The ocean tribute Award 2025 is starting at full speed. The application tool for the € 20,000 marine conservation prize is online and initiatives and associations can now register for the award, which will be presented at boot Düsseldorf on 20 January 2025. The closing date for entries on 31 August marks the beginning of the hot phase for the expert jury, as they have to review the applications and select five projects for the public vote. Important requirements include effectiveness in terms of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal ‘14’, the highest possible level of participation by people in the project and the networking of the initiative, which should also encourage others to follow suit.
The five finalists from the jury assessment will be presented with their projects on the website https://www.boot.com/en/Program/Events/ocean_tribute_award/ocean_tribute_award. The interested public will also be able to cast their votes there in the ‘public voting’ starting in October.
In previous years - the prize has been awarded by boot Düsseldorf, the Prince Albert II Foundation and the German Ocean Foundation since 2018 - international projects from all over the world have been honored. In addition to prominent winners such as the exceptional German yachtsman Boris Herrmann, it was above all campaigns and initiatives that developed a wide range of individual ideas and solutions for regional marine conservation that impressed the public and the expert jury.
This year's award winner, the ‘ECOP AFRICA’ network - with its vision of nature-based carbon removal and sustainable aquaculture in Africa - is a particularly successful example of this. ‘ECOP AFRICA’ is committed to a healthy ocean, for example by repairing and rebuilding marine ecosystems. ECOP members from various African countries are developing strategies to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. To this end, they offer real-time monitoring and strategies for sustainable aquaculture. ‘ECOP AFRICA’ also utilizes indigenous knowledge about the oceans and applies it to climate protection measures. Last but not least, the members develop communication programs on the topic of the sea in order to combat poverty in the countries.
boot Düsseldorf accompanies the winners of the “ocean tribute” Award after the award ceremony at the trade fair and presents them both in its newsletters and on its social media platforms. For example, this year's winner and his projects were portrayed in the trade fair's May newsletter and in July there will be an interview with those responsible for ‘ECOP AFRICA’ on Linkedin.
Caroline Mühl (muehlc@messe-duesseldorf.de) from the boot team will be happy to answer any questions and provide further information on the “ocean tribute” award.
May 2024
The world's largest yacht and water sports fair
With more than 200,000 visitors from over 100 countries and 1,500 exhibitors on 220,000 square meters in Halls 1 to 17, boot Düsseldorf from 18 to 26 January 2025 is the world's largest yacht and water sports fair. Both sailors and motor boaters will find a wide variety of boats, dinghies, superboats or luxury yachts. The popular water sports of diving, surfing, kite surfing, stand up paddling, skimboarding or canoeing are available at boot in all facets and with the appropriate equipment. Attractive stage programs with the stars of the scene, the latest trends and a high-caliber mix of workshops and hands-on activities, both for leisure sports enthusiasts and experts, make the fair unique worldwide. But marine conservation and innovative, sustainable technologies are also in focus at boot 2025. In cooperation with the European Boating Industry (EBI), the blue innovation dock will offer a unique dialogue format with political, economic, technological and media expertise in Hall 10. In addition, two lighthouses for ocean protection will again be on board: The prestigious "ocean tribute" award with partners Prince Albert II. Foundation and German Ocean Foundation as well as the "love your ocean" campaign with its stand in Hall 11.