Recognition for MPA Day
In the mid-South Coast, locals celebrate the stunning Aliwal Shoal.
The winners of the inaugural OceanLove Innovation Award 2024 were unveiled last week in a ceremony at the Oceanovation Festival, The Hague, with South Africa’s Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Day making it into the Top 10.
In 7th place was South Africa’s Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Day, an annual event held on August 1 to raise awareness about MPAs. The event was started by a consortium of South African organisations, all passionate about the protection of marine life, with the aim to connect people all over the world in the protection of marine life.
On the mid-South Coast, Aliwal Shoal is one of the most well-known MPAs.
The submitted ideas were assessed based on several criteria, including originality, impact, reach and feasibility. Out of 85 applications from 38 countries, the panel of judges, chaired by Sian Owen, Executive Director of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, selected the finalists and winner, which were submitted from Brazil, Colombia, Morocco and South Africa.
During the ceremony, the awards were handed by keynote speaker Liz Taylor, President of marine technology company DOER Marine, and daughter of legendary, world-renowned marine biologist and oceanographer Dr Sylvia Earle.
“The whole MPA Day team is delighted to have placed in the top 10 of the prestigious OceanLove Innovation Award, where we’re sitting alongside other dynamic innovators who all share the same call to protect our ocean,” said Dr Judy Mann, founder of MPA Day, and the executive of Strategic Projects at The Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation.
“Awards such as these are important for elevating the awareness around the plight of our ocean while giving people practical solutions for how they can help. Ocean conservation is a collaborative effort, and we’re proud to be part of this group of OceanLove innovators who are making a real impact now.”
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