The "old blue" award was a tribute to more than 20 years' research on the endangered Hector's and Maui dolphins carried out by the University of Otago zoology associate professor.
Forest and Bird general manager Mike Britton said it was fitting Prof Slooten, who had blended her scientific knowledge with persistent political lobbying, received the award in a year when significant progress had been made in protecting the dolphins, with the announcement of set net bans and four new marine mammal sanct-uaries.
Prof Slooten was a "prime mover" behind the tougher measures and help-ed with the establishment of the Banks Peninsula marine mammal sanctuary in 1988, he said.
"She's spent a lifetime working to better understand and protect the dolphins."
Prof Slooten said the award was a "major surprise" but came at good time as she was taking stock after the announcement of the protection measures.
"The decision was a huge step forward but it's not quite the final solution."
While most scientists might only gather information, taking the next step was important, especially with dolphins, to ensure whatever measures were implemented were the best for the mammals.
Prof Slooten, who is co-founder and trustee of the New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust, had international influence in the regulation of whaling and in the search for solutions to by-catch problems in commercial fisheries.
She had also researched sperm whales, New Zealand sea lions, yellow-eyed penguins and other marine wildlife.
In 2004, she shared the Sir Charles Fleming Award from the New Zealand Royal Society for outstanding contribution to conservation science.
