The Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) recognised leadership in marine sustainability at the annual Festival of Seas gala on Saturday, 31 October by revealing the winners of the Doug Allan Ocean Sustainability Awards as part of the evening’s programme.
Almost 300 guests were treated to an evening of celebrating ocean conservation and community impact, which included a special awards presentation that focused on organisations that are making a tangible difference in the Cayman Islands through environmental stewardship, sustainable business practices, and visionary leadership for the future of the environment.
Interact Central Cayman Islands was announced as the winner of the Community Connections award, while The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman received both the Ocean Footprint and the Visionary Awards for their sustainability efforts.
CCMI Project Manager, Robyn Larkin said, “We were very impressed by the quality and diversity of nominations submitted for the Doug Allan Ocean Sustainability Awards. Our judges had a difficult time selecting the winners, having seen so many meaningful efforts, from mobilising volunteers and creating educational opportunities to improving business practices and investing in long-term environmental initiatives. It was encouraging to see the many ways organisations across Cayman are taking action for a healthier ocean.”
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AWARD: INTERACT CENTRAL CAYMAN ISLANDS
The Community Connections Award honours organisations that demonstrate active environmental leadership through hands-on volunteering, partnerships, and tangible community initiatives that protect and restore the marine environment.
Since its charter in January 2026, Interact Central Cayman Islands has demonstrated outstanding commitment to youth-led environmental stewardship and community engagement. The club has mobilised 50+ volunteer hours, organised beach cleanups, and planned and delivered EcoFest, the Cayman Islands' first dedicated climate and environmental expo - an event led entirely by high school students.
Through hands-on action, education, collaboration, and a commitment to making EcoFest an annual event, the club is creating meaningful opportunities to connect with and protect Cayman's marine environment.
OCEAN FOOTPRINT AWARD AND VISIONARY AWARD: THE RITZ-CARLTON, GRAND CAYMAN
The Ocean Footprint Award recognises organisations that take strong internal action to reduce their environmental impact and improve ocean sustainability through operations, policies, and practices.
The Visionary Award celebrates companies that set the gold standard for and are redefining corporate leadership in sustainability through forward-thinking strategies, bold pro-ocean behaviour, and an ocean-conscious company ethos as part of the mission, planning, and long-term goals.
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman was awarded both the Ocean Footprint and Visionary Awards for their significant and thoughtful work to integrate sustainability into operations, partnerships, guest experiences, and long-term planning, serving as a model for ocean-conscious tourism in the Caribbean. Their commitment to ocean stewardship is integrated into annual sustainability objectives, operational practices, community partnerships, and employee engagement activities.
A US $6.3 million infrastructure investment has helped the resort's operations to be more sustainable: a 250-kW solar system offsets 321 metric tons of carbon annually, while high efficiency climate controls, rainwater collection, and waste diversion all reduce resource consumption. Daily operations have diverted more than 350,000 kg of waste through recycling and a composting partnership with Beacon Farms. They've also eliminated single-use plastics, introduced EV charging and refillable in-room amenities, and source sustainable seafood options. Their initiatives to protect marine biodiversity, restore habitats, promote environmental education, and increase awareness of the importance of healthy oceans are demonstrated in the immersive Ambassadors of the Environment programme. As Cayman’s only property holding both Green Key and Forbes Verified Responsible Hospitality designations, the resort demonstrates visionary leadership in marine conservation.
“We applaud the efforts of all nominees who are working toward a more sustainable way to operate. Nominations were received from non-profit organisations, corporations with strong ESG commitments, and small businesses demonstrating genuine environmental responsibility. We also want to recognise fellow finalists – Nauti Nomads, Mariner Surf Co., Plastic Free Cayman, Cayman Water, and Wheaton Precious Metals – for their valuable contributions to protecting our marine environment,” said Dr. Steve Gittings, CCMI Board Member and awards judge.
Named in memory of Doug Allan OBE, award-winning cameraman and friend of CCMI, the Doug Allan Ocean Sustainability Awards were designed to recognise local leaders in ocean sustainability efforts. After learning of his passing earlier this year, CCMI wanted to find a way to honour Doug’s legacy as a passionate advocate for the natural world who challenged people to make small changes that would add up for the protection of our ocean.
In addition to the Doug Allan Ocean Sustainability Awards presentation, CCMI shared its new regional strategy with those in attendance, outlining the organisation’s strategy to expand its impact beyond the Cayman Islands and advance effective conservation practices across the Caribbean.
Building on nearly 30 years of reef monitoring and ecological research and 20 years of marine science education, CCMI’s regional emphasis will bring together the three interconnected areas of activity: applied research and science that delivers solutions, education and outreach to deliver learning and build capacity, and conservation empowerment, with knowledge being turned into action for the future of the ocean and coral reefs.
Through this integrated approach, CCMI aims to become a hub for Caribbean reef science and education, connecting research, training, innovation, and practical, scalable solutions that can be implemented across the region and support lasting, widespread impact.
Locally, Festival of Seas has significant impact, raising vital funds to support CCMI’s operations, research projects, and education programmes at the Little Cayman Research Centre. As part of the evening, the generosity of guests made the scholarship pledge a success, raising enough money to support nearly 80 scholarships for local students to attend the 3-day/2-night Marine Ecology Course at CCMI. This early marine sustainability education is vital to create early connections to the ocean and develop ocean literacy through hands-on, immersive experiences.
The evening again demonstrated that collective impact can be achieved when individuals, businesses, and the Cayman community come together with a shared goal of protecting the ocean for the next generation.
“Festival of Seas is an amazing reflection of what we can achieve when our community comes together around a shared commitment to the ocean. We are incredibly grateful to our guests, sponsors, donors, and partners whose generosity and support made the evening a success. Their contributions will help CCMI continue advancing marine science locally and expand our reach regionally while continuing to deliver education at all levels, creating more opportunities for the next generation to understand, connect with, and protect our ocean,” said Kate Holden, CEO, CCMI.
CCMI is grateful for the support of the Festival of Seas guests, sponsors, donors, and all partners who helped make the event another successful evening for the organisation. A special congratulations is extended to the winners of the Doug Allan Ocean Sustainability Awards – Interact Central Cayman Islands and The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman – who deserve the recognition for setting the standard of best sustainability practices in the Cayman Islands.
For more information about CCMI and to support the work at the Little Cayman Research Centre, please visit: reefresearch.org