Overall 2014 World Oceans Day theme winner
Here is the overall winning photo from the 2014 World Oceans Day Photo Contest. The winning photo was taken by Jonas Thormar, pictured below. Mr. Thormar is a Danish marine biologist at the University of Oslo, Norway, where he studies seagrass ecosystems. His life-long interest in the sea in both work and spare time has provided him with opportunities to dive with fascinating marine life from the Arctic to the Antarctic. This shot of a Leopard Seal was taken at the Antarctic Peninsula while working on expedition cruises with dive tourists.
“The perception of oceans as secondary compared to the terrestrial environment is natural, given that most of us live on land. But although the sea appears flat, it is populated by a fascinating diversity of species at all depths, and new life-forms are still to be found. It furthermore provides a wealth of ecosystem services that we couldn’t live without. World Oceans Day aims to increase the global recognition of the beauty and benefits of our oceans and to promote sustainable management for current and future generations.
The leopard seal on the ice may remind us that land and sea are not two worlds apart and what happens on one affects the other. Sea ice extent is being reduced at great speed in the Arctic, and although not so in Antarctica, the redistribution of sea ice here may have great effects on the wildlife and ocean services. But loss of habitat is equally important below the surface in both coastal and deep seas. And we as humans are part of it, and should act accordingly.”
The partners wish to thank the following experts for serving as judges : Rémy ATTUYT, Director, The World Festival of Underwater Pictures; Michael AW, Publisher & Founder, Ocean Geographic; Judy MANN, Conservation Strategist at the South African Association for Marine Biological Research; Sandra BESSUDO, Founder, Malpelo and Other Marine Ecosystem Foundation, General Director of the Presidential Agency for International Cooperation in Colombia, and President of the Colombian Ocean Commission; and Wolcott HENRY, President, The Henry Foundation, underwater photographer.
Winners and finalists of the thematic categories
Underwater Seascapes
This photograph, the first place winner in the category “Underwater Seascapes”, captures the coral reefs below a colorful double rainbow. The rainbow could suggest that a storm has passed, or it could indicate approaching danger. The calm beneath the water is equally ambiguous: Is this beautiful reef healthy and safe or in decline and vulnerable?
Coral reefs are home to thousands of species, and grow over hundreds of years, but can be destroyed in an instant by tropical storms, irresponsible fishing practices, pollution, ocean acidification and many other threats.
Photo by Ethan Daniels, USA.
This photograph is the second place winner in the category “Underwater Seascapes”. An enormous school of small fish may deter some predators by “shoaling”, appearing to be one very large fish. Fish derive many benefits from shoaling, including defense against predators, enhanced foraging success, and higher success in finding a mate.
This photo illustrates how ocean animals can cooperate and interact in impressive ways to ensure their survival. Similarly, humans also have to cooperate in many aspects relating to the oceans, from coordinating rules of international navigation, to implementing laws and policies to prevent pollution.
Photo by Ellen Cuylaerts, Belgium.
In this photograph, the third place winner in the category “Underwater Seascapes”, a clownfish watches a school of sharks from atop his host anemone. The fish seems unperturbed, perhaps knowing that he is in no danger.
While sharks seem frightening to many humans, they are often quite timid, and are indicators of a healthy ecosystem. They help to strengthen species by removing weak and diseased individuals from the gene pool. Sharks are a “keystone species”, meaning that they help maintain the delicate balance of the ocean’s ecosystems.
Photo by Thomas Vignaud, France.
A turtle swims near the surface of a freshwater pond. Ponds, lakes and rivers also hold diverse ecosystems, and water from the land flows into the sea through estuaries that form unique habitats for many living organisms.
The quality of water, including salinity and acidity, is very important for the life within. Even a change of temperature in the oceans of 2 degrees Celsius could be devastating in some climates. As a result, the effects of climate change must be managed to prevent the destruction of habitats around the world.
Tropical reefs can grow at rates of 1cm to 100cm per year, forming huge structures over long periods of time, making them the largest and oldest living systems on earth. These coral reefs are home to complex ecosystems, providing a ready food source for many sea creatures while serving as locations for breeding or hiding from predators.
Up to 4,000 species can co-exist on a single reef. However, reefs continue to be threatened by acidification, coral bleaching, tropical storms, and climate change. To protect this colorful diversity, it is important to mitigate and reverse the damage that has been, and continues to be, caused by human impact.
Tropical reefs can grow at rates of 1cm to 100cm per year, forming huge structures over long periods of time, making them the largest and oldest living systems on earth. These coral reefs are home to complex ecosystems, providing a ready food source for many sea creatures while serving as locations for breeding or hiding from predators.
Up to 4,000 species can co-exist on a single reef. However, reefs continue to be threatened by acidification, coral bleaching, tropical storms, and climate change. To protect this colorful diversity, it is important to mitigate and reverse the damage that has been, and continues to be, caused by human impact.
Thousands of small fish swim together in this photograph. Many schools of fish migrate through different regions throughout the year, and may be vulnerable to overfishing because it is necessary for multiple nations to cooperate in regulating their capture.
Fish are an important source of protein and are critical for meeting food security demands for the growing human population. Many fish stocks are fully exploited or over-exploited, and measures to ensure sustainable fishing practices must be implemented to ensure that there will be enough fish to sustain future generations.
Shipwrecks have become part of the seascape in various parts of the world, reminding us of the difficulties in navigating the ocean, as well as our history of sailing the seas. Old ship wrecks may contain information about human history, and in many areas have become part of the landscape with reefs beginning to grow upon their remains.
The use of vessels has been instrumental to transportation, securing food, and military activities. Around 90% of world trade is carried by the international shipping industry. Ships serve to connect different countries through trade and tourism, and continue to be instrumental to global interactions and communication.
Tropical reefs can grow at rates of 1cm to 100cm per year, forming huge structures over long periods of time, making them the largest and oldest living systems on earth. These coral reefs are home to complex ecosystems, providing a ready food source for many sea creatures while serving as locations for breeding or hiding from predators.
Up to 4,000 species can co-exist on a single reef. However, reefs continue to be threatened by acidification, coral bleaching, tropical storms, and climate change. To protect this colorful diversity, it is important to mitigate and reverse the damage that has been, and continues to be, caused by human impact.
Shipwrecks have become part of the seascape in various parts of the world, reminding us of the difficulties in navigating the ocean, as well as our history of sailing the seas. Old ship wrecks may contain information about human history, and in many areas have become part of the landscape with reefs beginning to grow upon their remains.
The use of vessels has been instrumental to transportation, securing food, and military activities. Around 90% of world trade is carried by the international shipping industry. Ships serve to connect different countries through trade and tourism, and continue to be instrumental to global interactions and communication.
Jellyfish have been around for more than 650 million years, and there are thousands of different species. Jellyfish live mainly in the ocean, but they aren't actually fish; rather, they are a type of plankton. These plants and animals either float in the water or possess such limited swimming powers that currents control their horizontal movements.
Some plankton are microscopic, single-celled organisms, while others are several feet long. Jellyfish can range in size from less than an inch to nearly 7 feet long, with tentacles up to 100 feet long. Jellyfish are about 98 percent water. If a jellyfish washes up on the beach, it will mostly disappear as the water evaporates. Jellyfish have very simple bodies -- they don't have bones, a brain or a heart.
Above Water Seascapes
This photograph, winning first place for the category “Above Water Seascapes”, illustrates the beauty and the power of the ocean waves. Ocean tides flow high and low with the phases of the moon, and shape our coastlines, carving landscapes with the ebb and flow of the water.
The sheer force of the waves colliding against the rocky shore is both majestic and dangerous, an awe-inspiring reminder of the strength of the waters that continue to change the lines and curves of the land.
Photo by Mark A. Johnson, Australia.
This photograph is the overall winner of the World Oceans Day Photography competition, and the second place winner for the category “Above Water Seascapes”. A seal sits alone on the ice. As climate change continues to affect our environment, sea levels rise and the amount of polar ice shrinks.
Much like the iceberg in the photo, the challenges that affect our oceans are often greater and more complex than they appear. Preserving the oceans, and life in them, depends on humankind, and humans alone have the power and responsibility to take action.
Photo credit - Jonas Thormar, Denmark
This photograph is the third place winner in the category “Above Water Seascapes”. As the sun sets and the sky turns into a brilliant shade of vermillion, a mist settles over the rocky shoreline, hiding the waters from sight.
The eerie beauty of the ocean, shrouded in fog, is akin to many mysteries of the ocean deep. Science and research improve every year, but there are still many aspects of the ocean that have yet to be fully understood by humankind. With each new day, however, humans learn more about the intricacies of the oceans and the life within them.
Photo by Erick Castellon, USA.
Sunsets over the ocean landscape have long been the subject of photography, painting, and other artforms. In the past, sailors would look at the sunset to predict the weather for the next day. For example, it was told that a bright red sky meant the next day would be clear, while a pink sky foretold a storm.
Modern science, however, has linked areas with higher air pollution to less colorful sunsets. Large particles in the lower atmosphere tend to mute the colors because they absorb more light and scatter all the wavelengths more or less equally. Preserving brilliant colors in the sky will depend on keeping the air clean and reducing pollution.
In this photograph, an adult and child walk together as the sun sets on the beach. It signifies the arrival of a new generation, and the uncertainty of the future of our environment. There is a common saying that, “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.”
Ocean resources are not only for use by humans today, but will be inherited by future generations. The need to preserve and protect the oceans is all the more critical to ensure that our children, and beyond, can continue to enjoy these beautiful landscapes and benefit from the resources that the oceans have to offer.
In these photos, the water is clear, blue and tranquil. Clean water contributes to the recreation and tourism industry worldwide by accentuating beautiful beaches, white-water rivers, mountain lakes, and aquatic ecosystems such as coral reefs.
Tourism supports the economies of many coastal countries, and the oceans, in addition to providing us with a source for food and transportation, also can provide us with a source of beauty, peace and contentment. It is important however, to promote sustainable tourism, which provides measures to protect and preserve these areas and ensure their longevity.
In these photos, the water is clear, blue and tranquil. Clean water contributes to the recreation and tourism industry worldwide by accentuating beautiful beaches, white-water rivers, mountain lakes, and aquatic ecosystems such as coral reefs.
Tourism supports the economies of many coastal countries, and the oceans, in addition to providing us with a source for food and transportation, also can provide us with a source of beauty, peace and contentment. It is important however, to promote sustainable tourism, which provides measures to protect and preserve these areas and ensure their longevity.
In these photos, the water is clear, blue and tranquil. Clean water contributes to the recreation and tourism industry worldwide by accentuating beautiful beaches, white-water rivers, mountain lakes, and aquatic ecosystems such as coral reefs.
Tourism supports the economies of many coastal countries, and the oceans, in addition to providing us with a source for food and transportation, also can provide us with a source of beauty, peace and contentment. It is important however, to promote sustainable tourism, which provides measures to protect and preserve these areas and ensure their longevity.
The ruins of a temple by the sea at Tulum, Mexico demonstrate the cultural heritage of coastal countries. In ancient times, Tulum served as a point of defense and a port for thriving maritime commerce. Today, Tulum is a vibrant and active contemporary Mayan community that co-exists with an increasing international population.
The oceans have been important in defense, transport, and food security throughout human history, and the remnants of ruins all over the globe bear testimony to the role that waters have played in the livelihoods of human civilization.
Fish are an important source of protein and critical for food security. Fishermen across the world, especially small scale fisheries, have particular challenges in retaining financial stability while complying with regulations to conserve and protect fish stocks from being overexploited.
A challenge for nations is to enact policies that can preserve the livelihoods of fishermen and the fishing industry, while ensuring that vulnerable fish stocks are being used sustainably.
Lighthouses, like the one photographed above, were built to help ships safely navigate to shore. The ocean waves can be powerful and deadly.
With climate change and the increase in human impact on the environment, the frequency and intensity of tropical storms have increased and will continue to do so, presenting risks to island nations and coastal nations in particular.
The pink color of the water in this photo is due to its high content of salt and minerals. Salt is harvested and piled up in white mounds to process for sale. Salt is essential to human nutrition and life.
This photograph illustrates an example of the many resources that we can derive from oceans and seas, and the ways that we have adapted to utilize them.
Sunsets over the ocean landscape have long been the subject of photography, painting, and other artforms. In the past, sailors would look at the sunset to predict the weather for the next day. For example, it was told that a bright red sky meant the next day would be clear, while a pink sky foretold a storm. Modern science, however, has linked areas with higher air pollution to less colorful sunsets.
Large particles in the lower atmosphere tend to mute the colors because they absorb more light and scatter all the wavelengths more or less equally. Preserving brilliant colors in the sky will depend on keeping the air clean and reducing pollution.
A baby turtle, freshly hatched from its egg, instinctively makes its way to the water by searching for the light that reflects off the waves. As tourism has increased, the lights from hotels on the shore sometimes confuse baby turtles, and they may travel the wrong direction and end up in hotel lobbies.
Conservation efforts have helped to ensure these young turtles reach the ocean, so they can grow, mature, and return once again to the same shores to lay their eggs in the future.
Underwater Life
The photographer finds an octopus hidden in a clam shell in this image that won first place in the “Underwater Life” category. The various interactions of underwater life can be unexpected and surprising.
This scene reminds us of the magic that is constantly taking place underwater, out of the sight or even comprehension of human beings. This photo serves to remind us of how little we know about life beneath the waves, where mysterious and amazing things happen constantly, even in the dark and on the smallest of scales.
Photo by Alan Lo, China.
In this photograph, the second place winner for the category “Underwater Life”, a small fish hides from predators inside a discarded glass jar. Here, someone’s trash provides shelter, but pollution from human activities presents a grave danger for the oceans and their inhabitants.
Almost all oceans today have huge accumulations of garbage, especially plastics, that are deadly to marine life. Ocean ecosystems are highly adaptable, yet fragile. While our oceans have an impressive ability to adapt, we must take care not to overpower their resilience.
Photo credit - Michael Braunstein, USA
In this photograph that won third place in the “Underwater Life” category, a crab cares for the next generation. Thousands of eggs will be released, but the few that hatch and survive will be swept far away by the currents, reflecting the interconnectedness of ocean life. Here, on the dark of the ocean floor, again beyond human sight, an endless and delicate cycle replenishes the pyramid of life.
Tiny creatures such as the crustaceans in this photo help clean the ocean habitat and serve as food for larger animals. If human activity breaks any step in this cycle, no matter how small, the entire system of ecological balance will be endangered.
Photo by Cornelia Thieme, Germany.
The deep sea is filled with great diversity, including the colorful organism pictured here. Underwater, bright colors can serve multiple purposes. For some animals, the colors allow them to attract prey and hunt more efficiently. For others, the colors provide camouflage and help them disappear into their surroundings.
Colors can also help fish communicate with each other and attract a mate. Unlike humans, about half of all fish can detect ultraviolet (UV) light, some can actually see it as a distinct color. Fish that can see UV light often can signal one another with bursts of coloration that only they, and other species that are so-equipped, can see. Many fish actually change their visual systems to optimize the different habitats they use during various stages of their life history.
Spotting a sea turtle is a rare and exciting treat, as several species are endangered. Sea turtles around the world are at risk due to unsound fishing practices (including the black market sale of their eggs and meat), loss of habitat and places to nest, loss of food, and pollution.
For example, sea turtles often die after eating plastic bags, which they mistake for a meal of jellyfish. It’s possible that this sea turtle is older than the young photographer who snapped the picture. This reminds us that from an early age, each of us can enjoy our interactions with the oceans—but that we also have a responsibility to protect the oceans and the beautiful creatures who live in them.
The deep sea is filled with great diversity, including the colorful organism pictured here. Underwater, bright colors can serve multiple purposes. For some animals, the colors allow them to attract prey and hunt more efficiently. For others, the colors provide camouflage and help them disappear into their surroundings.
Colors can also help fish communicate with each other and attract a mate. Unlike humans, about half of all fish can detect ultraviolet (UV) light, some can actually see it as a distinct color. Fish that can see UV light often can signal one another with bursts of coloration that only they, and other species that are so-equipped, can see. Many fish actually change their visual systems to optimize the different habitats they use during various stages of their life history.
The deep sea is filled with great diversity, including the colorful organism pictured here. Underwater, bright colors can serve multiple purposes. For some animals, the colors allow them to attract prey and hunt more efficiently. For others, the colors provide camouflage and help them disappear into their surroundings.
Colors can also help fish communicate with each other and attract a mate. Unlike humans, about half of all fish can detect ultraviolet (UV) light, some can actually see it as a distinct color. Fish that can see UV light often can signal one another with bursts of coloration that only they, and other species that are so-equipped, can see. Many fish actually change their visual systems to optimize the different habitats they use during various stages of their life history.
Sharks have an extremely long history on the planet, with many species existing since the time of dinosaurs, millions of years ago. Today, however, many sharks are endangered due to unsustainable practices such as shark finning for luxury food products.
Conservation efforts, and policies targeted at regulating shark finning and the fishing industry, have helped to protect these predators from the impact of human activities.
Sharks have an extremely long history on the planet, with many species existing since the time of dinosaurs, millions of years ago. Today, however, many sharks are endangered due to unsustainable practices such as shark finning for luxury food products.
Conservation efforts, and policies targeted at regulating shark finning and the fishing industry, have helped to protect these predators from the impact of human activities.
Camouflage is an important asset to many animals in the ocean, and an example of how life in the sea has evolved to ensure survival.
Many animals in the ocean have lighter coloring on their bottom surface and darker coloring on their top surface because when seen from below, white blends in better with the light from the sun, and from above, dark colors blend better with the depths of the water. These adaptations help them to survive by making it more difficult for both predators and prey to discover their presence.
The deep sea is filled with great diversity, including the colorful organisms. Underwater, bright colors can serve multiple purposes. For some animals, the colors allow them to attract prey and hunt more efficiently. For others, the colors provide camouflage and help them disappear into their surroundings.
Colors can also help fish communicate with each other and attract a mate. Unlike humans, about half of all fish can detect ultraviolet (UV) light, some can actually see it as a distinct color. Fish that can see UV light often can signal one another with bursts of coloration that only they, and other species that are so-equipped, can see. Many fish actually change their visual systems to optimize the different habitats they use during various stages of their life history.
Camouflage is an important asset to many animals in the ocean, and an example of how life in the sea has evolved to ensure survival.
Many animals in the ocean have lighter coloring on their bottom surface and darker coloring on their top surface because when seen from below, white blends in better with the light from the sun, and from above, dark colors blend better with the depths of the water. These adaptations help them to survive by making it more difficult for both predators and prey to discover their presence.
The deep sea is filled with great diversity, including the colorful organism pictured here. Underwater, bright colors can serve multiple purposes. For some animals, the colors allow them to attract prey and hunt more efficiently. For others, the colors provide camouflage and help them disappear into their surroundings.
Colors can also help fish communicate with each other and attract a mate. Unlike humans, about half of all fish can detect ultraviolet (UV) light, some can actually see it as a distinct color. Fish that can see UV light often can signal one another with bursts of coloration that only they, and other species that are so-equipped, can see. Many fish actually change their visual systems to optimize the different habitats they use during various stages of their life history.
Anemones and clownfish have a well-known symbiotic relationship. Of the over 1,000 anemone species that live in the ocean, only 10 species coexist with 26 species of tropical clownfish. Within these species, only select pairs of anemone and clownfish are compatible. In the ocean, the clownfish are protected from predator fish by the stinging tentacles of the anemone, to which the clownfish is immune.
The anemone receives protection from polyp-eating fish, like butterfly fish, which the clownfish chases away. The anemone also gets fertilizer from the feces of the clownfish. Together, they are known as obligatory symbionts, which means that each species is highly dependent on the other for survival.
Corals can reproduce asexually and sexually. In asexual reproduction, new clonal polyps bud off from parent polyps to expand or begin new colonies. This occurs when the parent polyp reaches a certain size and divides, a process which continues throughout the animal’s life. About three-quarters of all stony corals reproduce sexually.
Most of these species are broadcast spawners, releasing massive numbers of eggs and sperm into the water to distribute their offspring over a broad geographic area. The eggs and sperm join to form free-floating, or planktonic, larvae called planulae. Large numbers of planulae are produced to compensate for the many hazards, such as predators, that they encounter as they are carried by water currents. The time between planulae formation and settlement is a period of exceptionally high mortality among corals.
Youth
In the winning photo for the Youth category, a sea turtle explores its underwater surroundings. It is an exciting treat to spot a sea turtle, especially one from a rare or endangered species. Sea turtles around the world are at risk due to unsound fishing practices, loss of habitat and places to nest, loss of food, and pollution. For example, sea turtles often die after eating plastic bags, which they mistake for a meal of jellyfish.
Healthy sea turtles can live for decades, so this individual may be older than the young photographer who snapped the picture. The longevity of sea turtles and other species reminds us that each of us has a responsibility to care for the oceans, as they will be there long after we are gone. Will there be sea turtles for the photographer’s children to see?
Photo by Svenja Nanfelt, USA.
The second place winner in the Youth category shows a dolphin diving back into the sea. Many people feel a special affection for dolphins as they are highly intelligent and social animals. They are also curious and sometimes interact with humans at sea, such as by following boats. Dolphins have few natural predators, but many species are at risk due to human activities.
As apex predators, dolphins are vulnerable to the concentration in their bodies of pollutants that have been absorbed by other animals down the food chain. While some fishing activities have been updated to help protect dolphins, they are often killed as “bycatch”, drowning in nets used to catch other fish. The feeling of kinship we experience when seeing dolphins at play reminds us of our connection to the sea and the need to reduce pollution and support sustainable fishing practices.
Photo by Tomás Queimado, Portugal.
The third-place winner in the Youth category shows a cuttlefish. Cuttlefish belong to the same family as octopi and squids. They are plentiful and reproduce quickly, making them important for food. Like other cephalopods, they produce an ink to avoid predators that has also been used by humans for centuries for writing and artwork.
Cuttlefish also display fascinating camouflage behaviors, such as changing color to show alarm. We don’t know what this cuttlefish’s color means, but its ability to express alarm reminds us of the grave challenges faced by the oceans and the need to use ocean resources sustainably.
Photo by Aran Lock, UK
Finalists in the Youth category show a temple on a small island and mangrove trees at water’s edge. The island temple is an example of the role of the oceans in our cultural heritage. This beautiful natural location, and its historical and spiritual significance to people, could be at risk as the oceans rise due to climate change. The mangrove trees are also at risk due to human interaction.
Mangrove ecosystems are extremely important for their biodiversity, for their role as buffers (for example, against erosion, tidal waves and tsunamis), and for fixing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Rising waters, pollution, and removal by humans for development all mean that these valuable ecosystems are in danger around the world.
Finalists in the Youth category show a dolphin breaching the ocean surface and a healthy underwater jungle of seaweed and plants. These two images reflect opposite ends of the food chain. Healthy plant life is critical as a source of nutrition and habitat for aquatic life, and seaweed forests are teeming with diversity from microscopic plankton to large predators. Healthy marine ecosystems are heavily interdependent—if any species disappears or is depleted, the entire system can collapse.
Modern efforts to protect the oceans are increasingly taking an integrated “ecosystem” approach to conservation, rather than focusing solely on specific plants or animals. These photos provide a good way to think about the ecosystem approach: to better protect dolphins, we must also look at aquatic plant life at the bottom of the dolphin’s food chain.
Finalists in the Youth category simply depict the quiet serenity and natural beauty of the oceans, in the form of the sun rising and setting over water. These young photographers paused for a moment to feel connected to the sea and its ancient rhythms.
The endless cycles of sunrise and sunset, the daily tides, and the seasons, remind us that the oceans will be there long after we are gone. Their photographs reflect our place in these cycles. As individuals, we may feel insignificant in comparison to the oceans, but our daily lives do have an impact. The oceans depend on each of us to take responsibility and keep them healthy for generations to come.
Finalists in the Youth category simply depict the quiet serenity and natural beauty of the oceans, in the form of the sun rising and setting over water. These young photographers paused for a moment to feel connected to the sea and its ancient rhythms.
The endless cycles of sunrise and sunset, the daily tides, and the seasons, remind us that the oceans will be there long after we are gone. Their photographs reflect our place in these cycles. As individuals, we may feel insignificant in comparison to the oceans, but our daily lives do have an impact. The oceans depend on each of us to take responsibility and keep them healthy for generations to come.
Finalists in the Youth category simply depict the quiet serenity and natural beauty of the oceans, in the form of the sun rising and setting over water. These young photographers paused for a moment to feel connected to the sea and its ancient rhythms.
The endless cycles of sunrise and sunset, the daily tides, and the seasons, remind us that the oceans will be there long after we are gone. Their photographs reflect our place in these cycles. As individuals, we may feel insignificant in comparison to the oceans, but our daily lives do have an impact. The oceans depend on each of us to take responsibility and keep them healthy for generations to come.
These finalists in the Youth category show a temple on a small island and mangrove trees at water’s edge. The island temple is an example of the role of the oceans in our cultural heritage. This beautiful natural location, and its historical and spiritual significance to people, could be at risk as the oceans rise due to climate change.
The mangrove trees are also at risk due to human interaction. Mangrove ecosystems are extremely important for their biodiversity, for their role as buffers (for example, against erosion, tidal waves and tsunamis), and for fixing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Rising waters, pollution, and removal by humans for development all mean that these valuable ecosystems are in danger around the world.
Finalists in the Youth category show a dolphin breaching the ocean surface and a healthy underwater jungle of seaweed and plants. These two images reflect opposite ends of the food chain. Healthy plant life is critical as a source of nutrition and habitat for aquatic life, and seaweed forests are teeming with diversity from microscopic plankton to large predators.
Healthy marine ecosystems are heavily interdependent—if any species disappears or is depleted, the entire system can collapse. Modern efforts to protect the oceans are increasingly taking an integrated “ecosystem” approach to conservation, rather than focusing solely on specific plants or animals. These photos provide a good way to think about the ecosystem approach: to better protect dolphins, we must also look at aquatic plant life at the bottom of the dolphin’s food chain.
Human Interaction
In the first prize winner for the Human Interaction category, a free diver marvels at a large ray. Rays live in many different areas of the world’s oceans, but often in isolated communities. This means that if one community is depleted by overfishing or other dangers, it will be difficult for that population to recover because of limited interaction with other populations.
This problem is exacerbated by their low rate of reproduction. Rays are vulnerable to depletion due to bycatch as well as direct fishing, pollution, and collisions with boats. There is increasing evidence that rays and many other ocean animals are also harmed by microplastics. This photograph reminds us of the unique and fascinating life forms living beneath the waves and the fragility of marine ecosystems. Responsible diving and tourism can help to raise awareness about how our activities on land can have severe impacts in the ocean.
Photo credit - Ellen Cuylaerts, Belgium
The second place winner in the Human Interaction category shows two children admiring a fish from above the surface of the water. People both young and old have always held a sense of wonder for the mysteries of underwater life.
This photograph highlights the importance of education from an early age about how all life depends on the oceans—for regulating the climate, for food, trade, and livelihoods, and many other ways. The young people in this photo inherit oceans that are in danger from pollution, overfishing, acidification, and most of all, climate change. Together, we can ensure that the oceans can sustain these children and future generations to come.
Photo by Joe Daniels, UK.
In the third prize winner in the Human Interaction category, a whale shark investigates a small boat. Perhaps this gentle giant is bigger than the boat ferrying tourists to catch a glimpse of the largest fish in the sea and the largest non-cetacean animals on earth.
Whale sharks live as long as 70 to 100 years and swim extremely long distances around the planet to find food. The unique point of view of this photo reminds us of how little we know about the world just beneath the waves. It also highlights the tremendous diversity and delicate balance of life in the oceans, from a fish as large as a bus, down to the microscopic plankton that it eats by the billions.
Photo by Alessio Viora, Italy.
In these finalists in the Human Interaction category, people marvel at a manatee, a whale shark and another shark of unknown type. The oceans hold some of the most loved, most feared, and most intriguing animals on earth. Humans have always been fascinated by the rich diversity of animals in the sea, but our perceptions are often based in myth and a lack of information.
For example, it’s possible that early legends of mermaids came from sightings of manatees. Each of these animals, whether we think of them as cute or even dangerous, plays a special role in the delicate balance of life in the ocean. As we think about the responsible use and enjoyment of our oceans, it’s important to view them as entire ecosystems where all life is interconnected.
In these finalists in the Human Interaction category, people marvel at a manatee, a whale shark and another shark of unknown type. The oceans hold some of the most loved, most feared, and most intriguing animals on earth. Humans have always been fascinated by the rich diversity of animals in the sea, but our perceptions are often based in myth and a lack of information.
For example, it’s possible that early legends of mermaids came from sightings of manatees. Each of these animals, whether we think of them as cute or even dangerous, plays a special role in the delicate balance of life in the ocean. As we think about the responsible use and enjoyment of our oceans, it’s important to view them as entire ecosystems where all life is interconnected.
These finalists in the Human Interaction category show divers admiring huge schools of fish. Perhaps these fish will be food for ocean predators, or perhaps they will be food for us! When we see these shimmering masses of fish, it may be hard to imagine that many fish species are seriously endangered by overfishing and pollution.
Fish is the major source of protein for a large portion of the world’s population, and fishing provides work and income for many people as well. These photos remind us of the importance of fish above, as well as below, the waves. The sustainability of the world’s fish stocks depends on sound laws and policies at the national and international levels, sound fishing practices on boats and at docks, and informed, responsible choices at our dinner tables.
In these finalists in the Human Interaction category, people marvel at a manatee, a whale shark and another shark of unknown type. The oceans hold some of the most loved, most feared, and most intriguing animals on earth. Humans have always been fascinated by the rich diversity of animals in the sea, but our perceptions are often based in myth and a lack of information.
For example, it’s possible that early legends of mermaids came from sightings of manatees. Each of these animals, whether we think of them as cute or even dangerous, plays a special role in the delicate balance of life in the ocean. As we think about the responsible use and enjoyment of our oceans, it’s important to view them as entire ecosystems where all life is interconnected.
These finalists in the Human Interaction category show divers admiring huge schools of fish. Perhaps these fish will be food for ocean predators, or perhaps they will be food for us! When we see these shimmering masses of fish, it may be hard to imagine that many fish species are seriously endangered by overfishing and pollution.
Fish is the major source of protein for a large portion of the world’s population, and fishing provides work and income for many people as well. These photos remind us of the importance of fish above, as well as below, the waves. The sustainability of the world’s fish stocks depends on sound laws and policies at the national and international levels, sound fishing practices on boats and at docks, and informed, responsible choices at our dinner tables.
These finalists in the Human Interaction category show people fishing and farming seaweed. These activities are among the many ways that humans enjoy or make their livelihoods from the sea.
Whether for leisure, for sustenance, or for income, the oceans belong to everyone, and the role that women play in ocean-related activities is more important than ever.
These finalists in the Human Interaction category show people fishing and farming seaweed. These activities are among the many ways that humans enjoy or make their livelihoods from the sea.
Whether for leisure, for sustenance, or for income, the oceans belong to everyone, and the role that women play in ocean-related activities is more important than ever.
These finalists in the Human Interaction category show people fishing and farming seaweed. These activities are among the many ways that humans enjoy or make their livelihoods from the sea.
Whether for leisure, for sustenance, or for income, the oceans belong to everyone, and the role that women play in ocean-related activities is more important than ever.
This finalist in the Human Interaction category shows a group of women surfing. By holding on to one another, the surfers gain stability together against the waves.
This can be a reminder of the pleasure we take from the oceans, but also of the need to work together to protect them. Each surfer will look for her own wave to ride, but we’re all in the same ocean.
