Jean-Michel Cousteau

President, Ocean Futures Society; Marine Explorer; Conservationist; Educator; Emmy-Winning Film Producer; Son of legendary ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau

Since first being thrown overboard by his celebrated father at the age of seven with newly-invented scuba gear on his back, Jean-Michel Cousteau has led a life synchronous with the ocean. Explorer, environmentalist, educator, film producer – for more than four decades, Jean-Michel has used his vast experiences to communicate to people of all nations and generations his passion and concern for our water planet.

The son of ocean pioneer Jacques Cousteau, Jean-Michel spent much of his life with his family exploring the world's oceans aboard Calypso and Alcyone. Honoring his heritage, Jean-Michel founded Ocean Futures Society in 1999 to carry on this legendary work, including his role as Executive Producer of Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures. Jean-Michel has produced over 70 films, received the Emmy, the Peabody Award, the 7 d'Or, and the Cable Ace Award, among others.

Jean-Michel's Ocean Futures Society is a non-profit marine conservation and education organization which functions as an ambassador for the ocean by communicating worldwide the ocean's critical bond with humanity and the importance of wise marine environmental policy. As Ocean Futures' President, Jean-Michel serves as a diplomat for the environment, reaching out to the public through a variety of media.

Traveling the globe, Jean-Michel meets with leaders and policymakers at the grassroots level and at the highest echelons of government and the private sector. He is dedicated to educating younger generations, documenting stories of change and hope, and lending his reputation and support to energize alliances for positive development.

In 1998, Jean-Michel was honored with the Environmental Hero Award, presented to him by Vice President Al Gore at the White House National Oceans Conference. His diplomatic achievements were also recognized in December 2003, when he was the first person to receive the Ocean Hero Award from Oceana, recognizing his commitment to communicate the value of the oceans and their endangerment.

SAYS JEAN-MICHEL:

"We've only scratched the surface, we haven't yet really done the inventory of everything that is on our planet – and at the same time we're in the process of destroying it; by carelessness or by greed – both. Legally or illegally – both. And we're finding out all of this at a time when we are so concerned about our 'reconnection with nature.' Yet in our haste to be where we are today [economically], we've disconnected ourselves from nature."