UPY 2025

UPY 2019 Marine Conservation - Commended
'Prawns and Bycatch'
Aaron Gekoski

For every 1kg of prawns we eat, up to 9kg of fish, other crustaceans, coral, cephalopods, and more may have been killed. Bycatch is one of the greatest threats facing our oceans. In fact, it's thought that 40% of all global catch is bycatch.

The prawn trawling industry is traditionally one of the worst offenders, with some fleets producing as much as 90% bycatch to 10% target catch. Something to consider next time you tuck into a tasty plate of prawns...

I took this image whilst on assignment for Discovery Channel, shooting a film for Shark Week on bycatch. It was an image I'd envisaged before getting on the boat, as a strong visual way of illustrating a complex issue that doesn't receive nearly enough exposure.

Judge's comment: By showing these images to all and often is the way forward. As quoted above... 'A complex issue that doesn't receive nearly enough exposure.
Martin Edge