UPY 2025

UPY  Save our Seas Foundation Marine Conservation - Commended
'Breathe'
Edwar Herreño

Marine biologist help this hammerhead shark pup to breathe before released it. Thanks to this NGO studies, Costa Rica created the first marine sanctuary for sharks (hammerhead sharks) in Golfito - Costa Rica. Golfito is one of the most important shark nurseries known in this country but it is unfortunately located in a fisherman area. Shark population has decreased in the past years due overfishing and some species like hammerheads now are facing extinction. Golfito is a small fisherman town where fishing is not longer a profit business and people has to find other jobs. Thanks to the biologist studies and the data collected during the past decade, Costa Rica government has expanded and created new MPA (Marine protected areas) and even created transnational marine protected corridors in collaboration with other counties in this area; most recently, the migratory way between Cocos Island in Costa Rica and Galapagos in Ecuador.

Judge's comment: This photo is one of hope, taking us right to the heart of the action and revealing a positive story from the seas.
Alex Mustard