3rd Place
British Society of Underwater Photographers (BSoUP)
'Focus on Conservation' Competition
August 2021

Until the rust sets in, it’s adapt or die for this unlucky reef dweller. So far, so good, it’s found a way to survive despite the fishing hook impairment. Sustainable fishing has a way to go.

"I think I’ve seen and photographed the same fish on the barge, as have many others, so there was not as strong a reaction on my first look. However, the image still worked very well for me. It is one of the better processed images in the pack and the treatment suits the dark mood of the story, which is obvious. It didn’t even need a caption, let alone the useful commentary that accompanied it. What’s interesting for me is that the animal is still alive and engaging the viewer with its eye, which is powerful. You probably share its pain and it makes me wonder just how many fish are swimming around with fishing hooks, lines, nets or other human artefacts impeding their lives. We see many, especially those who photograph sharks that are so heavily targeted by long-liners. There must be thousands more that we don’t see. A high impact image."

Judged by Paul Colley

Location: The Barge, Red Sea, Egypt

Photographer: Laura Storm