By Cynthia Alo

As the world shifts focus to marine sustainability, West Africa is set to join the global movement, driving conservation and innovation in the maritime industry.

At the forefront of this initiative is the 2025 BOOT Düsseldorf, one of the world’s largest water sports trade fairs, scheduled for January 18-26, 2025, in Düsseldorf, Germany. The event will showcase cutting-edge solutions from over 1,500 exhibitors across 100 countries, with a focus on marine conservation.

A key highlight of the event is the Ocean Tribute Award, worth €20,000, which recognises impactful initiatives that aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14, which promotes the sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources.

Since its inception in 2018, the award, an initiative in collaboration with the Prince Albert II Foundation and the German Ocean foundation recognizes trailblazing projects in marine conservation.

Speaking on the upcoming event,Itua Akhigbe, West African Representative of Messe
Düsseldorf, (organizers of BOOT) said, “BOOT Düsseldorf provides a unique platform for businesses and marine enthusiasts from West Africa to connect with international leaders and explore cutting-edge solutions for the maritime industry.

“We are particularly excited to continue this momentum in 2025 as we celebrate African success stories like ECOP Africa and spotlight more game-changing initiatives from the region.”

The 2025 edition of BOOT Düsseldorf will feature 17 halls filled with the latest marine technologies and trends. Over 1,500 exhibitors and an estimated 200,000 attendees from more than 100 countries.

Meanwhile, this year’s award was given to ECOP Africa, a Ghanaian NGO, for its innovative approach to nature-based carbon removal, ecosystem rehabilitation, and sustainable aquaculture.

According to the awardees, ECOP Africa’s work has significantly impacted ocean health, tackled illegal fishing, and integrated indigenous knowledge into climate action.

In his remarks, Peter Teye Busumprah, ECOP Ghana Coordinator said, “As the first African and a young ocean expert to receive this prestigious award, it represents the power of collaboration and a shared commitment to sustainable oceans.

“It is a recognition that meaningful work aimed at societal impact can gain international attention. For ECOP Africa, this award is a major milestone, validating our innovative solutions to ocean-related challenges. The seed funding enabled impactful projects, including the Ghana Ocean Climate Innovations Hub, which now collaborates on fisheries initiatives across Africa with participants from Tunisia, Nigeria, Cameroon and more.

“ECOP Africa thrives on teamwork, diversity, and grassroots engagement to drive marine
conservation. Platforms like BOOT DüsWestseldorf play a crucial role in connecting innovators with donors and fostering partnerships that advance global and African marine initiatives,” he added.