President Tong is globally recognized for his work on climate response, ocean protection and multinational collaboration. Within the ocean community he is best known for his instrumental work in creating one of the world’s largest and most biologically rich marine protected areas, the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, which was recently declared a UN World Heritage Site. President Tong is also a key player in the Pacific Islands Forum of 16 independent states that are taking control of their marine resources and planning a network of linked marine protected areas dubbed the “Pacific Seascape.”

The Blue Frontier Campaign presented this year’s awards at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco in front of a crowd of ocean leaders, scientists, artists, conservationists and activists.

Also recognized was Google Ocean within Google Earth, which claimed the Excellence in Exploration award.

John Hanke accepted the Excellence in Exploration award on behalf of Google. In the past, exploration of the deep ocean was only experienced by a handful of fortunate and highly trained adventurers like Don Walsh and Dr. Sylvia Earle, both past Benchley Award winners. Inspired by a challenge from ‘Her Deepness,’ Dr. Earle, Google Ocean has become a portal to explore the wonders of our blue ocean planet.

At the event, Google installed a ‘Liquid Galaxy’ so that everyone in attendance could experience the large impact of technology, science and the beauty of nature coming together within Google Oceans.

In addition to the National Stewardship of the Ocean and Excellence in Exploration awards, there were six other Peter Benchley awards given out this year. Mission Blue congratulates this year’s winners.

See below for a brief introduction to the six other award categories and awardees.

Science

Dr. Nancy Rabalais, was the winner of the Excellence in Science Award.  Nancy is the Executive Director of the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium. She is often credited with discovering the Gulf of Mexico’s oxygen depleted Dead Zone, which grows in size every year. She has been a champion of the ocean over the past 29 years, working tirelessly to find ways to reduce the surplus fertilizer running down the Mississippi that feeds this seasonal disaster.

Solution

Dr. Geraldine Knatz, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles won the award for Excellence in Solutions. Not only has she succeeded improving air quality at the port by 75%, the waters have improved to the point that sea lions and sharks regularly swim below the immense cranes at the largest port in the western hemisphere.  She’s also now leading the greening ports movement as president of the International Association of Harbors and Ports.

Policy

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse won the award for Excellence in Policy.  Hailing from ‘The Ocean State’ of Rhode Island, Senator Whitehouse was inspired to be an ocean champion by his marine biologist spouse, Sandra Whitehouse. In a Washington where ocean policy is often on the back burner, Senator Whitehouse tirelessly works to give the ocean a voice.

Media

Brian Skerry won the award for Excellence in Media. A long-time National Geographic photographer, Skerry’s images balance the magic of the living seas with warnings about dangers to the world’s ocean. Read about Brian’s work in this excellent Washington Post piece. For decades, Brian’s genius has brought understanding and love for the oceans into our living rooms, and he shows no signs of stopping any time soon!

Christopher Benchley Youth Award

Ta’Kaiya Blaney received the Christopher Benchley Youth Award. Ta’Kaiya is only eleven years old, but her eloquence, poise and powerful presence go far beyond her years. She is a Canadian activist and singer fighting a proposed tar sands oil pipeline and tanker terminal planned for British Columbia’s coastal waters. When she learned that oil kills sea otters, her favorite animals, she became an activist with Greenpeace and others. Her beautifully sung protest song, “Shallow Waters” is a Youtube sensation.

Hero of the Seas

Peter Douglas received a post-humus award for being a Hero of the Seas. Peter worked tenaciously and tirelessly to create the California Coastal Commission and was instrumental in bringing into reality in 1972. Perhaps the most poignant tribute to Peter is this original short film from the Oprah Winfrey Network, taken a short time before Peter’s passing.