West Marine announced the recipients of their first annual Marine Conservation Grants program. Grants for a total amount of $30,000 are being awarded to non-profit organizations throughout the U.S. who are working to "improve and protect marine habitat," which is part of West Marine's mission. The nine winners: California & Hawaii: The Ocean Foundation Tag-a-Giant Fund; Huntington Beach, Calif.: Get Inspired; Sebastian, Fort Pierce, Indian River Lagoon, Fla.: Marine Cleanup Initiative, Inc; Jacksonville Fla.: Think It, Sink It, Reef It (TISRI); New Orleans La.: Marine Research and Assistance Council and Friends of the West End; South Carolina & Texas: Coastal Conservation Association (CCA); Orange County, Calif.: Ocean Defenders Alliance (ODA); Get the details (PDF).