The Channel Islands Maritime Museum Speaker Series is pleased to announce that Charles Vinick, the Executive Director of The Whale Sanctuary Project, will be its featured speaker on August 17 at 7 p.m. Mr. Vinick will speak about the Project and its work to establish a coastal sanctuary where cetaceans (whales and dolphins) can live in an environment that maximizes well-being and autonomy and is as close as possible to their natural habitat.

A member of the Whale Sanctuary Project Board of Directors since 2016, Mr. Vinick brings a unique blend of leadership and experience to the Project. For 25 years, he worked closely with Jean-Michel and Jacques Cousteau (during his lifetime), helping the ocean explorers establish, grow and sustain multiple initiatives. Mr. Vinick shepherded the growth of the Cousteau Society from 1993 through 2003 and served as Executive Vice President of the Jean-Michel Cousteau Institute and Ocean Futures Society. During that time, he was privileged to serve as director of the highly-publicized Keiko Project, a pioneering effort that marshaled public and media support to reintroduce to the wild the captive orca made famous through the Free Willy films.

The award-winning short film “Whales Without Walls,” which was co-directed by Mr. Vinick, will also be shown.

Admission for the Speaker Series is free for CIMM Members, $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, free for active military, and $3 for children 6-17 years of age. Tickets are available here.