GES4SEAS is proud to share that our project coordinator, Ángel Borja, has been awarded the Odum Lifetime Achievement Award by the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF). This prestigious honour, established in 1997, recognises individuals who have made outstanding long-term contributions to the understanding and wise management of estuaries and coastal systems.

In awarding Ángel Borja this distinction, CERF highlights his pioneering work in marine ecological assessment, environmental monitoring, and sustainable ocean management. His leadership has been instrumental in shaping international marine policy and practice, particularly through contributions to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and ecosystem-based approaches to management.

Angel is the first non-US researcher to receive this award, joining a distinguished list of recipients who have shaped the field of coastal and estuarine science. Fittingly, he will receive the award on 9 November 2025 in Richmond, Virginia, exactly 41 years after defending his PhD thesis — a happy coincidence that adds a personal milestone to this professional recognition.

In addition to his role in GES4SEAS, Ángel is Principal Researcher at AZTI and has published over 350 peer-reviewed articles, establishing himself as one of Europe’s most influential marine ecologists.

You can read more about the award and his achievements on the CERF website and in AZTI’s press release.

We would like to extend our sincere congratulations to Ángel on this well-deserved recognition and thank him for his vision and dedication to advancing marine science.