The Ocean Awards recognise individuals, community groups, organisations and businesses that have made significant contributions to the health of the marine environment, to the sustainable management of marine resources, or to public engagement with the oceans and seas during the qualifying period.
The project must have been completed between 1 December 2017 and 30 November 2018.
Awards are made in five different categories: The Local Hero, Science, Innovation, Visionary and Public Awareness.
2018 Ocean Awards winner, Norlan Pagal, fearless campaigner and advocate of new seabed project in the Phillipines
This award recognises the individual or (grassroots/community-based/local) group that has had the most positive impact on the marine environment within their local community this year. The winner will be a recognised leader on marine conservation issues within their community. Special attention will be paid to those working in an unfavourable environment or circumstances.
Criteria: Nominees for this award must have a) initiated a promising effort for the benefit of the ocean within their community, or b) significantly improved, advanced, or revived an existing effort towards new achievements.
2018 Ocean Awards winner, Ben Halpern, lead author of pioneering report on the limits of Earth's resources
This award recognises the individual or research team that has made an original scientific contribution about the ocean this year.
Criteria: Nominees for this award must have significantly contributed towards a peer-reviewed publication, of a game-changing scientific study that is directly useful for the benefit of global marine conservation or ocean health.
2018 Ocean Awards winner, Ben Kibel, inventor of ProGlow, an endurable, reusable alternative lightstick
This award recognises the individual, company or group that have this year publicly introduced innovative measures for reducing stress on the oceans or for improving ocean health; such measures might include business operations which are not undertaken at the expense of the marine environment or development of promising new technologies that benefit of the marine environment.
Criteria: Nominees for this award must have undertaken activities or commitments to significantly develop or implement products, services, processes, or measures that have – or are likely to have – a positive impact on the health of the marine environment.
2018 Ocean Awards joint winner, Kristina Gjerde, US lawyer breaking new ground in ocean governance
This award recognises an individual that have taken the lead on globally-significant actions, such as policy initiatives, for the benefit of ocean health, over an extended period of time. The winner of this award will have shown consistent leadership and vision on ocean issues, going above and beyond others in their commitment to protecting marine life.
Criteria: Nominees for this award must have a demonstrable track record of leadership on marine issues. They must either have initiated or taken a lead this year in influencing a globally-significant effort for the benefit of the ocean, or seen a significant milestone in a previously initiated effort.
2018 Ocean Awards winner, James Honeyborne (Executive Producer), Mark Brownlow (Series Producer) and team whose breath-taking Blue Planet II series captures oceans' plight
This award recognises the individual or group that has done the most this year to advance marine conservation objectives, including public literacy about marine conservation issues, be it through campaigning and advocacy, the mainstream media, art forms, or educational programmes.
Criteria: Nominees for this award must have this year initiated or significantly advanced activities with a demonstrable impact on ocean management or the public understanding or public visibility of an important ocean issue (or issues).