The EU4Ocean Coalition, supported by the European Commission, is proud to announce the winners of its fourth annual “MakeEUBlue” Awards, recognising outstanding initiatives that raise awareness about the ocean’s importance and promote ocean literacy with long-term impact. The awards ceremony took place today at the European Maritime Day (EMD) 2025 in Cork, Ireland.
Out of 54 applications received from diverse organisations and initiatives, a rigorous selection process, including a screening by the EU4Ocean secretariat and a jury composed of the EU4Ocean Advisory Board and secretariat members, led to the recognition of four exceptional projects.
The 2025 MakeEUBlue Award winners are:
Navy Blue Award (First Prize): Maria Teixeira Pinto (RESTORESEAS) – Jeanne, the marine restoration workshop e-bike. “Jeanne” is an innovative workshop on wheels designed to enhance ocean literacy in landlocked Austria, where marine issues are often overlooked. This e-bike transforms into an interactive workshop for school classes from diverse backgrounds, bringing marine forests to life through storytelling, digital media, and sensory experiences. The project highlights the importance, threats, and restoration of coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and seaweed banks, with a strong focus on ocean-human connections. By making ocean conservation tangible, Jeanne aims to foster an emotional connection and empower students to recognise their role in protecting marine ecosystems, even from inland. The project has engaged 250 children in 11 schools in Vienna and over 1000 people in public events.
Classic Blue Award (Second Prize): Margaux Nemmouchi – Writing the future of the ocean. This project, led by CNRS Villefranche-sur-mer (France), and in collaboration with 18 other partners, demonstrates how scientific awareness and fiction writing can help individuals affected by eco-anxiety reclaim the future by understanding, imagining, and writing about it. “Writing the future of the ocean” emphasises the voices of disadvantaged youth, providing them with a platform to express their views and reinforcing the importance of their message. Stories reflecting diverse cultures and countries are translated into motion design videos, created in a unique collaboration with 18 partners and young people. The project has involved 300 young people aged 15 to 25 who have created solution-oriented stories for the ocean.
Sky Blue Award (Third Prize): Chloe Devlin and Caoimhe O’Brien Moran – Green-Schools Global Citizenship Marine Environment program. Coordinated by An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland, this program works with schools across Ireland to raise awareness about coastal and oceanic environments. It educates and encourages action to reduce marine litter and plastic pollution within school communities. Supported by the Marine Environment section of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the program offers unique educational opportunities that foster ocean literacy and sustainability. Activities include multi-school workshops, a national conference, competitions, and an online campaign. The program has engaged over 400 teachers and thousands of students.
In addition to these awards, a Special Mention Award was given to Rebecca Katsaris for the “Increasing marine environmental awareness through the creative arts” initiative. This collective project, led by the Cyprus Environment Foundation, raises awareness among young children and educators in Cyprus by actively engaging participants through music, visual arts, dance, drama, and storytelling. The initiative provides a platform for emotional expression while fostering environmental stewardship, gratitude, and responsibility. It aims to deepen understanding of the essential nature of marine life and the inextricable connection between the ocean and humans. The project has reached approximately 2500 children aged 3 to 12 years, 200 schools, 3000 residents, and 1000 educators.
Lastly, five students from the Bispo D. Manuel Ferreira Cabral school, in Santana, Portugal, received the first prize of the BlueTech Competition 2025 for their “Banana residuals, for a more sustainable future” project.
The winners were awarded an official certificate, a hand-made ocean-themed trophy, and a financial reward.
These winning projects exemplify the EU4Ocean philosophy by mobilising organisations from different communities of the Coalition and aligning with key criteria such as scientific, social, and collective learning, high sustainability and replication potential, innovative character, and significant impacts and engagement.