Schatz Honored With Distinguished Ocean Conservation Award

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) accepted the Peter Benchley Ocean Award for excellence in policy at a ceremony last night. The award recognized the senator’s work to expand the Papah?naumoku?kea Marine National Monument, which is the largest permanent conservation area in the world.

“In Hawai‘i, the ocean is a treasure,” Senator Schatz said in his acceptance speech. “It is the source of good things—the waves we ride, the food we eat, the respite we seek, the knowledge we crave. The creation and expansion of Papah?naumoku?kea is a national acknowledgement that the ocean is something to be valued and protected.”

Senator Schatz also addressed the U.S. Department of the Interior’s recent decision to review the status of the monument.

“I have no doubt that Papah?naumoku?kea will endure,” Senator Schatz said. “Because when we expanded the monument, we didn’t just do the right thing. We also did it in the right way.”

The Peter Benchley Ocean Awards are the world’s preeminent ocean awards and are unique in acknowledging outstanding achievement across many sectors of society leading to the protection of our ocean, coasts and the communities that depend on them. Past recipients include Nainoa Thompson, former Secretary of State John Kerry, and the Economist. More information about the award is available here.

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