Wietse Van Der Werf is an award-winning social entrepreneur and conservationist, pioneering regenerative blue economy ventures. For his innovative approach which mobilizes business, government and citizens to form uncommon partnerships for the social economic and ecological regeneration of coastal and ocean areas, Wietse was previously awarded the Future for Nature Award (2016), Ashoka Fellowship (2018) and Summit Fellowship (2019).

His current venture, the Sea Ranger Service, trains unemployed young people from port cities with the help of navy veterans to manage Marine Protected Areas. A new type of sailing work vessel has been developed for the Sea Rangers; operating at sea cost-effective and with zero emissions.