Awards
The BlueMissionMed project, in collaboration with the European Commission, organised a series of awards to spotlight impactful initiatives that support the objectives of the Mission Ocean and Waters.
These awards have proven to be an effective tool to:
- Map inspirational good practices that can serve as models for other stakeholders to replicate
- Stimulate engagement and mutual learning among stakeholders
- Attract new signatories to the Mission Charter
Discover more about the awards and meet the winners!
BlueMissionMed Coordination and Support Action, with the support of the European Commission and in collaboration with “Celebrate Islands 2023” international contest, awarded 3 “Mediterranean Blue Islands” during the High-Level Event Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and waters by 2030’– The Mediterranean lighthouse in action – organised by the European Commission in Palermo on May 30-31, 2023.
The prize recognises, promotes and supports the best initiatives which actively contribute to achieving the EU Mission’s objectives in the Mediterranean basin.
Projects “Capraia Smart Island” from Capraia (Italy), “Valorisation des déchets non-organiques” from St. Honorat (France) and “Plastic free is the way to be” from Kuriat (Tunisie) were presented by Sofia Mannelli, Iva Zunjic and Ahmed Souki, who received the award during the European Comission High-Level Event. The winning islands also joined the 1st BlueMissionMed Stakeholder forum, sharing their valuable expertise and insights during the debate with more than 200 key Mediterranean stakeholders.
As a reward, Capraia, St. Honorat and Kuriat islands will have access to BlueMissionMed pilot of services to implement and upscale their actions (support the capitalization of technology and business models; support access to finance; networking; good practice exchange).
On 16 April, the Ports of Antwerp-Bruges, Ravenna, Heraklion and Galataport have emerged as the winners of the “Blue Ports and Destinations Award”!
The awarding ceremony took place in the context of the 9th Our Ocean Conference in Athens, in recognition of their contribution to the EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030’. The awards were granted by the Mission Ocean, in cooperation with BlueMissionMed.
The categories and winners are:
- Category 1: Building, Design, Construction, or Technical Sustainability Solutions
Winner: Port of Antwerp-Bruges (Belgium)
The port was recognised for its commitment to sustainability across all operations, with notable initiatives including proactive dockwater level management, collaboration for water conservation, and measures to enhance water quality and biodiversity. - Category 2: Social, Corporate Sustainability, Community & Port Connectivity
Winner: Ravenna Port (Italy)
The port was acknowledged for its visionary strategies supporting the city’s green transition. Key actions include the development of a green port and energy hub, the creation of a maritime park, and emphasis on sustainable mobility initiatives. - Category 3: Eco-Conscious Entrepreneur & Personality
Winners (ex aequo): Heraklion Port (Greece) and Galataport (Turkey)
Both ports were commended for their dedication and innovation in advancing sustainable practices within the maritime industry, setting a global example.
Meet the winners
The “Society4Med” Award, launched in collaboration with the European Commission, CNR, FVA, La Saison Bleue, and WWF, is an opportunity to celebrate the social commitments of Mediterranean initiatives, that encourage active public engagement in environmental preservation, focusing on two key categories:
- Category 1: Awareness and communication campaigns/activities
- Category 2: Citizen science
For the Awareness and Communication Campaigns/Activities category, the winning initiative is #adopteunpad: The Superpower of Commitment for Our Seas and Oceans by Herocean.
For the Citizen Science category, the winning initiative is Surfing for Science by Universitat de Barcelona & Surfrider Foundation Europe.
Meet the winners
Booklet of good practices stemming from the Society4Med Award 2024
The “Blue Rivers and Lakes” Award, launched by BlueMissionMed in collaboration with the European Commission, aimed to spotlight impactful initiatives dedicated to protecting and restoring small and medium-sized water basins across Europe. This recognition highlighted interventions that could be directly observed, measured, and replicated in smaller, localized aquatic systems, showcasing the commitment of the EU basins community to the Mission Ocean and Waters’ objectives.
Category 1 – Governance
The award recognizes outstanding governance models that foster transparent and participatory management practices, engage local communities, and enhance long-term sustainability of small and medium-sized rivers and lakes.
Winner: “10 YEARS OF FLUVIAL STEWARDSHIP – A Collaborative Framework for River Restoration and Conservation in the Catalan River Basin District”, proposed by the Catalan Water Agency
Category 2 – Innovation
This category recognizes pioneering solutions that address key challenges in the management, preservation, and enhancement of small and medium-sized rivers and lakes. The focus is on cutting-edge technologies, scalable solutions, and innovative methodologies that can inspire similar initiatives across Europe.
Winner: “Bubble Barrier” Vila do Conde, proposed by The Great Bubble Barrier
Category 3- Restoration
This category highlights outstanding restoration efforts that rehabilitate degraded aquatic ecosystems, restore natural hydrological flows, and contribute to the long-term ecological health of small and medium-sized rivers and lakes.
Winner: “Innovative Financing Mechanisms – A Case Study in Piedmont”, proposed by Piemonte Region
