Jim Toomey is the creator of the daily comic strip Sherman’s Lagoon, which is syndicated to over 150 newspapers in 20 countries and six languages. Sherman’s Lagoon combines two of his lifelong passions - art and the sea. Jim’s cartoon books have sold over half a million copies worldwide.

A native of Alexandria, Virginia, and the son and grandson of engineers, Jim earned a degree in mechanical engineering and had every intention of following the family tradition. While attending college, he drew political cartoons for the college newspaper, and after graduation, while holding down his engineering job, he began to develop a comic strip in his spare time.

The lead character in Sherman’s Lagoon, Sherman the Shark, is more than just a comic hero; he’s an ocean champion, introducing people everywhere to our underwater world and educating readers on the important challenges facing our ocean today. Jim has twice received NOAA’s prestigious Environmental Hero Award & for using art and humor to conserve and protect our marine heritage.”

To further honor Jim, NOAA has created its own internal citation, called the “Silver Sherman,” given to the most creative NOAA employee. Jim has since repurposed his cartooning skills into filmmaking and has produced several award-winning short videos for clients such as the United Nations, Pew Charitable Trusts, and the World Resources Institute. Playing the role of host and animator, he specializes in making science and environmental issues understandable in short, entertaining and visually rich videos.

In August 2015, Jim, his wife Valerie, and their two children embarked on a two-year cruise in a 45-foot catamaran, sailing over 12,000 miles, visiting 32 countries and territories, and crossing an ocean. Jim wrote a book about the experience called Family Afloat. For more information, visit Mariner Studios.