Working with local and national ocean, reef and marine-life advocates including American marine biologist, explorer, author, and lecturer Sylvia Earle AKA “Her Deepness” or “The Sturgeon General,” Scott and his associates organized and delivered a “who’s who” of environmental professionals to support the effort. Scott notes, “Because of the enthusiastic collaboration by all concerned, the mission was soon accomplished. The needed base of support in Hawaii and elsewhere was in place.” Three weeks after Scott received his initial call, on September 24th, 2008, President Barack Obama exercised his power under the 1906 Antiquities Act and extended the boundaries around Johnston Atoll, Wake Atoll, and Jarvis Island—from the area 50 miles from shore, as designated by President George W. Bush in 2009, to 200 miles from shore. 
Scott notes, “We were honored to have this unique opportunity to collaborate with the ‘A Team’ of American ocean advocates. It was not quite as easy as it appeared to be in the media when President Obama signed the executive order. The politics behind that simple act is yet another story.” 
It’s worth knowing that Scott was on retainer with the Pew Charitable Trusts for five years as the communications director and a key political strategist for the original “Hawai`i Pew Team” that helped create all five of the Pacific National Marine Monuments including the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument and Hawaii’s own Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Scott had also designed the impactful campaign logo for the Mariana Trench effort.
About Scott Foster 