Project AWARE Foundation’s Ocean Action Project winners were officially announced on 5th September after supporters and the public were given the opportunity to vote for their favourite projects via facebook.

Over 5,500 people voted for the project they believed should be put into motion, from shark and manta ray protection to cleaning up the ocean from the growing onslaught of trash.

Five winning projects receive funding and support from Project AWARE to make their conservation projects a reality. The winners are:

1. Semporna Shark Sanctuary, Malaysia: Scuba Junkies

2. Project Momentum: Working with local fishing communities to help protect Indonesian Manta Rays, Tigers and Bull Sharks, Indonesia: Gili Eco Trust and Aquatic Alliance

3. Koh Tao Debris Master Plan, Thailand: Save Koh Tao Group

4. Marine Debris Action Teams Create Plastic-Free Sea Turtle Habitat, Costa Rica: Dr. Chris Pincetich & PRETOMA

5. Community Based Shark Conservation Research To Guide Marine Protected Area Design, Galapagos Island: Maximilian Hirschfeld

Thank you to everyone who voted in the Ocean Action Project. Watch the progress and keep in touch as these projects develop by visiting the Project Aware Ocean Action Project.