Professor Barbara Block received the 2016 Peter Benchley Ocean Award for Excellence in Science, which is awarded to an individual or individuals who have provided cutting edge marine science either through his or her efforts or as leader(s) of a team that has advanced the cause of understanding ocean processes, marine ecology and conservation biology. 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.