Categories of the Ocean Awards 2021

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 January 2020 and 31 December 2020.

Awards are made in six different categories, please use the links below to read more on each of the categories.

• The Local Hero
• Science
• Innovation
• Public Awareness
• Young Initiative
• Lifetime Achievement (formerly Visionary)

View the 2020 winners here. Please also find the 2020 Impact Report below which highlights the exposure and marketing benefits entrants receive as part of the Ocean Awards programme.

The Local Hero Award

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.

Science Award

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.

Innovation Award

This award recognises the individual, company or group that has 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 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.

Public Awareness Award

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).

Young Initiative Award

This award celebrates and recognises an individual between the ages of 18 and 30 who is at the beginning of their career. He or she will have shown commitment and action within ocean conservation. The winner of this award will have demonstrated promising leadership and vision on ocean issues, be it through campaigning and advocacy, the mainstream media, art forms, or educational programmes.

Criteria: Nominees for this award must have this year shown hard work and determination in their commitment to ocean conservation with a demonstrable impact. They must be able to illustrate how they have shown leadership and implemented their ideas through either a voluntary or professional position.

Lifetime Achievement Award (Formerly Visionary Award)

This award recognises an individual that has taken the lead on globally significant actions, such as policy or advocacy 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 in influencing a globally significant effort for the benefit of the ocean or seen a significant milestone in a previously initiated effort.