DPG is pleased to announce the winners and finalists of the First Annual World Oceans Day Photo Competition, jointly organized by the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, The Ocean Project, World Ocean Network, World Festival of Underwater Images, and DPG. From hundreds of entries, the judges selected the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place image in each of the five categories—Above Water Seascapes, Human interaction with the Ocean, Underwater Life, Underwater Seascapes and Youth Photographer—and the organizers selected from the finalists an Overall 2014 World Oceans Day Theme winner.

Congratulations to the Overall Theme winner, Jonas Thormar; to the five category winners, Mark Johnson (Above Water Seascapes), Ellen Cuylaerts (Human interaction with the Ocean), Alan Lo (Underwater Life), Ethan Daniels (Underwater Seascapes), and Svenja Nanfelt (Youth Photographer); and to all the runners-up. The results were announced on June 9, 2014 by the Under-Secretary-General, The Legal Counsel of the United Nations during a reception held in New York at the United Nations on the occasion of World Oceans Day and the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea—attended by some 200 delegates and accompanied by the United Nations Orchestra Quartet.

The organizers would like to thank everyone who participated and congratulate all the winners once again. Thank you for sharing your superb images, and helping us convey the beauty and importance of the oceans to the world.

2014 World Oceans Day Theme Winner

© Jonas Thormar (Denmark). 2014 World Oceans Day Theme Winner and Above Water Seascapes — 2nd Place

Above Water Seascapes

© Mark Johnson (Australia). Above Water Seascapes — Winner

© Erick Castellon (USA). Above Water Seascapes — 3rd Place

Human Interaction with the Ocean

© Ellen Cuylaerts (Belgium). Human Interaction with the Ocean — Winner

© Joe Daniels (UK). Human Interaction with the Ocean — 2nd Place

© Alessio Viora (Italy). Human Interaction with the Ocean — 3rd Place

Underwater Life

© Alan Lo (Hong Kong). Underwater Life — Winner

© Michael Braunstein (USA). Underwater Life — 2nd Place

© Cornelia Thieme (Germany). Underwater Life — 3rd Place

Underwater Seascapes

© Ethan Daniels (USA). Underwater Seascapes — Winner

© Ellen Cuylaerts (Belgium). Underwater Seascapes — 2nd Place

© Thomas Vignaud (France). Underwater Seascapes — 3rd Place

Youth Photographer

© Svenja Nanfelt (USA). Youth Photographer — Winner

© Tomás Queimado (Portugal). Youth Photographer — 2nd Place

© Aran Lock (UK). Youth Photographer — 3rd Place