Latina Ocean Justice Leader Marcela Gutiérrez-Graudiņš Wins 2026 “Academy Award of the Ocean”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2026
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media@azul.org
Latina Ocean Justice Leader Marcela Gutiérrez-Graudiņš Wins 2026 “Academy Award of the Ocean”
SACRAMENTO, CA (January 27, 2026) – Today, Azul proudly announced that its Founder and Executive Director, Marcela Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Peter Benchley Ocean Award for Excellence in Action – one of the highest and most coveted honors in the global ocean conservation movement.
Widely known as the “Academy Awards for the Ocean,” the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards™ are the world’s most prestigious ocean conservation honors — making Marcela’s selection a historic recognition of Latina leadership and justice-driven action at the highest level of the global ocean movement.
“The 2026 Peter Benchley Ocean Awards honorees remind us that the future of the ocean is being written right now — by people who refuse to accept decline as inevitable,” said Wendy Benchley, co-founder of the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards. “Each of these leaders, in their own way, is translating knowledge into action and vision into measurable progress. At a moment when the ocean needs leadership across every sector, these honorees offer reason for confidence and hope.”
Under Marcela’s leadership, Azul has redefined what ocean conservation can and must be – centering people, shifting policy at the highest levels, and delivering landmark victories once thought impossible. Her strategic leadership has reverberated across local, federal, and global levels, from helping secure California’s statewide bans on shark fin sales and single-use plastic bags to elevating Latine leadership at international negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty. Through Azul, Marcela has built a global movement that is reshaping ocean policy across the United States and the Americas.
“Receiving the Peter Benchley Award for Excellence in Action is a profound honor,” said Marcela Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Founder and Executive Director of Azul. “For me, meaningful ocean protection is inseparable from justice for people, and this fact is a guiding light in all my work. This recognition reflects the power of communities, mentors, and families who have shown that when we reimagine who holds power and whose voices shape policy, we can build a better future for all. I am a firm believer that action rooted in care, culture, and community is what transforms movements into lasting change. It’s a privilege to stand alongside so many who are turning vision into impact and creating lasting solutions for our blue planet.”
The 2026 Peter Benchley Ocean Awards ceremony will take place on May 7, 2026, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, in partnership with the Aquarium Conservation Partnership (ACP). The event will also mark the 10th anniversary of the Aquarium Conservation Partnership, celebrating a decade of collaborative conservation impact. Marcela’s recognition comes during Azul’s 15th anniversary year, a milestone that underscores the organization’s sustained leadership and growing influence in advancing ocean justice.
Marcela joins an exceptional class of 2026 honorees, including:
• Ocean Hero Award, Julie Packard, Executive Director of Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Excellence in National Leadership, President José Manuel Bolieiro, President of the Regional Government of the Azores
• Excellence in Policy, U.S. Representative Jared Huffman, California 2nd Congressional District
• Excellence in Science and Exploration, Dr. Diva Amon, Marine Biologist, Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, University of California Santa Barbara and Director, SpeSeas
• Excellence in Sustainable Business Solutions, Bureo, Inc.
• Excellence in Media, Ocean with David Attenborough
• Excellence in Action, Marcela Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Founder and Executive Director of Azul
• Christopher Benchley Youth Award, Cojitha Senananyake, Founder of Project Cee Green
About Azul
Azul is an ocean justice organization working with Latino communities to protect our blue planet. Founded in 2011, Azul has achieved groundbreaking people-centered, science-driven ocean conservation policy victories at the local, national, and international levels. To learn more, visit: Azul.org
About the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards™
The Peter Benchley Ocean Awards™ are celebrated annually and recognize individuals and organizations whose work is advancing ocean conservation through leadership, innovation, and measurable impact. Co-founded by Wendy Benchley and David Helvarg, the Awards are named in honor of Peter Benchley, author of Jaws and a lifelong advocate for sharks and ocean protection. The Benchley Awards honor excellence across science, policy, media, business, and grassroots action—highlighting solutions and leadership that strengthen ocean health and inspire progress worldwide.
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