Jean-Michel Cousteau has spent his life exploring the world's oceans.
(ENN) -- Jean-Michel Cousteau has won the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Environmental Hero Award for his "outstanding dedication to the marine environment."

"I am struck by your passionate commitment to the protection of our nation's environment." said Vice President Gore in a message congratulating Cousteau on the award. "Oceans play a pivotal role in our lives and their well-being directly affects the communities around them," said Gore. "Through the efforts of citizens such as yourself, we are able to help educate the public and take necessary steps to protect these critical resources."

The recipients of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Environmental Hero Awards are recognized for their "tireless efforts to preserve and protect the nation's environment." Other 1998 recipients during this the Year of the Ocean, include Ted Danson of the American Oceans Campaign, National Geographic explorer in residence Sylvia Earle and marine photographer Bob Talbot.

Cousteau has spent his life exploring the world's oceans aboard the research vessels Calypso and Alcyone, and is a spokesman, lecturer, and syndicated columnist for marine issues. He is head of the Jean-Michel Cousteau Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to building cooperative partnerships in the search for solutions to environmental challenges, through education, public awareness, diplomacy and scientific research.

Most recently, Cousteau served as host as NOAA's kickoff for the International Year of the Ocean and is co-spokesperson with Earle for the U.S. Pavilion at Expo '98 in Lisbon, Portugal.

In recognition of his contributions to learning, Pepperdine University awarded Cousteau an honorary doctoral degree in Humane Letters in 1976. He receive the 1994 Reaching Out Award of the Dive Equipment Marketing Association and in 1995 the NOGI award of the Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences. In 1996, Cousteau earned the SeaKeeper Award from Showboats International and the John M. Olguin Marine Environment Award of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium.

An award-winning filmmaker since the 1960s, Cousteau has been producer and/or executive producer of 59 television specials. He served as executive producer of the film, Jacques Cousteau: The First 75 Years, the Peabody award-wining series Cousteau's Amazon, and the Emmy award-winning Cousteau/Mississippi. In 1997 he produced Destroyer at Peace, a special on the transformation of a Russian Navy warship into an artificial reef in the Cayman Islands.