In January 2025, to mark the Year of the Sea, the Artelia Foundation launched its annual call for projects entitled ‘Acting for the ocean: riding the wave of innovation and resilience’.
The purpose of this call for projects was to support initiatives aimed at protecting the oceans and conserving marine biodiversity while simultaneously combating marine pollution. This included projects that directly addressed pollution, such as beach and ocean clean-up efforts and awareness-raising campaigns, as well as projects that altered marine biodiversity, such as protecting endangered species, restoring coral reefs, and preserving marine habitats. Additionally, the call sought to educate and raise awareness among populations and strengthen the resilience of communities in the face of oceanic and coastal risks.
Francis formed part of the Selection Committee , alongside Aurélie Ledissez, Marine Boursault,and Marie Romani.
The 6 winning projects were:
- Plastic Odyssey (Philippines)
This project aims to support local entrepreneurship and develop 7 decentralised recycling units, divert 3,500 tonnes of plastic a year from the oceans, and train 100 students in the circular economy. It is expected to create almost 370 direct and indirect jobs.
- Pala Dalik (New Caledonia)
The association is developing an innovative protocol for observing coral reefs using photogrammetry to assess their resilience. It also offers educational activities and the creation of an immersive virtual tour.
- Blutopia (Charente-Maritime)
Through its ‘Les chantiers iodés’ project, Blutopia uses seaweed to preserve marine biodiversity, combat erosion and raise public awareness through participatory work camps and cookery workshops. The association is also helping 500 young people in precarious situations to adopt a healthy diet.
- Septentrion Environnement (Western Mediterranean)
The association deploys the POLARIS platform to promote citizen diving and collect data on marine ecosystems. It trains more than 80 divers a year and sets up a network of observers in several Mediterranean areas.
- Le Partenariat (Saint-Louis, Senegal)
The aim is to preserve and restore coastal ecosystems, particularly mangroves, by creating a local observatory, reforesting 40 hectares and raising awareness of environmental issues among 5,000 people, including 2,000 schoolchildren.
- Le GRET (Sainte-Marie Island, Madagascar)
The ‘Miaro’ project involves restoring two coral reefs using artificial structures, while training local communities in reef restoration and participatory ecological monitoring.
These projects delve into themes like forest resource management, reforestation, agroforestry, and coral protection. Beyond their environmental impact, the selection committee also gave special consideration to the social aspects of the projects.
The winners will receive a total financial support of €80,000 from the Foundation, complemented by technical assistance from volunteers from the Artelia Group.
You may find more information here.
