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8 June is World Ocean Day

Join young people from around the world and participate in the Mundus maris Awards contest for celebrating World Ocean Day 2018, on 8 June.

We invite original and creative written and audiovisual pieces about a plastic free ocean. Imagine you have the opportunity to talk to the world's citizens in an open forum, could you write or read a powerful speech on the problems of the oceans and creative solutions for them? Deadline extended to 5 May 2018.

Challenge: Tell a story inspired by this year's motto "An Ocean Free of Plastic"

How can we get there together so that nobody needs to fear any more the sadening views of turtles and porpoises drowned in ghost fishing nets, birds and whales starving to death with stomachs full of plastic or worry about microplastic spoiling a delicious fish meal.

  • Check out the inspirational text below - we hope it helps your creativity to grow wings!

  • Below, you'll find some links to info about the multiple threats of marine litter, how the plastic gets into the ocean and what counter measures may already be on-going or proposed. We hope that you'll find the information useful for creating your own original contribution to saving the ocean from choking in plastic.

An international jury will appreciate your creative efforts - we wish you success!

Format (maximum size):

Text: Please, send us your message in written format in PDF or Word format. (maximum 1000 words with or without images or sketches)

Video: Publish your video consisting of moving pictures, speeches or animated sequences of pictures in youtube and provide the link (1 to 3 minutes). Songs and poetry are also very welcome.

Age: Three age groups are distinguished: up to 12 years, 13 to 18 years, 19 to 24 years.

Intergenerational participation: This year we also open for one prize for the best submission of an intergenerational submission in either text or video categories to encourage collaboration across the ages.

Language: English, French, German, Italian or Spanish

Please submit your participation to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

How to participate?

Participants have to submit in the same e-mail the following data: given name and family name (spelled as in ID), age, nationality, postal address and contact e-mail.

Submissions can be individual or collective: specify the complete data of every participant of the team and mark team participation clearly.

For participants younger than 18 years, an adult has to authorise their participation (please provide the data of both).

Submissions have to be original and in harmony with World Ocean Day objectives. Any form of plagiarism will disqualify the work. Materials shared in the public domain can be used, but the source has to be adequately acknowledged.

An international jury will examine all entries for originality of idea and quality of execution. It will select the winners in each category (technique, age - altogether in six categories). The judgement of the jury is final.

The participation in the contest means the authorisation of Mundus maris and other sponsors to use and share the submitted works in the public domain with due recognition of the authors.

Deadline extended to Saturday, 5 May 2018, midnight Brussels time.

Awards:

The jury can award three prizes per category based on creativity and excellence of submissions:

  • Special Bluefin Tuna Prize - 300 Euro
  • Sea Lion Prize - 200 Euro 
  • Turtle Prize - 100 Euro.

The jury may also decide on additional prizes at its discretion to recognise other good submissions.

  • Shark Prize - 50 Euro 
  • Samba and Kumba Encouragement Prize - 30 Euro.

The best entries may be published in an open-access multi-media e-book to inspire others to connect to the ocean, quality of content permitting.

Each participant will receive a personal “Honorary Diploma” by e-mail in recognition of the effort contributed to celebrating World Oceans Day 2018.