Wendy Benchley is a renowned global voice for protecting sharks and safeguarding our seas. As a scuba diver for fifty years, she has witnessed dramatic changes to our ocean’s wildlife and its habitats. This has motivated her vigorous efforts to help shape smarter, stronger environmental and marine policies with government officials, NGOs, and other civic leaders.
Wendy Benchley co-founded the prestigious Peter Benchley Ocean Awards™, honoring her late husband, Peter Benchley, and his legacy. Peter Benchley was an American author, screenwriter, shark, and ocean activist, best known for his bestselling novel "Jaws," published in 1974. Throughout his life, Peter remained deeply committed to environmental causes, often emphasizing the importance of preserving marine life. His legacy is marked not only by his contributions to literature and film but also by his efforts to promote ocean conservation.
Together, Wendy and Peter have inspired countless individuals to appreciate and protect the ocean’s ecosystems. Through advocacy, education, and their influential works, they championed the cause of marine conservation, encouraging a greater awareness of the urgent need to safeguard our oceans for future generations.
The Peter Benchley Ocean Awards™ shine a light on the exceptional conservation work being done by marine scientists, researchers, explorers, and policymakers both in the United States and internationally.
