Heroes star Hayden Panettiere will be honored for drawing international attention to whale-hunting at the upcoming Humane Society Of The United States' Genesis Awards.

The 18-year-old will collect The Wyler Award for her efforts joining protesters off the Japanese coast late last year in a bid to prevent fishermen from bludgeoning sea-life.

Panettiere was caught on camera sobbing about the deaths of whales she had desperately tried to save, while defending herself from angry fishermen's harpoons.

The 22nd Genesis Awards take place at the Beverly Hilton hotel in California on March 29.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)