Meet the Winners of the BlueMissionMed Society4Med Award – 2nd Edition! Celebrating Citizen-Driven Ocean Actions
In the framework of the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”, the EU-funded project BlueMissionMed is proud to announce the winners of the second edition of the Society4Med Award, which celebrated impactful initiatives that actively involved citizens in protecting our ocean and waters across the Mediterranean basin.
This year, the award received 24 inspiring submissions from across the Mediterranean, reflecting a growing movement of communities and organisations working toward a healthier and more sustainable marine environment. Among them were 16 new signatories of the Mission Ocean Charter, demonstrating the award’s tangible contribution to expanding the Mission’s network of endorsers and amplifying its impact throughout the Med region.
Following the success of its first edition in 2024, the 2025 Society4Med Award once again recognised two outstanding best practices, together with special mentions, that exemplified how civic engagement, education, creativity, and collaboration could drive the transition toward a green and resilient Mediterranean.
The two categories for 2025 were:
- Category 1: Sport & Leisure Initiatives engaging civil society in ocean and water protection
- Category 2: Blue Education Initiatives, including formal, non-formal, and informal education activities
The jury — composed of experts from the BlueMissionMed consortium (FVA, CNR, WWF, and La Saison Bleue) — evaluated carefully the submissions received, based on specific evaluation criteria such as their contribution to Mission Ocean objectives, innovativeness of the format, engagement quality, concrete impact, and replication potential.
Meet the Winners!
Sport & Leisure Category
🏆 The winner is PLUMBUM PROJECT by Hippocampus Association!
The project stood out for its exceptional replication potential and high level of citizen engagement, involving nearly 1,200 divers and 550 volunteers, along with schools, fishing brotherhoods, aquarium staff, and local communities.
Since its launch in 2019, the initiative recovered over one ton of lead — more than 25,000 small pieces — from the sea and coastal areas, later remanufactured into diving weights by authorised waste managers. Lead recovery was carried out through beach cleanups, diving and snorkelling activities, and a network of collection containers distributed in collaboration with diving centres, natural parks, and environmental associations.
This circular process not only reduced heavy metal pollution but also lowered the carbon footprint associated with primary lead extraction, thus contributing to a low-carbon blue economy.
The project’s innovative focus on heavy metal pollution, often overlooked compared to plastics, made it a unique model for replication across other Mediterranean territories. By combining citizen science, circular economy principles, and environmental awareness, Plumbum empowered communities to take tangible action for marine restoration.
🏅 Special Mention for strong impact and strategic civic commitment goes to Viu La Vela Barcelona by Barcelona City Council
The initiative received recognition for the remarkable impact and strong strategic commitment of the city of Barcellona.Since its launch in April 2023, the programme engaged 15,681 children in environmental workshops — including Microplastic Catch, Identifying Microplastics, and A Blue Mystery — and trained 250 young people as gender-balanced sailing sports instructors.
With an investment of €2.6 million between 2023 and 2026, the initiative introduced thousands of 6th-grade students (aged 10–11) to sailing as a way to connect with the sea, discover maritime sports, and learn how to protect ocean ecosystems. Combining sport, education, and environmental awareness, Viu La Vela fostered a new generation of ocean stewards.
Blue Education Category
🏆 The winner is The Village by Genova Blue District!
In the field of education, The Village impressed the jury for its outstanding impact and inclusivity in promoting blue economy awareness, education and ocean literacy. As a hybrid hub dedicated to researchers, businesses, citizens, and students, The Village fosters collaboration, dissemination, networking, and innovation across diverse communities. Its goal is to encourage citizens to reflect on key issues such as the sea, climate change, and sustainable innovation—helping them become more aware and inspired to adopt more sustainable lifestyles.
The initiative in 2024 hosted 1,407 events and activities, attracting over 62,000 attendees, and involving 350 organisations, 209 companies, 60 schools, 50 associations, and nearly 9,500 students.
Among its many initiatives, The Village featured exhibitions such as Archeoplastica, which showcased plastic artefacts collected from beaches to raise awareness about marine pollution, as well as free educational workshops for primary and secondary schools and families, and the Blue Circle community for innovators.
By connecting creativity, education, and sustainability, The Village has become a dynamic hub for critical reflection and practical learning about marine biodiversity, climate change, and responsible innovation—embodying the spirit of the Genoa Blue District as a catalyst for blue and green transformation.
Special Mention for Young Ocean Advocacy goes to Nauticinblu by Fondazione Marevivo ETS
The initiative was recognised for its training and advocacy programme in format contexts, aimed at students aged 15–17 from Maritime Institutes and highlighting the importance of youth as drivers of change for a sustainable blue future.
The project involved around 1,000 students and 120 teachers in Italy, and an additional 500 students and 50 teachers in Spain, Greece, and Portugal. By integrating ocean literacy with professional training, Nauticinblu prepared the future ocean professionals to balance economic growth, ecological transition, and environmental preservation.
🏅 Special Mention for Social Inclusion goes to The Tempest of the Oceans by Empordà Mar
Inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest, this theatrical journey used the universal language of gesture, rhythm, and visual poetry to reflect on humanity’s broken relationship with the ocean and stood out for its artistic excellence and inclusive approach.
Combining physical theatre, clowning, live music, and sign language, the performance transformed environmental awareness into an immersive, emotional experience. Supported by environmental organisations, the project expanded beyond the stage with educational workshops and pedagogical materials, turning art into a catalyst for ecological consciousness and community participation.
What’s next for the winners?
More than a recognition, the Society4Med Award served as a platform to showcase the power of civic engagement in shaping a more resilient Mediterranean. The award ceremony will take place on 7 November 2025 at Ecomondo in Rimini, one of Europe’s leading events dedicated to ecological transition and innovation.
All eligible submissions will be also included in the Society4Med Booklet of the BlueMissionMed project and disseminated widely through the project’s communication channels, amplifying the visibility of citizen-driven actions contributing to the Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”.
