UPY 2025

UPY  Marine Conservation - Highly Commended
'Estuary misery'
Martin Rejžek

With water not suitable for drinking or watering most crops, brackish estuaries in Socotra Island are commonly used as dump sites and are waiting for monsoon floods that flush the rubbish to the sea. Leaking and leaching chemicals, eutrophication from sewerage and isolation from the sea due to road construction add to the dreary state of the ecosystem. Perceived by people as having little value, these coastal bodies of water, however, have paramount importance as nursery sites for fish. Dozens of fish have been found inhabiting the estuaries. These muddy habitats have also vital importance for a large number of birds and other fauna. Let’s hope better awareness will soon lead to remedial actions resulting in healthy ecosystem without desperate goats scavenging for cardboard and food leftovers.

Judge's comment: Have we created Hell? If this image is anything to go by, I would say 'Yes' but surely this toxic waste can be removed, cleaned up and natural life regenerated? The hope is that images like this will achieve that.
- Peter Rowlands