8th Annual Peter Benchley - Peter Benchley Ocean Awards

Ocean Awards
8th Annual Peter Benchley
TM
8th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards • May 14, 2015 • Washington D.C.
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Peter
Benchley
Ocean
Awards
Peter Benchley Ocean Awards
The Peter Benchley Ocean Awards are the world’s preeminent ocean honors and are unique in
acknowledging outstanding achievement across many sectors leading to the protection of our ocean, coasts
and the communities that depend on them. The Awards honor the legacy of Peter Benchley, author of Jaws and
outspoken voice for ocean conservation through his books, articles and documentaries on the wonders of the
ocean and the threats it faces.
2015 Awards Honorary Host Committee
Senator Ed Markey and Dr. Susan Blumenthal • Senator Tom Udall and Mrs. Jill Cooper Udall
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Dr. Sandra Whitehouse • Senator Timothy Wirth and Mrs. Wren Wirth
Representative Sam Farr
2015 Awards Host Committee
H.E. Maguy Maccario Doyle, Ambassador of Monaco to the United States • Wendy Benchley and John Jeppson
Angel Braestrup • Randy Hayes • David Helvarg • Wolcott Henry • Tom Lovejoy • Ann Luskey • Dane Nichols
Bob and Sarah Nixon • Marie Ridder • Anne Rowley • Roger and Vicki Sant • Shari Sant Plummer
Mark J. Spalding • Flo and Roger Stone
Peter Benchley Ocean Awards Statue and Logo
Having read of Peter Benchley’s experience with a manta that inspired his book, ‘The Girl of the Sea of Cortez’
the marine artist Wyland created a stunning sculpture of three flying mantas to honor all heroes of the sea and
“the interconnectedness of everything on earth.” Wendy Benchley and David Helvarg are deeply grateful to
Wyland for creating the award statues and logo.
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Welcome
to the 8th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards
As we come together tonight to recognize the marine conservation achievements of our eight extraordinary
winners, it is fitting to reflect on the positive momentum we are seeing in the efforts to protect and restore our
living blue world.
Thanks to the outstanding global leadership of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and Secretary of State John
F. Kerry, ocean conservation and climate change are no longer viewed as “simply” environmental issues,
but recognized as key to our global and national security, our food security, and our economic stability by
policymakers and citizens alike.
H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco led the preparation of the “Oceans” component at Rio +20 and initiated
groundbreaking scientific collaboration on ocean acidification. Secretary John F. Kerry created the first State
Department led “Our Oceans” conference in 2014 that brought together an extraordinary group of global
leaders to strategize on ocean issues and implement new ocean conservation actions. We can now celebrate
unprecedented and long overdue leadership that includes ocean conservation as a core component of the U.N.
Millennium Development Goals post 2015.
Never before has concern for our ocean been directed in such a strategic, sustainable and forward looking
manner.
Renowned fisheries authority, Dr. Daniel Pauly has helped the scientific community, policymakers, and the media
understand the devastating impacts of overfishing. He has also shown how establishing marine protected areas,
where fishing is off-limits or severely restricted, offers a promising path to recovery for our living seas. One
particularly hopeful sign is the tripling in size of these global marine protected areas since 2010.
Other inspiring signs that life on our blue marble planet might yet be restored; The Economist’s expanded
news coverage and its global invitation to ignite a “blue economy” balancing growth and sustainability; ocean
explorer Nainoa Thompson’s journeys across the world ocean that has sparked new ways of thinking about
traditional navigation and knowledge and the role of local cultures in conservation; intrepid shark protector,
Madison Stewart’s raising the alarm about the devastating impacts of shark finning from the Great Barrier Reef
to the blue Caribbean, and the exceptional grassroots advocacy (we like to call it seaweed advocacy) of Todd
Miller and Dana Beach, who have long defended and restored the beauty and bounty of their native North and
South Carolinas’ coastal communities, both human and wild.
The challenges confronting us remain daunting including industrial overfishing, managing the high seas,
widespread pollution, loss of marine and coastal habitat and climate change. But, in taking action, we also
create motivation for more people to join our cause and protect our blue home.
Tonight, we gather together to celebrate the inspiration our outstanding 2015 Benchley Award winners, our
past winners, and our fellow ocean lovers bring to this joyous evening.
Wendy Benchley
&
David Helvarg
Peter Benchley Ocean Awards Co-Founders
8th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards • May 14, 2015 • Washington D.C.
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Peter
Benchley
Ocean
Awards
2015 Recipients
Excellence in National Stewardship of the Ocean
H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco
Excellence in Policy
Secretary of State John F. Kerry
Excellence in Science
Dr. Daniel Pauly
Excellence in Media
The Economist
Excellence in Exploration
Nainoa Thompson
Christopher Benchley Youth Award
Madison ‘Pip’ Stewart
Hero of the Seas
Todd Miller & Dana Beach
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8th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards • May 14, 2015 • Washington D.C.
Excellence in
National
Stewardship
of the Ocean
Awarded to the representative of
a nation that has made a unique
and exceptional contribution to
the protection, restoration and
appreciation of the world ocean.
Past recipients in this category
are President Laura Chinchilla of
Costa Rica (2011) for establishment
of a marine reserve in the Pacific,
President Anote Tong of Kiribati
(2012) for establishing a large Pacific
reserve and speaking out against the
threat of climate change and sea level
rise, President Macky Sall of Senegal
(2013) for rescinding permits to
foreign fishing vessels over-exploiting
the waters of his nation’s Exclusive
Economic Zone and helping to
restore a sustainable domestic
fishery for his people. European
Union Marine Affairs and Fisheries
Commissioner Maria Damanaki
(2014) for her work reducing
overfishing, combating IUU pirate
fishing and promoting a sustainable
‘Blue Economy.’
H.S.H. Prince Albert
II of Monaco
In 2006 the Prince established
the Prince Albert II of Monaco
Foundation dedicated to
protecting the environment
that has since highlighted and
supported a number of
important marine conservation
efforts. In 2009 the Prince
participated in a three-week scientific journey to
Antarctica following several polar expeditions. Since then
he has played a vital role in supporting scientific research,
conferences and collaboration around the issue of ocean
acidification and climate, advocated for protection of
biodiversity on the high seas and promoted healthy ocean
policies in a wide range of forums that can influence
decision making on a global scale.
This award will be presented by
National Geographic Explorer-inResidence Dr. Enric Sala. As founder
of the Pristine Seas project, Dr. Sala
has played a vital role in identifying,
surveying and helping gain protection
for large Marine Protected Areas across many regions of
the globe.
8th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards • May 14, 2015 • Washington D.C.
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Excellence in Policy
Awarded to an individual who
contributes to advancing the cause of
sustainable ocean use and protection
based on the best available science
and through the establishment of
effective and enforceable laws and
regulations.
Past recipients are Senator Ernest
Hollings (2004), a long time ocean
champion known as the “Father of
NOAA”, Representative Sam Farr
(2009) ocean defender and founder of
the House Oceans Caucus, Dr. Jane
Lubchenco (2010) ocean scientist
and head of NOAA during the Obama
administration’s first term, Admiral
Thad Allen, former commandant
of the U.S. Coast Guard and lead
federal official for Katrina and BP
disasters (2011), Senator Sheldon
Whitehouse (2012), a powerful
ocean and climate champion from
Rhode Island, Representative
(now Senator) Ed Markey from
Massachusetts, a strong advocate
for ocean protection and climate
action (2013). Secretary Leon Panetta
(2014) former White House Chief of
Staff, U.S. Director of Intelligence
and Secretary of Defense. As a
long-time Congressman and lifelong
resident of Monterey California, Leon
Penetta has has been an outstanding
champion of ocean protection and
marine sanctuaries.
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Secretary of State
John F. Kerry
“Our oceans are in trouble...
We have to summon global
cooperation so that we can
take the steps necessary
to protect our oceans for
generations to come,” says
Secretary of State John F.
Kerry. As a U.S. Senator John
F. Kerry worked hard to restore the health of Boston Harbor
and actively promoted solutions to improve the ocean and
coastal environment. As Secretary of State he has taken
extraordinary steps to realize this including advancing
global efforts to end IUU pirate fishing, and encouraging
the President and other world leaders to expand marine
wilderness parks such as the U.S. Pacific Remote Islands
whose protections were recently tripled in size to almost
half a million square miles. He convened the first annual
‘Our Ocean’ global leadership summit to seek additional
solutions and innovative marine conservation ideas among
policymakers. As chair of the eight-nation Arctic Council
he will also bring an appreciation of this fragile climateimpacted region to deliberations on its future.
This award will be presented by
Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts,
winner of the 2013 Policy Award.
Senator Markey has an unparalleled
record of energy and environmental
legislative achievement. He was a
leading voice in the investigation of the BP oil spill and
worked closely with John F. Kerry when he was a Senator
to protect their home state’s people, coast and ocean.
8th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards • May 14, 2015 • Washington D.C.
Excellence in Science
Awarded to an individual or
individuals who have provided cutting
edge marine science either through
his or her efforts or as leader(s) of a
team that has advanced the cause
of understanding ocean processes,
marine ecology and conservation
biology.
Past recipients are marine biologist
Ransom Myers (2004), marine
ecologists Dr. Nancy Knowlton and
Dr. Jeremy Jackson (2009), Census
of Marine Life coordinator Jesse
Ausubel (2010), molecular genetics
research scientist Dr. Steve Palumbi
(2011), Louisiana Universities Marine
Consortium Director and researcher
Dr. Nancy Rabalais (2012), Marine
ecologists Dr. Boris Worm and Dr.
Heike Lotze (2013), Dr. Steve Gaines
(2014), scientist and Dean of the Bren
School of Environmental Science and
Management at UC Santa Barbara.
Dr. Daniel Pauly
Dr. Daniel Pauly is founder
and leader of the ‘Sea Around
Us’ project at the University
of British Columbia. Known
for developing the concept
of ‘Shifting Baselines’ and
scientifically documenting and
explaining ‘fishing down the
food web,’ he has become
a world leader in identifying overfishing as a threat to
marine ecosystems and global food security.
In addition he is an outspoken advocate for taking
corrective action, his views widely respected by
policymakers, the media and his fellow scientists. His
hundreds of peer-reviewed publications, several books
and years of research based out of Germany, the
Philippines and Canada mark him as an exceptional
scientific resource for our living seas.
This award will be presented by
Dr. Jeremy Jackson, co-winner of the
2009 Science Award with Dr. Nancy
Knowlton. A world-renowned marine
ecologist and paleontologist,
Dr. Jackson has been a leading force in
bringing the work of marine biodiversity to the forefront
of our scientific understanding of how the seas function
and how humans impact them.
8th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards • May 14, 2015 • Washington D.C.
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Excellence in Media
Awarded to an individual or media
outlet that shows exceptional ability
in communicating ocean issues of
concern to the public in ways that
inform and/or inspire people to act as
engaged citizens.
Past recipients are Naples Daily
News (2004) for its Gulf of Mexico
coverage, Mark Shelley of Sea
Studios Foundation (2009), Louie
Psihoyos, director of The Cove
(2010), Juliet Eilperin (2011)
Washington Post reporter and shark
author, Brian Skerry (2012) National
Goegraphic photojournalist, Nancy
Baron and COMPASS (2013) for
ocean science communications.
Gabriella Cowperthwaite (2014)
for her directing of the powerful
investigative documentary ‘Blackfish.’
The Economist
Accepting for the Economist,
Charles Goddard, Editorial
Director, Asia Pacific.
The Economist has been
an influential weekly news
publication since 1843 with
a contemporary circulation
of some 1.5 million highly
educated readers. In recent
years it has dedicated a significant amount of its
news coverage to the growing and varied challenges
facing the world’s oceans. Along with superior and
consistent coverage of issues ranging from the Arctic
to the deep seas to ports, shipping and fishing, it has
also sponsored an annual ‘World Oceans Summit’ first
launched in Singapore in 2012. These Summits bring
together world leaders, policymakers, innovators,
businesses, science and journalism to try and advance
the cause of a healthy and sustainable ocean and global
blue economy.
This Award will be presented by
Dr. Greg Stone, Chief Ocean Scientist
for Conservation International and
Vice-Chairman of the World Economic
Forum’s Oceans Group. As a leader in
scientific exploration and conservation
and the author of numerous books and articles for
National Geographic and others, Dr. Stone has a unique
appreciation of the role media can play in protecting our
blue planet.
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8th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards • May 14, 2015 • Washington D.C.
Excellence in
Marine Exploration
Awarded to an individual or group
that contributes to our understanding
of the seas through bold exploring
and courageous efforts to uncover
new and different aspects of our
ocean planet.
Past recipients are Don Walsh (2010)
oceanographer, deep ocean pioneer
and explorer, Ocean in Google Earth
(2012) for making the undersea world
accessible to millions of people and
his Royal Prince Khaled bin Sultan of
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the
Living Oceans Foundation for marine
“Science without Borders” (2014).
Nainoa Thompson
Charles Nainoa Thompson is
the Executive Director of the
Polynesian Voyaging Society
(PVS). Since 1976, he has
played a key role in the
design, construction, sailing,
and navigating of the doublehulled voyaging canoe,
Hokule’a. Under Thompson’s
supervision, PVS completed the construction of a new
Hawaiian voyaging canoe in 1994. It is now part of a
growing fleet. Nainoa studied non-instrument navigation,
or “wayfinding,” under master navigator Mau Piailug of
Satawal, Micronesia. Thompson is the first Hawaiian to
practice the art of long distance wayfinding since the
14th century. In his more than 16,000 miles of transPacific exploring he has inspired a revival of Polynesian
maritime culture, heritage and environmental principles
based on traditional values
The Award will be presented by
Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii. As a
leader on clean energy, climate and
the ocean, Brian Schatz has emerged
as a powerful new voice for marine
protection in the U.S. Senate following
a lifetime of public service.
8th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards • May 14, 2015 • Washington D.C.
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Christopher
Benchley Youth
Award
Awarded to a young person who early
in life has already made a significant
contribution to marine conservation
and public education about our seas.
Past recipients in this category are
sea turtle activist Zander Srodes
(2009), surfer activist Kyle Thiermann
(2010), plastics activist Rudy Sanchez
(2011), protest singer and anti-oil
activist Ta’Kaiya Blaney (2012), “Stow
It-Don’t Throw it” founder Sean
Russell (2013). Love a Sea Turtle
founder Casey Sokolovic (2014).
Madison ‘Pip’
Stewart
Twenty-one-year-old Madison
Stewart became an activist
at the age of 8 passing out a
petition in her school to get
rid of shark killing nets near
her Australian home. Starting
at age 12 she began diving
with sharks, turning to home
schooling at 14 so she could focus more of her time on
diving and filming tiger sharks and other of these
endangered predators on the Great Barrier Reef and
elsewhere. Over the last seven year’s she’s campaigned
against the shark meat and shark finning trade in
Australia, Mexico, Fiji, Palau and in other locales. This
past year she became the subject of an award-winning
Smithsonian documentary, “Shark Girl.” She continues
campaigning to defend sharks and their ocean habitat.
The Award will be presented by
Dr. Sylvia Earle. Dr. Earle is a National
Geographic Explorer-in-Residence,
biologist, author, ocean advocate and
former Chief Scientist at NOAA. Her
2009 TED Prize wish for more MPA
“Hope Spots” inspired creation of the Mission Blue
Sylvia Earle Alliance. A recent film on her life is also
titled, ‘Mission Blue.’
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8th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards • May 14, 2015 • Washington D.C.
Hero of the Seas
Awarded to a seaweed (marine
grassroots) activist or activists who
have made a major and long-term
commitment to improving the quality
of our oceans and the communities
that depend on them.
Past recipients are Dery Bennett
(2004), long-time leader of the
American Littoral Society, Richard
Charter (2009), anti-oil activist and
organizer, Cynthia Sarthou (2010),
leader of the Gulf Restoration
Network, Kathy Fletcher (2011),
founder and leader of People for
Puget Sound, Peter Douglas (2012),
creator and longest serving executive
director of the California Coastal
Commission, Karen Garrison and
Kaitilin Gaffney (2013) for their work
establishing a network of California
marine reserves. Captain Charles
Moore (2014), sailor, author, founder
of the Algalita Marine Research
Institute.
Todd Miller
Todd Miller is a native North
Carolinian raised in the town
of Ocean on the Bogue Banks.
In 1982 he founded the North
Carolina Coastal Federation to
promote coastal stewardship
through education, advocacy
and habitat preservation and
restoration. Under his guidance
the federation, with a staff
of 22, has led campaigns
that have reduced pollution and protected hundreds of
thousands of acres of coastal habitat while restoring
oyster reefs, salt marshes and other vital components of
the North Carolina coast and economy.
Dana Beach
Dana Beach is a South
Carolina native who founded
the South Carolina Coastal
Conservation League in 1989.
With his staff of 30 he works
with communities, businesses
and citizen groups to protect
the state’s white sand beaches,
salt marshes, swamps, pine
savannahs and marine wildlife.
Along with successfully fighting industrial hog farms, coal
plants and other unsound development, his group and
its partners have protected over a million acres of South
Carolina’s spectacular coastline.
The Award will be presented by 2010
Hero of the Seas winner Cynthia Sarthou.
Executive Director of the Gulf Restoration
Network, Cynthia Sarthou has been a
tireless voice for the people and the
unique coastal habitat of the region
impacted by oil industry pollution, lax
regulation and other threats.
8th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards • May 14, 2015 • Washington D.C.
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The Benchley Awards Selection Committee is focused on
recognizing truly exceptional efforts, so not all categories are
awarded each year. Additional previous honorees include:
Excellence in Solutions
Dr. Greg Stone received this award in 2011 for leading efforts to create the Phoenix Islands
Protected Area in the Pacific. Dr. Geraldine Knatz, Executive Director for the Port of Los
Angeles at the time, received this award in 2012 for improving air and water quality and
leading a global greening ports movement that continues to expand.
Foundation Spirit Award
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation received this award in 2010 for supporting
environmental conservation, marine spatial planning and National Ocean Policy.
“With gratitude and reverence, we congratulate the Benchley Award winners.”
- Charlotte’s Web Foundation
Fallen Night Sky © Asher Jay
www.asherjay.com
National Geographic Emerging Explorer
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8th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards • May 14, 2015 • Washington D.C.
Master of Ceremonies
Jim Toomey
Jim Toomey is a popular American cartoonist, famous for his
ocean and shark themed comic strip, Sherman’s Lagoon. Toomey
received his B.S.E. from Duke University’s Pratt School of
Engineering in 1983, an M.L.A. from Stanford University in 1995
and a Master’s of Environmental Management from the Nicholas
School of the Environment and Earth Sciences in 2008. ‘Sherman’s
Lagoon’ appears in over 250 newspapers worldwide and online.
A dedicated marine conservationist and sailor, Jim has generously donated his art to a
number of marine causes. He is past board president of Blue Frontier and illustrator of its
book, 50 Ways to Save the Ocean.
8th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards • May 14, 2015 • Washington D.C.
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Thank you
to the 8th annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards
Selection Committee.
Wendy Benchley
Award Co-founder, Board member of WildAid and Blue Frontier. Advisory Board member of
EDF and Ocean Champions
Dr. Sylvia Earle
Oceanographer, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, Founder and Board Chair
Mission Blue Sylvia Earle Alliance
David Helvarg
Award Co-Founder, Author, Journalist and Blue Frontier Executive Director
Dr. Nancy Knowlton
Marine Ecologist, Senior Scientist and Sant Chair of Marine Science, Smithsonian Institution
Dr. Jane Lubchenco
Former NOAA Administrator (2009-2013), Professor of Marine Biology and Distinguished
Professor of Zoology at Oregon State University
Dr. Enric Sala
Marine Ecologist and National Geographic Society Explorer-in-Residence
Dr. Greg Stone
Chief Ocean Scientist, Conservation International
Jim Toomey
Sherman’s Lagoon Cartoonist and Past Board President, Blue Frontier.
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8th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards • May 14, 2015 • Washington D.C.
“Without the oceans there
would be no life on Earth.”
Peter Benchley
Photo © Brian Skerry/www.brianskerry.com
8th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards • May 14, 2015 • Washington D.C.
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8th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards • May 14, 2015 • Washington D.C.
8th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards • May 14, 2015 • Washington D.C.
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Thank you
to the 8th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards
Sponsors
The Only Political Voice for the Oceans
Ann Luskey
Anne Rowley
Roger and Vicki Sant
Dennis and Jo Ann Delafield
S e n a t o r T i m o t h y W i r t h a n d Mrs . Wr e n W i r t h
T h e C u r t i s a n d E d i t h M u n s o n F o u n d at i o n
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8th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards • May 14, 2015 • Washington D.C.
The Board of Directors of Blue Frontier salute this year’s Peter
Benchley Ocean Award Winners and all 56 outstanding winners,
past and present, who give us hope for a better blue world.
Congratulations to Wendy Benchley and Blue Frontier
Executive Director David Helvarg for having launched the world’s
top honors for ocean heroes.
Blue Frontier works on building the solution-oriented movement of citizen-activists needed
to protect and restore ocean health, clean natural coasts and the jobs and communities that
depend on them – Restoring the blue in our Red, White and Blue.
Learn more at www.bluefront.org
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Celebrating Ocean Excellence.
Cover photo © Brian Skerry/National
Geographic. Generously provided by
2012 Benchley Media winner
Brian Skerry/www.brianskerry.com.
The image is featured in the May issue
of National Geographic magazine.
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