The jury has selected the finalists, now it's your turn!
Public Voting is open!
The The jury has selected the finalists, now it's your turn!
Together with the German Ocean Foundation, the award was launched at boot 2017, in the presence of Prince Albert II. Since 2018, the "ocean tribute" Award honors initiatives, associations and projects that are particularly committed to the preservation of the oceans.
Public Voting 2026: Now it's your turn!
Our jury reviewed all submissions based on the criteria of effectiveness, participation, and networking, and selected five finalists.
Now you can vote for your favorite in the public voting round. Join in now!
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.“
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.“
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.“
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."
Every initiative, every exciting project and campaign for the protection of the seas can become part of the "ocean tribute" Award. Participants must ensure that their projects contribute to the sustainable improvement and cleaning of the oceans. Whether technical innovations, development of research capacities, public awarness work or reduction of waste and nutrients, the protection of the oceans is the aim of "ocean tribute" Award.
The winner of the "ocean tribute" Award is announced every year at boot Düsseldorf.
Goal & objective
boot has been committed to protecting the oceans for many years and has consistently continued this commitment with the “ocean tribute” Award. Together with the German Ocean Foundation, boot Düsseldorf promotes projects that are dedicated to the sustainable protection of the oceans - in line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
The jury
From all submitted projects, five actions will be nominated. By public voting and the final verdict of a top-class jury, the winner of the "ocean tribute" award will be determined and honoured at boot Düsseldorf.
In this interview, Luise Wagner from SeaLabs discusses what it felt like to win the "ocean tribute" Award, and the opportunities that have arisen since then. What opportunities does the award present? Why is it especially worthwhile for young projects to apply?