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Finalist Conservation (Impact) Photographer of the Year

Julia Ochs Spain

39°17'40.6"N 2°04'53.8"E

"This image captures a rarely seen moment aboard a small bottom trawler in the Mediterranean," says Ochs. "After slowly gaining the fishermen’s trust, I was allowed to join them for a 14-hour shift at sea. Twice a day, a 100-metre net is dragged along the seafloor at depths of up to 800 metres. When it resurfaced, the catch spilled onto the deck – catsharks, rays, crabs, and countless others, many still struggling for life. Most wouldn’t feed anyone. They were bycatch, later discarded as waste. The experience left a lasting mark, and strengthened my resolve to expose this destructive practice and help end it."

BEHIND THE LENS

Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025, JULOCH5

Julia Ochs Germany

ABOUT THE IMAGE

  • 9am, 6 hours into shoot
  • Rough sea conditions
  • Far offshore
  • f/6.3, 1/160s, ISO 100

Julia Ochs is a German ocean photographer and environmental advocate dedicated to revealing the beauty and vulnerability of marine ecosystems. Through powerful imagery, she documents both the majesty of the ocean and the destructive impact of human activity, such as overfishing. Beyond her photography, she moderates expert panels, works closely with NGOs, and champions the role of individual action in driving environmental change. She is also the founder of OCEAN GALLERY, an exhibition space that uses art and culture to spark deeper engagement with ocean conservation.

IMAGES BY Julia Ochs