
Winners Gallery


Finalist Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year
Sirachai Arunrugstichai Myeik Archipelago, Myanmar
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

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 an independent photojournalist and marine biologist, specialising in marine conservation stories. He is an Associate Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers and a National Geographic Explorer. Shin regularly works for various conservation organisations and covers news as a stringer for Getty Images. His photographs have been published in National Geographic, Smithsonian, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and the Guardian, among many others.
MORE IMAGES BY Sirachai Arunrugstichai

Human Connection Award: People & Planet Ocean
2023 Rayong, Thailand

Conservation (Impact)Photographer of the Year
2023 Myeik, Myanmar

Conservation (Impact)Photographer of the Year
2023 Rayong, Thailand
Reconnect. Immerse yourself. Be inspired.
Enjoy the vibrancy, beauty and impact of each year's finalist photography, celebrated in our Ocean Photographer of the Year coffee table book collection.
