The Elisabeth Mann-Borgese Ocean Prize is awarded annually, in memory of Elisabeth Mann-Borgese and her lifelong commitment to protecting the world’s oceans and seas, to persons whose work has contributed to protecting and preserving the oceans and the seas.

In the year 2009 the Prize was presented to Commissioner Joe Borg, then European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, for his efforts to contribute to the creation of an Integrated Maritime Policy for the EU. Commissioner Joe Borg has decided to donate the prize money for the establishment of the Elisabeth Mann-Borgese Fellowships at IMLI. The primary aim of these Fellowships is the funding of research projects on topics relating to the Oceans.

The Elisabeth Mann-Borgese Fellowship was awarded to Mr. Lesther Ortega Lemus (Guatemala) who conducted his research on the topic “Arvid Pardo’s Contribution To the Development of the Concept of the Common Heritage of Mankind.”

The second Elisabeth Mann-Borgese Fellowship was awarded to Dr. Patricia Mallia (Malta) who conducted her research on the topic ‘The Applicability of the Principle of Common Heritage of Mankind to the waters and air space superjacent to the International Seabed Area’.

The Institute will issue a call for applications for the third Elisabeth Mann-Borgese Fellowship in due course.