Celebrating 2025 Estrella Marina Awards: California Leaders for Ocean Justice
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, May 6th, 2025
Media Contact: media@azul.org
Celebrating 2025 Estrella Marina Awards: California Leaders for Ocean Justice
Sacramento, CA (May 6, 2025) – Azul is proud to announce the seventh annual Estrella Marina Awards today, celebrating California leaders at the forefront of advocacy and action for ocean justice.
This year’s awardees are California State Senator Steve Padilla, California State Assembly Member Steve Bennett, and California Coastal Commissioner Linda Escalante.
“This year’s Estrella Marina honorees represent the very best of public service – leaders who understand that protecting our coast means standing with our communities,” said Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Azul’s Founder and Executive Director. “They lead with vision, courage, and a deep respect for the people and places that make California’s coast so special.”
The awards were presented during California Ocean Day in Sacramento, where ocean advocates, youth leaders, and policymakers gather each year to uplift community-driven solutions to the climate crisis and ocean defense.
“It is an honor to be a recipient of the Estrella Marina Award,” said Senator Padilla. “Our oceans are every Californian’s heritage and a critical part of our economy. We must protect these ecosystems and ensure they remain healthy for the generations to come.”
“Azul has played an instrumental role in connecting all our communities to the coast. To receive this distinct award from them is an honor,” said Assembly Member Bennett. “We share a vision for a healthy ocean where its diverse ecosystems and wildlife thrive and all neighbors enjoy it freely and easily. I look forward to our continued partnership in making this vision our reality.”
“I am deeply honored to receive this award,” said Commissioner Escalante. “It’s a powerful recognition of our collective work to protect our oceans, uplift the Latino community, and advance environmental justice. I share this with all those who fight every day for a healthier, more equitable California.”
Azul launched the Estrella Marina Awards in 2019 to celebrate the remarkable leaders working to protect our communities, ocean, and coasts in California and nationwide. Some previous awardees include Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon, Assistant Secretary for Equity and Environmental Justice Moisés Moreno-Rivera, California State Senators Monique Limón and Lena Gonzalez, California State Representatives Luz Rivas and Ash Kalra, and U.S Representative Raúl Grijalva of Arizona.
More than a hundred ocean advocates — including Azul’s own delegation of Latinos Marinos – gathered for California Ocean Day to meet with their representatives and discuss policy solutions to advance environmental and ocean justice protections across our state. The advocacy day comes less than one month before the start of World Ocean Month and Semana Azul.
Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Azul’s Founder and Executive, awards Senator Steve Padilla with the 2025 Estrella Marina Award
Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Azul’s Founder and Executive, awards Assembly Member Steve Bennett with the 2025 Estrella Marina Award
Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Azul’s Founder and Executive, awards Commissioner Linda Escalante with the 2025 Estrella Marina Award
About the awardees:
California State Senator Steve Padilla
Senator Steve Padilla was elected to the Senate in November 2022, representing the counties of San Diego, Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino. Senator Padilla is a native of San Diego, a graduate of Bonita Vista High school, and lifelong Chula Vista resident.
California State Assembly Member Steve Bennett
Assemblymember Steve Bennett was elected to the Assembly in November 2020 and represents the 38th district that includes the western part of Ventura County. He currently serves as Chair of Budget Subcommittee 4: Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation, and the Chair of the Select Committee on Building a Zero-Carbon Hydrogen Economy.
California Coastal Commissioner Linda Escalante
California Coastal Commissioner Linda Escalante has been standing up for clean water, clean air and environmental justice for over a decade. Linda was appointed to the California Coastal Commission in 2019. She previously served as an alternate Commissioner, and has been a standout bridge builder and has a clear vision of the next era of coastal protection.
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Azul is an ocean justice organization working with Latino communities to protect our blue planet. Founded in 2011, Azul has developed –and executed– campaigns that achieved groundbreaking ocean conservation policy victories at local, national and international levels