The winners of the second edition of the OceanLove Innovation Award 2025 were announced on November 6, during a vibrant ceremony at the Tomorrow.Blue Economy World Congress, held as part of the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, and reaching over 25,000 attendees.
A Celebration of Ocean Innovation
Now in its second edition, the OceanLove Innovation Award received a record-breaking 260 submissions from 64 countries, positioning it as the world’s largest and most inclusive award dedicated to ocean-related innovation. Entries were evaluated by a panel of internationally recognized scientists and environmental activists who generously volunteered their time and expertise to select the most innovative ideas.
2025 WINNERS
And now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for—meet the winners of the OceanLove Innovation Award 2025:
1. Reconnecting with Vanua – FIJI
Applicant: Vartul: The Learning Circle / Naidiri Marine Biodiversity Park
Grant: €10,000
2. Turning River Waste into Opportunities (VeryNile)– EGYPT
Applicant: VeryNile Team
Grant: €5,000
3. Matumbawe Hai: Revitalizing Livelihoods in SOMAKI-CFMA – TANZANIA
Applicant: Husna Amimu Msola
Grant: €3,000
4. Kick-Out the Debris: Youth-Led Action for Marine Biodiversity Protection – CAMEROON
Applicant: Che Divine Nsoh / Association for Community Awareness
Grant: €2,000
5. Sustainable Network Egypt – EGYPT
Applicant: Nadine Wahab
Grant: €1,000
In addition to the main awards, this year’s event introduced a new category—the Encouragement Prize of €1,000 which went to the Climate Pod Project from Cyprus.
Inspiring Voices for a Sustainable Future
The ceremony featured moving presentations and messages from OceanLove’s Global Ambassadors, including Dr. Sylvia Earle, the world-renowned marine biologist and founder of Mission Blue, and Paul Polman, a globally recognized business leader, philanthropist, and advocate for corporate sustainability in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The keynote address was delivered by Jenny Krusoe, Executive Vice President, COO, and Founder of AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles. Krusoe highlighted the importance of mobilizing the world to come up with innovative ideas and provide guidance to those ideas, to make them happen. AltaSea became partner of OceaLove and is hosting the Award ceremony in the harbour of LA next year
The ceremony also featured an inspiring message from Peter Thomson, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, who congratulated the winner from Fiji and called for a renewed global commitment to ocean health:
“Our ocean action work is becoming ever more urgent. Ocean temperatures and rates of ocean acidification are continuing their alarming rise, causing sea levels to rise and the widespread death of coral. Responsible ocean action means curbing greenhouse gas emissions, stopping plastic and chemical pollution, ceasing harmful fisheries practices, and protecting marine biodiversity. Essentially we have to stop burning fossil fuels and be positive players in the transition to renewable energy. I urge everyone involved with the OceanLove Innovation Award to double down on their commitments to halting the decline in the ocean’s health. And of course, as a citizen of Fiji I’m very proud that this year’s winner of the OceanLoveInnovation Award comes from my home country. Vinaka vaka levu.”
OceanLove’s Vision for 2026–2030
OceanLove continues to expand its reach and ambition. Looking ahead to 2026–2030, the organization has set bold goals to foster even greater global participation and impact. The initiative aims to attract over 1,000 applications from 130+ countries, engage dedicated OceanLove Ambassadors in nearly every nation, and enhance the quality and scope of submitted projects.
Starting in 2026, the awards will feature four main categories, each celebrating innovation in a key area of ocean sustainability in Tackling Plastic Pollution, Restoring Marine Life & Sustainable Fisheries, Empowering Communities; Ocean Literacy, and Nature-Based Carbon Capture; Climate Solutions
The OceanLove Innovation Award Ceremony will also travel across continents, following the first ceremony in The Hague (2024) and this year’s at Barcelona, it will next be held in Los Angeles (2026), followed by Cairo (2027), symbolizing the global unity needed to protect our oceans.
About OceanLove
OceanLove was launched in 2021 by Dutch social entrepreneur Ilco van der Linde and is managed by Egyptian free diver Raghda Ezzeldin. Its global network of ambassadors, judges, advisors, and board members volunteers their expertise to promote ocean conservation.
The OceanLove Innovation Award is endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and collaborates with international partners, including the Marine Biological Association (UK), Mission Blue (USA), ECHT Community (Netherlands), Afrilabs and KMT House (Egypt), Perempuan Indonesia Maju (Indonesia), and the MasterPeace Global Network.
Funded by the Fred Foundation (Netherlands), Stichting Nieuwe Waarde, and the OOF Foundation, the award continues to grow each year, mobilising more participants, more creativity, and more solutions for a healthier ocean.
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