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Finalist Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year

Sirachai Arunrugstichai Myeik Archipelago, Myanmar

11°18'02.4"N 97°58'08.9"E

A transshipment takes place at sea in the Myeik Archipelago where boats transfer their catch onto other boats for transport to Myanmar’s mainland. “These catches often end up in Thailand, a major seafood producer that processes and exports marine products worldwide,” says Arunrugstichai. “Such transshipments limit the traceability of seafood, hindering catch monitoring, regulation enforcement, and management efforts, contributing to the problem of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing which is prevalent in Southeast Asia. Addressing these issues is crucial for the sustainable usage of marine resources and the livelihoods of local communities that depend on the sea.”

BEHIND THE LENS

Ocean Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year 2024, SIRARU1

Sirachai Arunrugstichai Thailand

ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • Windy and wavy
  • Site accessed by boat
  • Photographer boarded the fishing fleet in the middle of the sea
  • Evening, around 8pm

Sirachai “Shin” Arunrugstichai is a Thai photojournalist and marine biologist focused on marine conservation and humanity’s complex relationship with the ocean. An Associate Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, a National Geographic Explorer and a Vital Impacts' Sylvia Earle Grant recipient, Shin’s work spans from environmental crises to social issues. His images have appeared in National Geographic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Guardian, often through his role with Getty Images. When not in the field, Shin contributes to shark and ray research in Southeast Asia as a co-founder of Thai Sharks and Rays, a collaborative marine science initiative.

MORE IMAGES BY Sirachai Arunrugstichai