Overall 2015 World Oceans Day theme winner
Papehau, a 10-year-old Tahitian girl, is watching a rescued baby green sea turtle reaching out to the lagoon. This is a very rare occasion because the number of green sea turtles nesting in French Polynesia has been declining.
This nest, found in November 2014, was the only one seen in 10 years on Moorea Island…te mana o te moana foundation, its sea turtle clinic and its researchers and educators team have developed extensive programs to help sea turtle conservation, children and public awareness in the South Pacific region.
(click to enlarge)
Cécile Gaspar
Marine Biologist
France
2015 Photo Contest Co-Coordinators:
United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs
Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre, International Atomic Energy Agency
The Contest Co-Coordinators would like to thank the following Judges:
Göran Ehlmé, Head Designer, Waterproof Diving International, Gothenburg, Sweden;
Suzanne Gendron, Executive Director of Zoological Operations & Education, Ocean Park, and Foundation Director, Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong, China;
Judy Mann, Conservation Strategist, South African Association for Marine Biological Research, Durban, South Africa;
Kathy Moran, Senior Editor, Natural History, National Geographic, Washington D.C., USA; and
Manu San Felix, Underwater Image Director, Pristine Seas Project, National Geographic, Formentera, Spain.
Winners and finalists of the thematic categories
Underwater Seascapes
Winner
"Living in the Cayman Islands, nothing can beat a sunset at the Sandbar, surrounded by southern stingrays. The moment the tourists are gone, the peace returns and the glorious ocean reveals a few of her mysteries and wonders. I live for those moments and love to share them, hoping more people become enchanted and will protect the ocean balance!"
Ellen Cuylaerts, Belgium
Second Place
"Garden of the Queen in Cuba offers the opportunity between dives to explore the beautiful mangrove. This ecosystem is very special with mangrove trees that host a wide range of life such as as juvenile fishes, birds, mammals and reptiles, including the American crocodile.
Inviting oneself into the territory of the crocodile is an unforgettable experience especially when one comes face to face. Then we can see all the crocodile’s anatomy with its knight-like armor and sharp teeth."
Gregory Lecoeur, France
Third Place
"Earth is chock full of bizarre life, all interdependent and related in one way or another. Though common, jellyfish, such as this Mastigias papua individual, are among the most alien-like creatures that inhabit the seas.
Made up of only two tissue layers and found in every ocean, these relatively simple animals remind us how well particular groups of fauna have adapted to the ever-changing marine world."
Ethan Daniels, USA
Above Water Seascapes
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First Place
"My love for the sea has fuelled my passion for photography and continues to push me to create inspiring photographs. It is on the beaches of Sydney, at ridiculous hours of the morning, that I have strived to capture the beauty of the ocean to share with others.
This photograph of waves rolling in to Manly Beach, just moments after sunrise, celebrates the ocean’s subtle magnificence and shows why it should be protected and cherished."
James Vodicka, Australia
Second Place
"On the sandy beach of "Tortuga" in the magical archipelago of Galapagos, I spotted this endemic reptile that has the unique ability to swim and dive over 10 meters to feed in the sea. The iguana was coming back from the sea and walking to find a place to warm up from the cold water."
Gregory Lecoeur, France
Third Place
"I took this photo in May Day in Qinhuangdao city, China. It was my special birdwatcher’s trip with my friends. In Qinhuangdao we came to Dove Nest Park to see waterbirds.
There was a beautiful view to the seaside from the rock in the park. So I took several pictures of the ocean, although I had only a telephoto lens."
Bair Mokhosoev, Russian Federation
Underwater Life
First Place
"I took this photo in hot waters of the Kingdom of Tonga. This place is an ideal refuge for humpback whales and their calves before migrating to the cold waters of Antarctica. The osmosis between the mother and her baby in this clear and quiet water offers us some hope for future generations."
Fabrice Guerin, France
Second Place
"This photo of schooling fish attempting to avoid the predatory tarpon doesn’t show the real
predator. Fishermen were allowed to net this baitball just a few days after the photo was taken.
My hope for World Ocean Day is that education will help put an end to unsustainable fishing practices and preserve moments in the ocean like this for future generations."
Jennifer O’Neil, USA
Third Place
Youth
First Place
"These photos were captured in Saranggani Province, Philippines using a digital camera while I was on summer vacation. It felt a connection to the World Oceans Day because I wanted people to know the beauty of our nature, including the ocean, which we need to take care of and not destroy."
Jerard Raphaelle Baclay, Philippines
Second Place
"These photos were captured in Saranggani Province, Philippines using a digital camera while I was on summer vacation. It felt a connection to the World Oceans Day because I wanted people to know the beauty of our nature, including the ocean, which we need to take care of and not destroy."
Jerard Raphaelle Baclay, Philippines
Third Place
"In the Bay of Fundy off of Grand Manan Island, the sun is going down out in the open ocean and the sailboat becomes surrounded by several critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whales.
As I lean over the railing to capture photos of these majestic animals, I am reminded of the pure beauty within the ocean and one of the reasons this mysterious blue planet must be protected and cherished."
Jaime Rae, Canada
Human Interaction
First Place
"Nature is amazing, beautiful, cruel, but without interference...in balance. Harp seal pups have 12 days on the ice, being fed by the moms. After that they're on their own, and the circle of life enters a new stage for the adult females: mating season again.
This image was taken on the ice at Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Canada, one of the breeding grounds of the harp seal or saddleback seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus)."
Ellen Cuylaerts, Belgium
Second Place
"Freediving with American crocodiles at “Gardens of the Queen” in Cuba breaks the reputation of this incredible predator. At the top of the food chain, they regulate the healthy balance of the mangrove ecosystem.
Swimming with these predators is the experience of a lifetime and reveals they are not really what we think. They are shy and instinctive with their own personality."
Gregory Lecoeur, France
Third Place
"Victim of their reputation, sharks today are a species in trouble and we must protect them not only for their survival but also for our own! At the top of the food chain, they act as a keystone species in the marine environment by regulating the health of the oceans through keeping ecosystems in a healthy balance."
Gregory Lecoeur, France
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