"ocean tribute" Award

Project:
The Iberian Orca Guardians are campaigning to protect one of the rarest orca populations in Europe with the “Save The Iberian Orca” campaign. Only around 35 individuals still live in the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar and off the Iberian Peninsula. They are threatened by shipping traffic, illegal fishing, human aggression and invasive research. Our approach: raising awareness, patrols at sea and non-invasive research. We actively promote the co-existence of orcas and humans and build bridges to the sailing community travelling in the same habitat. We raise awareness of the critical situation of animals through documentation, international media work and educational projects. Our aim is to ensure the long-term protection of Iberian orcas and to preserve them as part of Europe’s natural and cultural heritage.

"In case we win, we will use the prize money to realise the Save The Iberian Orca Campaign 2026, focusing on raising awareness, conducting patrols at sea, and expanding our educational work."

Country:
Spain

Project:
Marinecultures.org – Protecting oceans, empowering people
The oceans are under huge pressure: climate change, overfishing and pollution are threatening coral reefs – hotspots of biodiversity. Intact reefs provide food, coastal protection and habitats. Their conservation is crucial for humans and the sea. Coral restoration & sponge farms marinecultures.org has been operating coral farms in Zanzibar and on the Tanzanian mainland since 2008. We maintain 40 coral tables per farm and plant up to 10,000 corals per year on degraded reefs. This revitalisation creates biodiversity and new habitats for fish, increasing the fish population in the long term. In addition, we are working with partners to develop the innovative project of larval propagation – the sexual reproduction of corals – to promote genetically more diverse and resilient reefs. Alongside that, we have established sustainable sponge farming as an environmentally friendly form of aquaculture. Sponges clean the seawater, improving reef health and providing women’s co- operatives with a stable income. Our sponge farms thus combine ecological impact with social empowerment and offer a sustainable alternative to fishing.

„If we win, the prize money will go towards our coral and sponge farms in Tanzania, which protect reefs and strengthen coastal communities.“

Country:
Switzerland/Sansibar

Project:
One Ocean Planet Education is a global programme that places children and youth at the centre of climate and ocean action. Our goal is simple: it’s time to stop saying the problem is someone else’s and empower the next generation to act now. Through our global campaign The Power is in Us, we inspire students to see themselves as part of the solution. We work through three interconnected initiatives: University Challenge, engaging master’s students in real-world problem solving; Generation Blue, a school curriculum blending Carlos Duarte’s Ocean Wedges, Planetary Boundaries and kindness with project-based learning; and Hero Kids, a youth-led movement sparking early action. In partnership with 10% for the Ocean, we launch our entry with the powerful documentary Ocean with David Attenborough, helping schools and communities understand why the ocean is central to solving climate change. Because the future is blue — and it starts in our classrooms.

„If we win... the prize money will be used to expand Generation Blue in schools and scale The Power is in Us campaign with students worldwide.“

Country:
Spain

Project:
F2 Eco is the consistently environmentally friendly antifouling alternative: an extremely hard, smooth coating that inhibits fouling and can be easily cleaned mechanically if necessary – without releasing toxins into the environment. F2 Eco contains no biocides, no silicone, no PFAS/PTFE, no VOCs and no other toxins. No washout, no annual repainting: one application protects for 5+ years and significantly reduces material and labour costs. Suitable for GRP, aluminium, steel and wood; visually high-quality and can also be used as osmosis and propeller protection. This reduces the amount of pollutants and microplastics – in harbours, estuaries and inland waters. Our attitude: every hull matters. Let’s change the way we do antifouling.

„If we win... we will fund further impact studies, support programs with associations and marinas, and campaigns for a biocide-free future on the water.“

Country:
Austria

Project:
On the Cape Verdean island of Boa Vista, we protect the endangered loggerhead turtle, whose nesting beaches are among the most important in the world. Local rangers and international volunteers protect the mother animals from poaching while they are laying their eggs. At the same time, we clean beaches of plastic waste, which is processed into sustainable products in our upcycling initiative LixoLimpo. Educational programmes, workshops and, in particular, swimming courses for children promote environmental awareness: by gaining confidence in the sea, children develop a personal connection and a sense of responsibility for the oceans. The involvement of schools, volunteers and partner organisations creates a network that passes on knowledge, stimulates commitment and has a tangible long-term impact on coastal ecosystems. The project combines species conservation, education and community and brings to life the importance of healthy oceans for people and nature.

"If we win, the prize money will go towards employing and training local rangers to protect sea turtles and expanding our environmental education projects."

Country:
Cape Verde