Since the launch of the “ocean tribute” Award in 2017, the German Ocean Foundation and boot Düsseldorf have been working hand in hand to support people, projects and initiatives that are passionately committed to protecting our oceans. In December 2025, the jury and the public (via public voting) jointly selected the winner.
Chosen from five nominated projects, the One Ocean Planet Foundation emerged as the winner of this year’s competition. In particular, the education-focused and internationally oriented approach of the Spanish ocean conservationists impressed both the jury and the public during the voting process.
On Tuesday, 20 January, Dominique Lesser accepted this year’s “ocean tribute” Award on behalf of all employees of the One Ocean Planet Foundation from Düsseldorf’s Lord Mayor Dr Stephan Keller, in the presence of Frank Schweikert, Member of the Executive Board of the German Ocean Foundation. The laudatory speech for the winners was delivered by German open-water swimmer and jury member Leonie Beck. Marius Berlemann, Chief Operating Officer of Messe Düsseldorf, presented Dominique Lesser with a cheque for the €20,000 winner’s prize. The award ceremony took place in the historic Council Chamber of Düsseldorf City Hall.
The education project run by Spain-based One Ocean Planet is a global programme that places children and young people at the centre of ocean and climate protection. The international campaign “The Power is in Us” inspires school pupils and students to see themselves as part of the solution. It is built on three interconnected initiatives: the “University Challenge” engages Master’s students in solving real-world problems; the “Generation Blue” project combines project-based learning with Carlos Duarte’s “Ocean Wedges” and the “Planetary Boundaries” framework; and the “Hero Kids”, a youth movement that promotes early action. Together with partner organisation “10 Percent for the Ocean”, the powerful documentary Ocean with David Attenborough is screened, raising awareness in schools and communities of why tackling climate change must begin in the oceans. Because the future is blue — and it starts in our classrooms.
About Dominique Lesser
The passionate educator has been advocating for transformative school programmes for more than ten years, using education as a tool for social and ecological change. As the founder of initiatives that connect school communities with ocean protection, she empowers students, teachers and families to understand their role in the climate crisis and to take meaningful action.
Her approach is based on three pillars: conscious education, ocean protection, and building communities that deliver real solutions from the local to the global level. Lesser firmly believes that classrooms have no walls — and that change begins with a deep sense of belonging to nature.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Lesser expressed her delight at the increased visibility and recognition achieved through the nomination and the subsequent win. The prize money will be invested by One Ocean Planet in additional materials and media to inform and engage young people.
During the event, the other nominated projects were also presented to the audience. All of them develop exemplary concepts through their commitment to marine conservation.
The following projects were also nominated for the public vote:
Iberian Orca Guardians / Spain
With their “Save the Iberian Orca” campaign, the Iberian Orca Guardians are committed to protecting one of Europe’s rarest orca populations. Pop icon Sarah Connor and conservationist Janek Andre founded the project. Only around 35 individuals remain 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. The initiative focuses on awareness-raising, sea patrols and non-invasive research. The campaign actively promotes coexistence between orcas and humans and builds bridges to the sailing community that shares the same habitat. Through documentation, international media work and educational projects, the Iberian Orca Guardians raise awareness of the animals’ critical situation. Their goal is to secure long-term protection for Iberian orcas and preserve them as part of Europe’s natural and cultural heritage.
marinecultures.org / Switzerland / Zanzibar
The oceans are under immense pressure: climate change, overfishing and pollution threaten coral reefs, which are hotspots of biodiversity. Healthy reefs provide food, coastal protection and habitats, making their preservation vital for both people and marine life. Since 2008, marinecultures.org has been operating coral farms in Zanzibar and on the Tanzanian mainland. Each farm maintains 40 coral tables and replants up to 10,000 corals per year on degraded reefs. This restoration increases biodiversity and creates new habitats for fish, leading to long-term growth in fish populations. In addition, marinecultures.org and its partners are developing the innovative larval propagation project — the sexual reproduction of corals — to promote genetically diverse and more resilient reefs. Sustainable sponge farming has also been established as an environmentally friendly aquaculture method. Sponges filter seawater, improve reef health and provide women’s cooperatives with a stable income. In this way, sponge farms combine ecological impact with social empowerment and offer a sustainable alternative to fishing.
One Ocean Planet Foundation / Spain
The One Ocean Planet education project is a global programme that places children and young people at the heart of ocean and climate protection. The worldwide campaign “The Power is in Us” inspires pupils and students to see themselves as part of the solution. It is based on three interconnected initiatives: the “University Challenge” involves Master’s students in real-world problem solving; the “Generation Blue” project combines project-based learning with Carlos Duarte’s “Ocean Wedges” and “Planetary Boundaries”, along with impulses to foster greater willingness to help; and the “Hero Kids”, a youth movement promoting early action. Together with partner “10 Percent for the Ocean”, the powerful documentary Ocean with David Attenborough is screened, raising awareness in schools and communities of why combating climate change must begin in the oceans. Because the future is blue — and it starts in our classrooms.
Sailing Insieme / F2 Eco / Austria
F2 Eco is a consistently environmentally friendly antifouling alternative: an extremely hard, smooth coating that prevents marine growth and can be easily cleaned mechanically when needed — without releasing toxins into the environment. F2 Eco contains no biocides, silicone, PFAS/PTFE, VOCs or other toxins. There is no leaching and no need for annual repainting: a single application provides protection for at least five years, significantly reducing material and labour costs. F2 Eco is visually high-quality and can also be used as osmosis and propeller protection. It is suitable for GRP, aluminium, steel and wood. Its use reduces the release of pollutants and microplastics in marinas, coastal waters and inland waterways.
Turtle Foundation / Cape Verde
On the Cape Verdean island of Boa Vista, the Foundation protects the endangered loggerhead turtle, whose nesting beaches are among the most important worldwide. Local rangers and international volunteers protect nesting females from poaching during egg-laying. At the same time, teams clean beaches of plastic waste, which is processed into sustainable products through the LixoLimpo upcycling initiative. Educational programmes, workshops and swimming lessons for children in particular promote environmental awareness: by gaining confidence in the sea, children develop a personal connection and a sense of responsibility for the oceans. By involving schools, volunteers and partner organisations, a network is created that passes on knowledge, encourages engagement and generates long-term positive impacts on coastal ecosystems. The project combines species conservation, education and community involvement, making the importance of healthy oceans tangible for both people and nature.
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