Nominations for the prestigious Peter Benchley Ocean Awards™ are open now through November 18th. Often referred to as the ‘Academy Awards for the Ocean’, these honors commemorate Peter Benchley, a lifelong advocate for sharks and ocean preservation and the renowned author of the iconic novel Jaws. Founded to recognize individuals across an array of fields that impact the ocean, the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards™ honor those providing innovative solutions to the challenges facing our ocean, ecosystems, wildlife, and climate. Award categories include:
- Excellence in National Leadership – Awarded to the representative of a nation that has made an exceptional contribution to the conservation, restoration, and appreciation of our global ocean.
- Excellence in Policy—Awarded to an individual who contributes to advancing the cause of sustainable ocean use and conservation based on the best available science and through the establishment of effective and enforceable laws and regulations.
- Excellence in Action—Awarded to a marine grassroots organization, team, or individual that has made a major and long-term commitment to improving the quality of our oceans and the communities that depend on them.
- Excellence in Science and Exploration—Awarded to an individual or organization that contributes to our understanding of the ocean through cutting-edge marine science and/or bold exploration and courageous efforts to uncover new and different aspects of our ocean planet.
- Excellence in Media – Awarded to an individual or media outlet that showcases an exceptional ability to communicate ocean issues of concern to the public in ways that inform and/or inspire people to act as engaged citizens.
- Excellence in Sustainable Business Solutions – Awarded to a business that helps find or create sustainable solutions to one of the many environmental challenges confronting our ocean.
- 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 ocean.
- Ocean Hero—Awarded to an individual who shows exceptional ability in communicating ocean issues of concern to the public in ways that inform and/or inspire people to act.
The selection process for the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards™ is overseen by a respected committee of ocean conservation leaders, ensuring a fair and rigorous selection process that upholds the high standards and values of the awards. The 2025 Selection Committee includes:
- Wendy Benchley – Ocean Conservation and Policy Advocate
- Jasmin Grahm – CEO and Co-Founder, Minorities in Shark Sciences
- Dr. Sylvia Earle – Pioneering Oceanographer, National Geographic Explorer in Residence, and Founder of Mission Blue Sylvia Earle Alliance
- David Helvarg – Author, Founder and Executive Director, Blue Frontier
- Kim McIntyre – Executive Director, Aquarium Conservation Partnership
- John Racanelli – CEO, National Aquarium
- Sean Russell – Director of Youth Engagement, EarthEcho International
- Dr. Enric Sala – National Geographic Explorer in Residence
- Vikki Spruill – CEO, New England Aquarium
- ‘Aulani Wilhelm – Chief Strategy & External Relations Officer, Nia Tero
The Peter Benchley Ocean Awards™ mark their return in collaboration with the Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP) on May 1, 2025, at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD in time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original release of the movie Jaws. Past honorees can be found here.
About the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards™
The Peter Benchley Ocean Awards was co-founded by Wendy Benchley and David Helvarg and named in honor of Peter Benchley, author of Jaws and lifelong shark and ocean advocate. The Benchley Awards recognize and celebrate the work and dedication of individuals committed to ocean conservation excellence. https://peterbenchleyoceanawards.org/
About ACP:
The Aquarium Conservation Partnership is a coalition of aquariums working together to increase our conservation impact. Collectively, our 31 members in 21 states and Canada welcome over 35 million visitors a year. ACP members advocate for policy change, advance federal and state conservation policies, mobilize audiences to take action and demonstrate our commitment to conservation in our business practices. Our mission is to safeguard ocean and freshwater ecosystems by aligning and supporting the conservation efforts of aquariums for greater collective and individual impact. https://www.aquariumconservation.org/
This piece was prepared online by Panuruji Kenta, Publisher, SEVENSEAS Media