At the heart of our remarkable Blue Frontier community are some people helping turn the tide. Our team members are multi-talented individuals & activists who have a genuine love for the ocean and intimate connection with the issues that threaten it’s health and with that the health of the planet.
David Helvarg
Executive Director
David Helvarg is Executive Director of Blue Frontier - an ocean conservation and policy group and the author of six books: Blue Frontier, The War Against the Greens, 50 Ways to Save the Ocean, Rescue Warriors, Saved by the Sea and The Golden Shore. He is organizer of ‘Blue Vision’ Summits for ocean activists, Peter Benchley Ocean Awards (with Wendy Benchley), chaired the first global March for the Ocean in 2018 and in 2019 launched the Ocean Climate Action Plan coalition that contributed to the first Climate Action law in U.S. history including $6 billion for coastal restoration and greening ports.
Helvarg worked as a war correspondent in Northern Ireland and Central America, covered a range of issues from military science to the AIDS epidemic, and reported from every continent including Antarctica. An award-winning journalist, he produced more than 40 broadcast documentaries for PBS, The Discovery Channel, and others. His print work continues to appear in The New York Times, LA Times, National Geographic, Sierra, etc. He’s done radio work for Marketplace, AP radio, and Pacifica and led workshops for journalists in Poland, Turkey, Tunisia, Slovakia and Washington DC. Today he and Blue Frontier continue to lead media training workshops for ocean scientists and advocates. He is also a licensed Private Investigator, body-surfer and scuba diver.
Natasha Benjamin
Associate Director
Natasha has almost 20 years’ experience working in marine science and policy and a strong dedication for ocean conservation. She is also the Media Director at Marine Applied Research & Exploration (MARE) where she works with deep sea robotic technology to collect data to inform ocean and fisheries policy. Natasha’s has a background in marine science and fisheries management and strong expertise in science, policy and partnership building. She also worked with the Institute for Fisheries Resources, the Ocean Conservancy and as a consultant for the Monterey Bay Aquarium and other ocean conservation groups. Natasha has a B.S. in Marine Biology from Boston University and M.S. in Marine Policy from University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science (RSMAS).
Margo Pellegrino
Field Organizer and Ocean Explorer
Margo has a BA in Labor Studies from Rutgers University. She is a life-long Jersey Gal who group up in an ocean loving family. Out of concern for the state of our ocean and what that means for the future of her children, she became a paddling ocean activist. Armed with David Helvarg’s “50 Ways to Save the Ocean” and a paddle, she feels that her outreach can be yet another tool in the toolbox to bring our ocean and water to the forefront of issues on which our great nation should focus. She believes that our country can and should take a leadership in ocean stewardship for the benefit of the global community and our children and generations to follow.
Eleanor Kerlow
Senior Communications Advisor
Eleanor is a marine-loving, award-winning PR professional. She has 30 years of experience in media and directing PR campaigns to advance strategic positioning and business goals. She worked for 12 years in legal media, including writing a book about Harvard Law School, and 18 years heading the public relations at three AmLaw100 law firms. Her joy is traveling the world with her family to dive and loves observing the small critters. After participating in recent Blue Vision Summits and 2017 Healthy Oceans Hill Day, she rededicated herself to advancing ocean communications and co-chairs the media committee of the March for the Ocean.
Nikki Caputo
Media Team
Nikki Caputo is a former fisheries observer who has extensive experience in plastic pollution survey, research, advocacy and communication. Nikki is a media producer and co-owner of Wingspan Media. Wingspan Media is a media production house that specializes in building media capacity for organizations who are making a difference in their communities and working with youth and non-profits with media expressive arts as a tool for advocacy, healing and building self-worth.