UPY 2025

UPY 2016 Behaviour - Commended
'Life Begins - Bumphead Parrotfish Spawning'
Richard Barnden

Around the New moon thousands of Bumphead Parrotfish (Bolbometepon muricatum) gather at a special site in Palau for only a select period of time for the sole purpose of spawning and continuing their species. To be able to witness this exact timing takes a formula of tide, moon and light. It took me about a year of trying different lens combinations to finally get something I was happy with. The fish were always aware of my presence and getting close without disturbing their natural behavior was a challenge, especially as they were moving quite fast most of the time. On this particular dive all the factors came together and I was able to be in the right place at the right time as a spawning rush came from below straight towards me and broke apart, spawning right in front of the camera.