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IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC)

Advancing knowledge and cooperation for a healthy ocean and prosperous society

The Photo Competition 2026: Guardians of the Coral Reef

Call for Entries!

Deadline: 18 April 2026

The IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC), together with Chulalongkorn University, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) of Thailand, Valeura Energy, the Coral and Coastal Conservation Foundation, invites you to participate in its 2nd Photo Competition: Guardians of the Coral Reef!

This year’s theme celebrates the many ways people and nature work together to protect and restore coral reefs for future generations.

Through compelling images, we aim to enhance ocean literacy, inspire ocean stewardship, and support actions towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and contribute to the mission of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030): to catalyse transformative ocean science solutions for sustainable development, connecting people and our ocean.

Categories and Prize

The competition this year features the following three categories and one special award. Each entrant may submit only one photograph to one category.

  1. Community Guardians
    Images featuring local communities, fishers, or volunteers protecting and restoring reefs.
    Focus: Community action, teamwork, local and traditional knowledge in practice.
 
  1. Science & Innovation Guardians
    Images highlighting scientific research, innovative technologies, coral nurseries, restoration activities, and field studies.
    Focus: Scientists and practitioners in action, restoration efforts, and technological innovation.
  1. Nature’s Guardians
    Images capturing coral reefs’ natural defenders—species interactions, biodiversity, and life on the reef that supports its health.
    Focus:     Marine life that sustains reef health (e.g. parrotfish, sea cucumbers, coralline algae).
 

Youth Photographer Special Award
Youth entrants (under 25 years of age as of 8 June 2026) are eligible to apply for the Youth Photographer Special Award. Each youth entrant can submit only one photograph to one of the competition’s main themes: Community Guardians, Science & Innovation Guardians, or Nature’s Guardians.

The winners will be awarded cash prizes and certificates. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners in each of the three main categories and the Youth Photographer Special Award. For each category/award, the first-place winner will receive USD 500, and the second- and third-place winners will each receive USD 200.

Digital Image Requirements

  • The photo must be taken in the Western Pacific, regardless of the participant’s nationality or place of residence.
  • Each entrant should submit only one image to one category.
  • Images must comply with the specific requirements of the selected category.
  • Submissions must be in JPEG format, with a minimum dimension of 1,200 pixels on the longest side and a maximum file size of 10 MB. Higher-resolution files may be requested for exhibition or other official purposes.
  • Each image must be accompanied by an English caption of no more than 200 words, describing the story behind the photo and its relevance to coral reef protection and restoration, indicating where and when it was taken, and crediting the photographer.
    • Please rename your image file(s) before submission using the following format: Country_PhotographerName_Category_PhotoTitle.jpg
      Example: Thailand_Thanakorn_NaturesGuardians_CoralAndTurtle.jpg

Submission

Submit the image in required format via the Google Form by 11:59 pm (Bangkok time, GMT+7) on 18 April 2026.

For those who cannot access the Google Form, please submit the image in required format with a complete Entry Form (Annex III) to email address westpac.photo2026@gmail.com with a copy to iocwestpac@unesco.org by 11:59 pm (Bangkok time, GMT+7) on 18 April 2026.

Image Rights

Entrant shall guarantee that he/she owns the copyright of the submitted image. By entering the Competition, each Entrant grants the Photo Competition organizers a non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license to reproduce, publish, and display the submitted photograph, with credit to the photographer, for media coverage and promotional materials of the event and future competitions, as well as for science communication and educational activities across social media.

Additional Information

The Competition will be judged by a panel of experienced experts including photographers, scientists, and marine resource managers. The panel reserves the right not to award prizes should there be insufficient entries. The panel’s decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

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