On May 16, 2011, Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla was in Washington, DC to receive a tribute to our country's dedication to ocean conservation – the Fourth Annual Peter Benchley Ocean Award for "Excellence in National Management of Oceans,". This recognition was given by the Blue Frontier Campaign, which "works to promote unity, provide tools to and raise awareness of the solution-oriented marine conservation community."

The Benchley award is named for writer Peter Benchley, who in addition to his novel Jaws and other written work is well-known for the years he spent as an advocate for the world's oceans. Peter Benchley's widow, Wendy, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Blue Frontier Campaign.

"I am well aware of the wide and complex challenges that Costa Rica faces with respect to marine conservation. We have taken an enormous step in establishing Submarine Ridge Management in Marine Areas, which, along with the Cocos Island National Park, represents a total of some 7,200 sq. miles of protected areas," President Chinchilla said in a press release about the award.

In Costa Rica, our oceans aren't just about fun activities – though of course, we love the fact that we have so much to offer! But our country is responsible for taking care of five percent of the entire world's biodiversity – everything from fish and other ocean creatures to the hundreds of animal and bird species that astound and delight our millions of guests each year.

It's a responsibility that we take seriously. As recently as November 2011, our country's government has denied permission to construct a tuna fish farm that would potentially have harmed seat turtle nesting beaches along the Southern Pacific coast. President Chinchilla has formed an Inter-Institutional Marine Commission to study our country's marine conservation and management policies to see where we can improve.

Here at The Palms, we're thrilled to be part of a culture that understands the importance of conservation. We're looking forward to being able to host your grandchildren with the same diversity and beauty that you enjoy when you visit Playa Flamingo today. In the meantime, have fun!