Kategorie: News
Award for sustainable projects
The European Underwater Federation (EUF) presented the EUF Eco Award 2026 at boot Düsseldorf, honoring projects that creatively combine the protection of the underwater world with the sport of diving. At a time when rising water temperatures, changing pH values, and plastic pollution are threatening many animals, diving is demonstrating that it can take responsibility for nature.
Three outstanding projects were nominated this year: the TC Oktopus Karlsruhe club, the Association for Aquatic System Analysis Cologne (VASA Cologne), and the Belgian club Thalassa Diving Gent. After intensive review by an international jury, TC Oktopus Karlsruhe took first place for its long-standing commitment to combating the invasive bullfrog.
For more than 13 years now, dedicated recreational divers have been regularly catching tadpoles and frogs, thereby helping to prevent the invasive bullfrog from spreading further. All catches are systematically recorded and measured. This has resulted in a comprehensive data set that provides scientists with valuable insights into the biology and spread dynamics of the bullfrog and can contribute in the long term to completely eradicating the species in the region.
Such a project requires perseverance, continuity, and constant motivation. Recognition in the form of an award such as the EUF Eco Award is therefore an important incentive for everyone involved. At the same time, the project is a successful example of citizen science, in which recreational divers work together with scientists to successfully address a specific issue.
Second place went to Thalassa Diving Gent: the association is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and has launched an educational and participatory project in the Oosterschelde to mark the occasion. Members, families, and partner diving clubs learn how they can actively support marine conservation through direct diving, environmental education, and citizen science. Third place went to VASA Cologne, whose recreational divers have been voluntarily investigating waters such as Lake Fühlinger since 2001. Regular monitoring of flora, fauna, and water parameters helps to identify ecological changes at an early stage and maintain the stability of the waters.
Until now, Dr. John Geurts from the Netherlands had chaired the international jury. For the new application phase and the Eco Award 2027, Professor Ralph Schill from the University of Stuttgart and the non-profit organization aquatil will now take on this task.
Founded in 1989, the EUF acts as a European platform for the recreational diving community and, through its member organizations, directly represents 3 million recreational divers, 5,000 clubs, 60,000 diving instructors, and 2,500 diving schools. With the EUF Eco Award, the EUF not only wants to highlight outstanding projects, but also show that diving and environmental protection can go hand in hand.
More information:
EUF ECO Award - EUF