CFAs: Ocean Conservancy Annual Photo Contest

Contest Categories

• Human Impact: Whether it’s a storm surge due to climate change, or fishing gear removed from a local waterway, how are humans making an impact on the ocean? Rescue efforts, trash cleanups, marine pollution, oil spills, etc. Send in your photos to inspire individuals to take action for the ocean.
• Marine Wildlife: Goblin shark glamour shorts? Sea slug selfies? Porpoise portraits? They love to see ’em ALL. Submit your most amazing photos of ocean wildlife for your chance to win.
• Spectacular Seascapes: From coral reefs to sensational sunsets, send them your awe-inspiring photos of our ocean.

Prize Information

• The Judges Choice—The Grand Prize: $1,500 cash prize
  • Finalists will be selected by a panel of judges from among the eligible entries based on the quality of the contestant’s entry and how well the images convey the theme of the contest. The panel will select one grand prize winner. All decisions of the judging panels are final. You do not need to collect votes to win the Judges Category.
• Category Winners: $300 cash prize
  • One entry will be selected by the voters as winners in each of the three categories: Human Impact, Marine Wildlife and Spectacular Seascapes. The eligible submissions that received the most eligible votes during the Voting Period will be deemed the winner in each of the three categories.
• All winning photos will be featured on the Ocean Conservancy website and social media. The Judge’s Choice winner will be featured in Ocean Conservancy’s 2026 calendar, and category winners may be selected to appear in Ocean Conservancy’s 2026 calendar.

Eligibility Criteria

• If you are 18 years old or younger, you may participate in the Contest with the permission and assistance of your parent(s) or guardian(s). Void where prohibited by law.
• The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Contest entrants do not need to be members of Ocean Conservancy to participate.
• Ocean Conservancy staff, Board Members, interns and their families are not eligible to participate.
• Each entry must be labeled with the name of the photographer, the name of the photograph, date and location of the subject, must be the original work of the contest entrant, and must not have been entered in previous contests or competitions.
• Ocean Conservancy reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify and eliminate any entry for any reason, including but not limited to, because the entry does not comply with these Contest Terms and Conditions.
• The following submissions are ineligible:
  • Shots of aquariums, pools or other captive locations will not be accepted.
  • Photographs of divers touching or stressing marine wildlife will not be accepted.
  • Photographs that involve the willful harassment of wildlife or taken that cause damage to the environment by the photographer will not be accepted.
  • Photos created by or with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence tools are ineligible.

For more information, visit Ocean Conservancy.