DPG is very pleased to announce the winners and finalists of the Sixth Annual World Oceans Day Photo Competition, jointly organized by the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, World Ocean Network, World Festival of Underwater Images, IAEA Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre, and DPG. The judges were tasked with selecting 1st, 2nd and 3rd place images from hundreds of entries in seven categories: “Clean Our Ocean,” “Above Water Seascapes,” “Human Interaction: Making a Difference,” “Underwater Life,” “Underwater Seascapes,” “Youth,” and this year’s new category, “Gender and Oceans.” A 2019 World Oceans Day Theme winner was also selected by the organizers.

Congratulations to David Salvatori, whose winning image in the “Human Interaction: Making a Difference” category was the overall winner; to the other category winners, Henley Spiers (“Gender and Oceans”), Jacek Dybowski (“Clean Our Ocean”), Caine Delacy (“Above Water Seascapes”), Galice Hoarau (“Underwater Life”), and Renee Capozzola (“Underwater Seascapes”); and to all the runners-up. Unfortunately, the organizers felt the quality of the entries in the “Youth” category was insufficient to justify recognizing any images. The winners were announced on June 7, 2019, during a celebratory day event at the UN headquarters in New York City, and all the finalists were presented at a reception aboard the Peace Boat vessel, docked at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

The contest partners would like to thank competition curator Ellen Cuylaerts and the judges—Oliver Ang, Adriana Basques, Geo Cloete, Jayne Jenkins, John Thet, and Y.Zin Kim—as well as honorary judge Cristina Mittermeier. The organizers congratulate all of the winners again and would like to thank everyone who participated. Thank you for sharing your work, and helping us convey the beauty, fragility and value of the oceans.

2019 World Oceans Day Theme Winner

© David Salvatori (Italy). 2019 World Oceans Day Theme Winner and Human Interaction: Making a Difference — Winner

Human Interaction: Making a Difference

© Lauren Lambert (United States). Human Interaction: Making a Difference — 2nd Place

© Theresa Guise (United States). Human Interaction: Making a Difference — 3rd Place

Gender and Oceans

© Henley Spiers (United Kingdom). Gender and Oceans — Winner

© Lauren Lambert (United States). Gender and Oceans — 2nd Place

© Des Bowden (Kenya). Gender and Oceans — 3rd Place

Clean Our Ocean

© Jacek Dybowski (Poland). Clean Our Ocean — Winner

© Peter de Maagt (Netherlands). Clean Our Ocean — 2nd Place

© Matthew Ware (United States). Clean Our Ocean — 3rd Place

Above Water Seascapes

© Caine Delacy (United States). Above Water Seascapes — Winner

© Marcelo Ogata (Brazil). Above Water Seascapes — 2nd Place

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

Underwater Life

© Galice Hoarau (France). Underwater Life — Winner

© Songda Cai (Philippines). Underwater Life — 2nd Place

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

Underwater Seascapes

© Renee Capozzola (United States). Underwater Seascapes — Winner

© Alex Rose (United States). Underwater Seascapes — 2nd Place

© Domenico Tripodi (Italy). Underwater Seascapes — 3rd Place