Ocean Photographer of the Year 2025 – in pictures

Claudio Moreno, Spain – Conservation (impact), third place

“This image represents one of the most profound moments of my life,” says Moreno Madrid. “It was my first year in Exmouth [Australia], drawn by the stories about Ningaloo Reef. With just a kayak and an obsession with the ocean I explored the reef weekly. On this particular day, a friend and I went to Turquoise Bay, where we encountered this humpback whale, hopelessly entangled in fishing nets, chased by dozens of sharks”