The Tyler Award recognizes the contribution of Dr Wall's work to the climate change debate and how it has raised awareness of an area of science that has often lacked the popular appeal of ocean conservation and space exploration.

BBC: Antarctic nematodes and climate change

"The industry is not going to do the right thing unless there is a universal requirement to slow down, " said Vicki Cornish, vice president of marine wildlife conservation at the Ocean Conservancy.

CNN: Plan to save whales strangling in red tape

Dr Julia Baum, a marine ecologist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, US, and a member of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), said excessive fishing was putting many of the ocean's "most majestic predators" at risk of extinction.

BBC: RELATED BBC SITES

Some of the key areas highlighted included marine biodiversity conservation, ocean acidification, marine pollution, and the required investment in science and capacity development for transitioning to a blue-green economy.

UNESCO: Social and Human Sciences

"This is the first good decision we've seen from Shell, " said Mike le Vine of Oceana, a group which focuses on ocean conservation.

BBC: Shell suspends Arctic drilling for 2013

The Final Recommendations prioritize actions for the NOC to pursue, and call for a flexible framework for coastal and marine spatial planning to address conservation, economic activity, user conflict, and sustainable use of the ocean, our coasts and the Great Lakes.

WHITEHOUSE: Final Recommendations of the Ocean Policy Task Force Announced | The White House

The Multi One Attitude Foundation, in partnership with UNESCO, will promote ocean and freshwater conservation, sound resource management and awareness of our water footprint in a Water Pavilion on the occasion of the arrival of the transatlantic Krys Ocean Race in Brest, France.

UNESCO: Race for Water at the Tonnerres de Brest

Some of the most influential names in business, music and ocean conservation have banded together to form a new nonprofit organization called OceanElders.

FORBES: Richard Branson, Ted Turner Launch OceanElders