. To discuss a potential collaboration, please email us at thepersaudfoundation@gmail.com . A few of our current partner organizations, groups, or podcasts are listed below, & at the end of all of our articles. We also partner with businesses such as restaurants & bookstores, who are looking to find ways to support the planet.

The Persaud Catalog is a marine biological newsletter, dedicated to bringing you knowledge of Earth's oceans, & the creatures in them. Donate Today To Save Our Oceans! As a nonprofit, we will graciously accept donations. These donations go towards educating the world more about marine biology, as well as assisting our oceans. At this time, all donations to us are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. We are classified as a 501 (c)3 private foundation with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Legal Disclosure: For our U.S based donors, please note that you are donating to a Private Foundation classified under section 501(c)3. Frequency One time One time Monthly Monthly Amount $1 $1 $5 $5 $10 $10 $20 $20 $50 $50 Other Other 0/260 Comment (optional) Donate $1

We are a marine biology nonprofit organization, based in the United States. Our goals are to protect the ocean through education, conservation, & public involvement. What exactly does your organization do & what is it's mission? We are The Persaud Foundation, dedicated to raising ocean literacy, protecting the ocean through education, conservation, & public involvement. As of 2024, we run our marine biological science communication newsletter The Persaud Catalog, which is published 5 times per month at least, we publish online courses, we conduct local marine biological education events & we conduct public marine biological conservation events in California. We are a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, based in the U.S. What exactly are your online courses? We believe in protecting the ocean through conservation, education, & public involvement. Education about the sea is essential to conservation, as people cannot understand the needs of the sea & its creatures if they do not understand our ocean & its creatures. We currently offer 12 online courses , with 2 more under construction and scheduled for release soon. Our courses vary in topic; however, they typically are about oceanic animals, as people cannot understand the needs of these animals if they do not understand the animals in the first place. Our online courses can be found here. We also recently began a new series of FREE online courses, called micro-courses, which discuss various dangers plaguing our oceans. These courses are available to anyone, no cost, & teach more about certain issues that our ocean is currently facing, such as overfishing. What is the benefit of reading your newsletter? Our newsletter, The Persaud Catalog, publishes approximately 7 times per month, with topics of articles ranging from individual marine animals, to how marine resources were used in different areas historically. In addition, we conduct interviews with marine scientists, ocean ecologists, conservationists, & science communicators alike to share the beauty, value, & wonder of the ocean & marine science with as many people as possible. We work our hardest to provide interesting, informative, & engaging articles to our supporters. Each of our articles can be found in the articles tab of our website, or to search for a specific article or topic, please use our navigational bar. Where do you most frequently conduct beach cleanups & local conservation events? We semi-frequently conduct local conservation events, or beach cleanups, in Santa Monica, California. Each beach cleanup will be listed in the Events Calendar section of our website, or our Eventbrite profile. We typically limit our attendance for each group, so please be sure to register early & register everyone in your party! We removed approximately 146.75 pounds (66.56 kilograms) of bio-hazardous debris from Santa Monica State Beach, & hosted 9 beach cleanups in 2025. Where do you conduct your local marine education events? We semi-frequently conduct local marine biological education events in Los Angeles, California. These events entail different activities such as oceanic educational storytimes, marine biology question & answer sessions, educational fact card distribution, & occasionally, oceanic colouring activities for the youth. We hosted approximately 8 of these events in 2025. Each event shall be listed in the Events Calendar section of our website or our Eventbrite profile. Do you accept donations? Yes! As a nonprofit organization, we gladly accept donations. Each donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. We currently accept donations both digitally and by check. For more information on how to donate to us, please visit the donations page of our website. Each person who donates over 80$ will receive a complementary foundation-branded mug! We also accept donations of equipment. For more information, please contact us at theperaudfoundation@gmail.com . For patrons who wish to contribute on a more regular basis, please consider joining our organization as a member! For more information on memberships, please visit the memberships page of our website. Which country are you registered in as a nonprofit? We are a U.S. Registered 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation. For more information on exempt organizations in the U.S., please visit https://www.irs.gov/charities-and-nonprofits . Which country are you registered in as a nonprofit? Our Santa Monica Marine Fauna Survey is a program designed to showcase the beauty of Santa Monica Bay, encourage more residents of the area to take an interest in their marine life, & provide a comprehensive list of the marine life in Santa Monica Bay. Anyone who wishes to support this project is encouraged to submit photographs here , where one of our staff or volunteers will process them, then use them to create a web entry on this page . In each submission, the person should include where the photograph was taken, the approximate size of the subject, as well as any additional information they feel will be helpful. We accept photographs of areas all along Santa Monica Bay, from Point Dume to Palos Verdes. In short, submit a photograph to us of any marine animal, plant, or protist photographed along Santa Monica Bay at this web page, & it will be used to create a comprehensive list of all the marine creatures in Santa Monica Bay.

Santa Monica Marine Flora & Fauna Survey Many Citizens of Santa Monica often do not view their area as biodiverse when it comes to the sea. We aim to bridge the gap between the people & the ocean, cause them to care more about their marine life, help them to foster an interest in California’s underwater ecosystems, & move towards a more sustainable, more ecologically friendly future. Through this program, people are encouraged to report their findings of marine animals, as well as plants around Santa Monica & Santa Monica Bay to us through the attached form. If you see an ocean creature, such as a plant or animal, that you wish to contribute, send it to us through the attached form, & it'll be reviewed & added as soon as possible! In each submission, the person should include where the photograph was taken, the approximate size of the subject, as well as any additional information they feel will be helpful. For those looking to see animals already cataloged, all marine specimens are featured below. Submit A Marine Specimen Now Seaweed Seabirds Bivalves