Picture this: a room filled with eco-warriors, conservation crusaders, and one living legend, all gathered in Singapore with one thing on their minds—saving the ocean. The Blue Water EduFest 2024 didn’t just bring the heat; it brought the deep, the urgent, and the transformative, spotlighting Southeast Asia’s finest ocean defenders. With an agenda as vast as the open sea, the EduFest showcased trailblazing heroes and a captivating call-to-action from none other than Dr Sylvia Earle herself, proving that when it comes to protecting our oceans, the only way forward is full steam ahead!
The Blue Water EduFest 2024, held from November 7–9, 2024, at ONE°15 Marina in Singapore, celebrated the brightest ocean conservation champions of Southeast Asia with its signature Blue Water Heroes Awards. This year’s Blue Water Heroes are pioneering environmental initiatives across the region, focusing on sustainability, education, and restoration. The event culminated in the Blue Water Heroes Awards Dinner, where the finalists, who will share a prize of S$50,000, were honoured for their remarkable dedication to preserving marine ecosystems.
But the Blue Water EduFest wasn’t only about accolades. It was a rallying point for urgent action, thanks to the presence of Dr Sylvia Earle, the esteemed oceanographer, explorer, and founder of Mission Blue. Known affectionately as “Her Deepness,” Dr Earle, at 89, travels over 340 days a year, dedicating her life to advocating for the planet’s oceans. Her presence and powerful words underscored the festival’s message of hope and responsibility for future generations.
The Three Pillars of Blue Water EduFest 2024
This year, the event unfolded through three main pillars, each crafted to not only educate but also energise participants to make real, lasting impacts.
- The Blue Eco Summit
At the heart of the festival was the Blue Eco Summit, a conference addressing critical issues affecting the full depth of our ocean ecosystem. The summit tackled three urgent topics: the High Seas Treaty, Blue Carbon, and the impacts of Deep-Sea Mining. Each topic brought expert speakers and conservation leaders to the stage, facilitating dialogue on policies and technologies shaping the future of marine ecosystems.
One of the summit’s highlights was the Blue Carbon Video and Picture Portfolio competition and the Blue Carbon Children’s Painting competition. These contests invited participants of all ages to creatively represent the ocean’s climate-regulating role. Winning entries in the Blue Carbon category, recognised by Ocean Geographic’s Pictures of the Year (OGPICOTY) awards, compete for two prestigious awards: the Blue Carbon Portfolio (Picture) and the Blue Carbon Vision (Video). Top winners will be eligible for the 2024 OGPICOTY MASTER OF COMPETITION Award, which includes an expedition to the Arctic onboard the MV Sylvia Earle, offering an unforgettable experience to witness one of the world’s most fragile environments. - Blue Water Heroes Awards Dinner
A dazzling celebration of conservation accomplishments, the Awards Dinner honoured Southeast Asia’s eco-heroes. Finalists for the Blue Water Heroes Awards showcased their projects, each making significant strides in areas like ecotourism, coral restoration, plastic waste management, and education. This gala event wasn’t merely about recognition; it served as a platform for sharing ideas and building collaborative efforts to save our oceans. The top three winners were awarded a total prize of S$50,000, further supporting their pioneering work. - Marina Clean-Up
The third pillar of Blue Water EduFest was a community-led Marina Clean-Up. With local volunteers, conservationists, and attendees joining forces, this hands-on initiative served as a powerful reminder of collective responsibility. Participants cleared debris, learned about marine pollution, and engaged in activities to directly contribute to the health of the marine environment.
Blue Water EduFest 2024’s unique blend of education, celebration, and direct action created an engaging, impactful experience for all attendees, laying the groundwork for future initiatives and collaborations.
Dr Sylvia Earle’s Message of Hope
Listening to Dr Earle, Blue Water Edufest 2024’s guest of honour, was like witnessing a true legend speak—she is captivating, gracefully passionate, and unwavering in her commitment to our planet’s future. In her keynote speech, she addressed the core theme of the festival: “The ocean is the cornerstone of Earth’s life support system.” She reminded the audience that oceans regulate our climate, generate oxygen, and capture carbon. In her words:
“We need to make it fashionable to care, cool to care. For too long, we’ve glorified a culture of consumption and nature exploitation. That’s got to change—and it is changing. There’s a reason for hope.”
Her message was both a call to action and an expression of optimism. She highlighted that, while humanity has wrought damage upon the planet, we now have unparalleled knowledge and technology to repair it. In a poignant reminder of our unique moment in history, she stated, “Although we can’t turn back the clock, we can change what happens next.”
Dr Earle’s most surprising discovery as an oceanographer, she shared, was the sheer extent of our own ignorance about the ocean. Despite decades of study, we are still just beginning to understand the complexity and richness of marine life. With vast swathes of ocean floor yet to be mapped, the potential for discovery—and preservation—is immense.
“Protect the oceans like our life depends on it, because it does,” Dr Earle urged. Her hope is for humanity to take swift, informed action, harnessing our growing understanding of ocean systems to heal the damage that has been done.
Blue Water Heroes 2024 Finalists: Innovation and Dedication in Action
The Blue Water Heroes finalists personify the resilience and resourcefulness needed in today’s conservation landscape. Their diverse projects—from citizen science and waste reduction to coral restoration and youth empowerment—demonstrate the power of localised, community-driven solutions. Without further ado, these are individuals and organisations reshaping the future of our marine ecosystems:
Mark Joseph Laceste – Founder, Lalakbayin Ecoventures
From the beautiful coasts of Palawan, Philippines, Mark Joseph Laceste has been at the forefront of empowering coastal communities through Lalakbayin Ecoventures, an ecotourism and environmental consultancy. Lalakbayin’s work involves collaborating with local governments, marine protected areas (MPAs), and international organisations, focusing on marine conservation, sustainability events, and livelihood creation. So far, over 1,163 individuals have benefited from these initiatives, proving that ecotourism can be a lifeline for both nature and people. The future looks even brighter as Lalakbayin aims to go digital and integrate AI to track carbon emissions across 23 municipalities, setting a precedent for merging technology with eco-conscious travel.
Andre Saputra – Founder & Director, Indonesia BIRU Foundation
Founded in 2020, Indonesia BIRU Foundation (IBF) has rapidly gained momentum under Andre Saputra’s leadership. The foundation works extensively on marine restoration, deploying over 1,600 structures to rehabilitate coral reefs and mangroves. Beyond restoration, IBF engages with local communities, raising marine literacy and public awareness. With partnerships spanning across 30 organisations, IBF’s approach demonstrates how collaborative efforts can breathe life back into damaged ecosystems. Saputra’s vision is clear: foster local stewardship to ensure the long-term sustainability of Indonesia’s marine habitats—because, after all, the future of our oceans lies in the hands of those living alongside them.
Leon Boey Tze-Shen – Founder, Livingseas Foundation
Bali’s underwater world is being meticulously restored, thanks to Leon Boey Tze-Shen and the Livingseas Foundation. Their ambitious goal to create the world’s largest artificial reef is well underway, with their current 3,400sqm project off the island’s east coast standing as Bali’s largest coral restoration effort. Livingseas does more than just restoration—it invites everyone to join the mission. Whether you’re a local fisherman or an eco-tourist, Livingseas offers hands-on experiences that deepen one’s connection to marine conservation. With Boey’s leadership, this small island’s coral reefs may one day rival even the Great Barrier Reef in scale and biodiversity.
Ng Lee Kiang – Co-founder, Young Nautilus
Ng Lee Kiang co-founded Young Nautilus to instill a love and respect for biodiversity and marine life in the next generation. Based in Singapore, Young Nautilus blends education with action, reaching over 10,000 people annually through biodiversity walks, conservation talks, and hands-on workshops. Ng believes in empowering young advocates, turning them into the next wave of environmental changemakers. With plans to expand into corporate programmes and engage marginalised communities, Young Nautilus is transforming environmental stewardship into a national pastime—one biodiversity walk at a time.
Daniel Quilter – Co-founder, Fuze Ecoteer
Malaysia’s Fuze Ecoteer, co-founded by Daniel Quilter, is making waves—literally and figuratively. Fuze Ecoteer’s programmes engage local communities, particularly youth, in marine conservation. Through its flagship project Anak Pulau, children learn to become citizen scientists, while older students dive into marine conservation. The organisation’s rapid response team (RRT) removes ghost nets and restores coral reefs, while its innovative recycling programme converts plastic waste into thousands of products. Quilter’s approach proves that by equipping the next generation with the right tools, conservation becomes a community-driven force for good.
Ziggie Gonzales – Co-founder, The Plastic Solution Ph
Plastic waste is a monumental problem, but Ziggie Gonzales and his team at The Plastic Solution Ph are tackling it head-on. What started as a small eco-bricking movement has now transformed into a powerful environmental initiative that combats plastic waste while restoring ecosystems. The team’s 30,000-tree reforestation project in Zambales is just the beginning. They’ve set their sights on mangrove restoration and continue to educate communities about sustainable waste practices. Gonzales’ leadership has turned waste into opportunity, proving that even the smallest actions—like filling a brick with plastic—can build a greener future.
Sue Ye – Founder, Marine Stewards Singapore Limited
Marine Stewards Singapore (MSS), founded by Sue Ye, is a volunteer-powered organisation devoted to marine conservation. MSS’s citizen science programme has not only exposed illegal fishing practices but also led to the creation of Singapore’s first sustainable fishing guidelines. Their sustainable fishing clinics and reef surveys have attracted hundreds of participants, and the team’s outreach has connected with over 200,000 people. With plans to tackle marine pollution and restore habitats in neighbouring Indonesia, Sue Ye is proving that even small, volunteer-driven efforts can yield massive waves of change.
Chien Le – Founder, SASA Marine Animals Rescue
For Chien Le and his Vietnam-based NGO SASA Marine Animals Rescue, the mission is simple but daunting: save the oceans, one stranded marine animal at a time. Since its founding in 2018, SASA has rescued hundreds of marine animals and restored 80,000sqm of coral reefs. Their coral nursery boasts 42 species, making it the largest in Vietnam. Operating in four provinces, Chien Le’s team exemplifies how dedication and perseverance can yield real results in marine conservation. As SASA’s work expands, it stands as a beacon of hope for both animals and ecosystems in the region.
Dr. Afiq Durrani Bin Mohd Fahmi – Director, Sustainable Ocean Alliance Malaysia
Leading the Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) Malaysia, Dr. Afiq Durrani is a force to be reckoned with in the world of marine literacy and conservation. His work focuses on empowering youth and addressing key threats to marine environments. From plastic upcycling to digital platforms promoting ocean literacy, SOA Malaysia is paving the way for innovative solutions that blend education with sustainability. Dr. Afiq’s leadership ensures that Malaysia’s coastal communities are not only informed but actively involved in the fight to protect their oceans.
Rose Huizenga – Founder, Coral Catch
Rose Huizenga’s organisation, Coral Catch, takes a unique approach to marine conservation—one that focuses on empowering women. By offering scholarships and conservation training, Coral Catch equips local Indonesian women with the tools they need to protect marine ecosystems. The result? A network of “superwomen” who are not only safeguarding coral reefs but also teaching their communities about ocean health. With plans to expand the programme and empower 100 women within the next five years, Huizenga is proving that conservation is not just about the environment; it’s also about elevating those who care for it.
A Message for the Future
In an era of environmental urgency, Blue Water EduFest 2024 shines as a beacon of hope and action. Through its three pillars—the Blue Eco Summit, Awards Dinner, and Marina Clean-Up—the EduFest inspires knowledge, celebration, and hands-on impact, creating ripples of change across Southeast Asia. Dr Sylvia Earle’s closing message captured the event’s spirit: “We can do a pretty good job at healing the harm if we take action now.” Her words, paired with the passion of the Blue Water Heroes, remind us that safeguarding our oceans is not only possible but imperative.
The 2024 finalists exemplify resilience, creativity, and dedication, proving that while ocean conservation is complex, solutions are within reach—if we dare to act.
FEATURED IMAGE courtesy of Blue Water EduFest