An adult seahorse pictured with newly born juveniles in the shallow seaweed-filled waters of Moorea, French Polynesia. (Julien Anton / Ocean Photographer of the Year via SWNS)
By Dean Murray
A portrait of a male seahorse and two tiny juveniles has helped win Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026.
It was taken by French photographer Julien Anton, who was also named winner of the Wildlife category.
The international contest sees winning shots celebrate marine wildlife, conservation, adventure and our deep connection to the sea.
An American crocodile moves through the mangroves of Cuba, a habitat that provides shelter for feeding, breeding, nesting and raising young. Beneath the trees, fallen leaves break down into nutrient-rich sediment. (Jenny Stock / Ocean Photographer of the Year via SWNS)
Anton said: "Winning Ocean Photographer of the Year is an immense honor – one I'm proud to share with my family, and with the local residents, naturalists and fishermen of Tahiti and Moorea whose knowledge made this image possible.
"We spent countless hours searching in difficult conditions, with no guarantee of finding a single seahorse.
A green turtle approaches the camera, appearing curious about her reflection in its dome port, captured in French Polynesia. (Jenny Stock / Ocean Photographer of the Year via SWNS)
"That is what made the moment so extraordinary – when the juveniles turned back towards the adult, it felt like something far beyond what I had dared to hope for."
The recipient of this year's Female Fifty Fathoms Award was British photographer Jenny Stock, an honor created in 2021 by contest co-presenters Oceanographic and Blancpain to celebrate pioneering and boundary-pushing women in ocean photography.
A mother humpback whale and her calf glide through Tonga's warm, sheltered waters. (Jenny Stock / Ocean Photographer of the Year via SWNS)
Jenny Stock said: "To be nominated by fellow ocean photographers means more to me than I can easily express – this community is everything.
"The Female Fifty Fathoms Award is particularly special because it celebrates the achievements and passion of women in ocean photography, and the women who have previously won it are exceptionally talented, so it's a privilege to join their ranks."
Finalist Conservation Hope category: Thirty days after the 2023 Lahaina wildfire claimed 102 lives, thousands gathered off West Maui for a traditional Hawaiian paddle-out ceremony. Surfers and families formed a circle on the ocean, linking hands and releasing leis in memory of those lost. (Daniel Edmond Sullivan Jr. / Ocean Photographer of the Year via SWNS)
Other competition highlights include an image by Daniel Edmond Sullivan Jr., finalist in the Conservation Hope category, of a poignant Hawaiian paddle-out ceremony 30 days after the 2023 Lahaina wildfire claimed 102 lives, while Conservation Impact category winner James Ferrara captured a whale shark surrounded by divers and snorkelers in the Raa Atoll, Maldives.
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