Our Ocean Citizens Award Is Open For Applications!
Our Ocean Citizens Award Is Open For Applications!
We’re very excited to announce that our Ocean Citizens Award is open for applications for 2026!
In 2025, we ran the Ocean Citizens Award for the first time, an initiative created in partnership with the founder of Ocean Ambassadors Felix Appelbe. Our aim is to support and uplift emerging voices in ocean advocacy by providing support to two young people who are striving to become ocean advocates.
You can find all the details about how to apply for the 2026 Ocean Citizens Award, including application criteria, on our website.
2025 Ocean Citizen recipients
In 2025, Megan Hamill and Arwen Horsburgh were named as the recipients of our inaugural Ocean Citizens Award.
For Arwen, this provided the financial and emotional support to travel to Cyprus to volunteer with a turtle conservation project.
“I learned the value of pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Flying abroad to travel on my own away from everything I’d ever known was a scary thought, but in doing so I proved to myself that I could not only do it, but also thrive.”
You can learn about Arwen’s experiences with the turtles in a blog she wrote for us about her trip.
For Megan, the Ocean Citizens Award gave her the funding she needed to move to the Isle of Mull to undertake a five-month volunteer placement with the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust.
“Seeing two fin whales crossing the Minch in the Northern Hebrides was an absolutely mind-blowing experience… It made me so proud of Scotland’s marine environment and all the amazing animals we have here, and it reinforced the importance of protecting it.”
You can hear more about the incredible creatures Megan encountered during her time with the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust in her blog.
Both Megan and Arwen strongly recommend applying for this year’s award if you have a strong connection to the oceans and want to advocate for their protection.
Megan’s advice is to go for it, even if you don’t feel that confident.
“I wasn’t totally self-confident when I applied, but the thing is you can build your confidence over the experience,” she shared.
Arwen also believes that this award can be game-changing if you want to get involved in ocean advocacy.
“I would thoroughly recommend becoming an ocean citizen as it has shown me the impact that support can have on believing in yourself and achieving goals you didn’t think were possible,” she said.
So, if you too want to advocate for our oceans and get some support towards having incredible ocean experiences of your own, applications are open now and close on 28th February 2026.
Megan’s advice to anyone applying is to tell the story of where your own passion for the ocean comes from.
“If you keep going back to what connected you to the ocean in the first place, it will lead you to some wonderful places.”
Arwen’s tip is to show your love for the oceans as much as possible in your application.
“Be bold and show why this award would mean so much to you in your journey to becoming an ocean advocate.”