INTRODUCING THE MILLENNIUM OCEANS PRIZE
Presented by MCN and the Remmer Family Foundation
The Millennium Oceans Prize is returning for its tenth year to support and celebrate students who are passionate about conserving, protecting, and sustainably using oceans, seas, and marine water and life.
The Millennium Oceans Prize targets Sustainable Development Goal 14 by celebrating youth activists who are focused on enriching their communities through advancing marine and freshwater conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. Prize winners will receive mentorship and a $5,000 prize for implementation of a concrete campaign idea to spark change and garner support in advocacy, policy, and leadership for oceans and freshwater systems.
9th annual Millennium Oceans Prize Winner
Jalamitra
Campaign Leaders: Pawan SS, Mahajan BK
Jalamitra is a project aimed at normalizing the natural hydrological cycle in the Palar river basin. It focuses on soil and water conservation measures in the mini watershed area of Uttanuru, covering 22 villages with a population of around 15,000 people who will directly benefit from the project. The project will establish an Eco-Restoration Cell around a water pool with local, non-water-intensive species. This change will result in a sustainable environment, increase food production, reduce soil erosion and generate local employment.
9th annual millennium oceans prize Runner Up
Submitted by: Luke Rimmo Lego & Marina Tatin, Stevens Institute of Technology,razil
Nyibu is a project that focuses on raising awareness campaigns to protect dolphins and the Siang River ecosystem. Through social media, posters, and community meetings, the project educates people about the vital role dolphins play in the river's ecosystem and the impact of human activities on their survival. Nyibu actively protests the government's dam construction efforts and seeks sustainable alternatives.
The team is working with local fishermen to promote sustainable fishing practices, such as using fishing nets that do not harm the dolphins, avoiding fishing during the breeding season, and not fishing in areas where dolphins are known to be present.
The Millennium Oceans Discourse: Protection of Marine Biodiversity through International Law in the 21st Century
Follow African Transformers on Facebook to learn more.
2019 Winner Announcement Video
2018 Winner Announcement Surprise Call for the Millennium Oceans Prize
"The world’s oceans – their temperature, chemistry, currents and life – drive global systems that make the Earth habitable for humankind. Our rainwater, drinking water, weather, climate, coastlines, much of our food, and even the oxygen in the air we breathe, are all ultimately provided and regulated by the sea. Throughout history, oceans and seas have been vital conduits for trade and transportation.
Careful management of this essential global resource is a key feature of a sustainable future. However, at the current time, there is a continuous deterioration of coastal waters owing to pollution and ocean acidification is having an adversarial effect on the functioning of ecosystems and biodiversity. This is also negatively impacting small scale fisheries.
Marine protected areas need to be effectively managed and well-resourced and regulations need to be put in place to reduce overfishing, marine pollution and ocean acidification"
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