08/06/2026
I'm extremely honored and excited to have won second place in the coral reefs of the world category in the Ocean Geographic Pictures of the Year. This photo was taken in Raja Ampat. While everyone always talks about the coral and marine life diversity in Raja, the mangroves are rarely mentioned.
Mangroves are an extremely important habitat because they:
- act as a nursery to thousands of Marine species including sharks, rays, and commercially fished species. This benefits fishers as well as our oceans.
-are one of the planets best carbon capturers which helps mitigate climate change
- filter water which reduces coastal pollution from reaching the oceans.
-protect shorelines from wave and storm damage by breaking waves before they hit land
-prevent coastal erosion by trapping sediments in their roots
Globally, mangroves are under threat due to coastal development especially for tourism and industries such as shrimp farming.
In my home, Honduras, municipal governments look the other way while mangroves are ripped out to build sandy beaches for hotels. These vital ecosystems need our protection because they also protect us.
A huge thanks to Ocean Geographic and OG Pictures of the Year for the recognition and for shining a spotlight on the threats facing our oceans.
