The 10th Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Awards were held on Thursday, May 11, in the Sant Ocean Hall at the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C. Each year, the Benchley Awards recognize outstanding achievement across several sectors, that support the protection of our ocean, coasts and the communities that depend on them.
Among this year's award winners in 10 categories are the three planning bodies responsible for developing ocean plans along the east coast — the Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Body, the Northeast Regional Planning Body and the Rhode Island Ocean Special Area Management Planning Team.
These three planning bodies each work to support ocean ecosystem health and ensure the most sustainable use of marine ocean resources in their respective regions. Ocean planning, also called marine spatial planning, is a core strategy for the foundation's Marine Conservation Initiative and carefully applies the best available scientific and human use data to coastal marine ecosystems.
The data help planners and decision-makers better understand how ecosystems function, with the aim to improve management and reduce conflict. The three ocean plans will benefit all who rely on these marine resources, and provide excellent models for other states and regions to mirror in their own efforts to develop comprehensive and sustainable ocean plans.
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