Ocean Tribute Award 2025 call for entries
Press Release
Marine Conservation Prize of boot Düsseldorf, Prince Albert II Foundation and German Ocean Foundation
About boot - the world's largest yacht and water sports trade 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 (January 18 – 26, 2025) is the world's largest yacht and water sports trade 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 10.
The “ocean tribute” Award 2025 call for entries is now open at https://www.boot.com/en/Program/Events/ocean_tribute_award/Apply_now. Initiatives and associations can apply for the award ( € 20,000 prize) which will be presented at boot Düsseldorf on January 20, 2025.
After the entry deadline on August 31, 2024, the expert jury will 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. boot, the world’s largest yacht and water sports trade show, will take place from January 18 – 26, 2025 at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany.
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 public will also be able to cast their votes there in the “public voting” section 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. ‘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. For this, 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. The members also 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 features them both in its newsletters and on its social media platforms.
For more information about the “ocean tribute” award, contact Caroline Mühl (muehlc@messe-duesseldorf.de) from the boot team.
