BEACH HAVEN, OCEAN CO.-- A Medford Lakes woman is sending out her "SOS" by embarking on her second voyage to save our seas. Last year she paddled from Miami to Maine to inspire ocean conservation and this summer she will carry messages in a bottle from concerned citizens all the way to Capitol Hill.

"This is all to get some support for Oceans 21," said Margo Pellegrino who is paddling from New Jersey to Washington D.C.

This stay at home mother of two has geared up for her second journey in her 20 foot outrigger canoe to bring awareness to the Oceans 21 federal bill that will lay the groundwork for national action to save our seas.

She tells us our oceans are on a serious decline and need help now. "It's really quite common sense and basically our ocean is getting sick."

Sick from over fishing, coastal development, pollution and global warming leaving our oceans on the brink of collapse. "Natural resources translate into money, if we spend it all now, we won't have it for our future generations."

Margo will paddle 500 miles through the districts of Coastal Congressmen who are set to consider the Healthy Ocean's Act, there she will deliver her messages in a bottle.

Messages will be collected from people she meets during her travels to rally support on the bill that will be voted on this July.

She will make a few more stops along the Jersey shore, down the Delaware River into Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, where she will continue on foot to Washington D.C. in hopes of presenting the bottle to the bills co-sponsors including New Jersey Congressman Jim Saxton (R-NJ).

"I would love to give him this bottle that I pulled out of the Rancocas on one of my training paddles, its from Jennings Dairy Barn in Mount Holly so I thought that it would be completely appropriate," said Pellegrino.

Equipped with the messages, she believes her journey will inspire others.
"If I can get myself to D.C. then surely we can do what we can do on an individual level to make things better for our watery world."

As long as weather is on her side, Margo is expected to complete her voyage and arrive in Washington D.C. by July 17th.