The winner of our 2023 Sartún Award, environmental activist and filmmaker Alexandra Cousteau, is the third generation of a family that pioneered defence of the oceans and life under water, and has been involved in many initiatives the main objective of which is to gain an insight into the problems faced by oceans in the modern age, and what the solutions should be to "recoup a plentiful ocean.

Because that must be the end of the journey, something we must never lose sight of. If we keep on looking at the trees, we'll keep on bumping into them", she said.

Since 2018 she has been involved in the OCEANS 2050 initiative, "which provides a roadmap to recoup the abundance of the seas, the target we must set", she insisted, "because since my grandfather began his explorations we've lost over 50% of natural blue capital, and that means that the messages to preserve and maintain haven't worked, and have served no purpose. That's why we must change the language, and talk about rebuilding, regenerating, reversing all the damage caused by years of insufficient protection", she insisted.

“Our children are losing their hope for the future, and that is a terrible panorama. We must give it back to them, and make them understand the opportunities that it provides, such as the value of the blue economy Ralph Chami talked about. Because the issue isn't so much about our work with nature as the results we obtain with it". Cousteau believes there is still time, and that "we must make use of science and nature to do this". She, in fact, is an associate of the OCEANA organisation, which uses state-of-the-art technology to monitor the ocean and to detect, for example, activities such as overfishing, and drive alliances on marine policies to help regenerate marine biodiversity.

Finally, Alexandra touched on the necessary involvement of all areas related to the sea and its resources to bring about change, including "chefs and other agents operating in the food chain, who must continue to focus on sustainability, making responsible use of marine resources, and encourage a passion for consumption of those resources. I'm very pleased that, even though they have not officially been called upon to work on this kind of regeneration, they are active participants, and I've seen that at this congress".