Photo credits: Mark Ian Cook (left) and Mohamad Hud Zaqwan Mohamed Saufi (right).
The winners of the 2025 Mangrove Photography Awards have been announced, highlighting these unique and fragile ecosystems.
Today is World Mangrove Day, and the Mangrove Action Project is marking it with this fantastic competition, which has been won by Mark Ian Cook with his photo, ‘Birds Eye View of the Hunt.’
At first glance, the scene of Roseate Spoonbills gliding over a lemon shark hunting mullet in the mangrove-lined waters of Florida Bay may give the appearance of a peaceful and balanced habitat. But Cook’s aerial shot documents what could be the last of the Everglades’ iconic birds, whose very health and survival are intrinsically linked with the health of the Everglades.
A flock of Roseate Spoonbills glide over a lemon shark hunting mullet in the shallow, mangrove-lined waters of Florida Bay. Overall winner. | Mark Ian Cook
“Historically, Florida Bay was the primary nesting region of the Roseate Spoonbill in the US, but this species is becoming increasingly rare there as sea level rise negatively impacts their important mangrove foraging habitat,” Cook says.
“Spoonbills are tactile foragers, meaning they feed by touch. However, for this foraging method to be successful, the birds need relatively shallow water with very high densities of fish. This becomes particularly critical during the energetic bottleneck of the nesting season.”
Blue-winged Teal create ephemeral artwork as they dabble for food in the chai-coloured shallows of Florida Bay, Florida. Winner of the Birds category. | Mark Ian CookIn the Jazan region, mangrove trees are vital coastal habitats that provide a rich food environment for migratory flamingos. These birds feed on algae and small invertebrates like crustaceans and plankton in the shallow waters. The mangroves offer a safe refuge, shielding them from disturbances and predators—making them an ideal rest stop during migration and a key contributor to biodiversity along Saudi Arabia’s coastlines. Runner Up in the Birds category. | Ibrahim AlshwaminMoment two Collared Kingfishers fight near a mangrove forest fringe. Highly Commended in the Bird category. | Mohamad Hud Zaqwan Mohamed Saufi.A Pacific Reef Heron hunts a school of fish from a mangrove branch in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Highly Commended in the Bird category. | Nicholas HessA young proboscis monkey enjoys an avicennia fruit amidst the dense mangrove forest. Winner of the Mammals category. | Satwika SatriaSundarbans is a challenging place because Tiger territories keep submerging into water every six hours according to the moon cycle. While there is a myth among people that Tigers do not do scent/territory markings here because they lose the mark in water very quickly, I was lucky to photograph this rare behavior in mangroves. The funny part was that the entire urine went on the subadult Tiger’s face. Runner Up in the Mammals category. | Trikansh SharmaIn the heart of the Sundarbans, the elusive Jungle Cat awakens with a powerful yawn — revealing nature’s sharp edge amid the tangled roots and tidal waters of the mangrove wilderness. Highly Commended in the Mammals category. | Tanmoy Das KarmakarThe dance of a colony of fireflies painting trails of light across a mangrove apple tree in the dark as captured by a long exposure. The trails gathering around this particular tree shows the fireflies’ affinity for the particular tree, with only a few individuals venturing away briefly before turning back. Winner of the Other Species category. | Christian Møldrup LegaardA male Fiddler Crab performing a signal dance in the mud at sunset. Runner Up in the Other Species category. | Javier Aznar González De RuedaAmid the tangle of mangrove roots on Havelock Island in the Andaman archipelago, India, a mudskipper rests between the arching roots of a Rhizophora mangrove tree. Perfectly adapted to an amphibious life, mudskippers use their pectoral fins to “walk” on land, while their protruding eyes scan both sky and water for predators. Thriving at the edge of two worlds, these remarkable fish are synonymous with the mangrove ecosystem. Highly Commended in the Other Species category. | Vydehi KadurA pair of American Crocodiles sit before The Milky Way Galaxy in a mangrove forest in the Florida Everglades. Highly Commended in the Other Species category and Winner of the Young Photographer competition. | Nicholas Hess
Threats
Not far from Bali’s airport and tourist beaches, I came across this mountain of waste towering behind one of the island’s struggling mangrove forests. Young shoots rise while dead trunks mark where others failed. The scene is a quiet warning—of resilience under threat and of what lies just out of frame in paradise. I took this photo to show the uneasy edge where mass tourism, urban waste, and vital ecosystems collide. Winner of the Threats category. | Tom QuinneyA poignant reminder of the dangers lurking in our coastal ecosystems: multiple horseshoe crabs find themselves ensnared in a ghost net that became stuck within the mangroves, highlighting the urgent need for action against marine debris, both in the ocean and on our coastlines. Runner Up in the Threats category. | Daphne Wong
Landscape
A solitary mangrove tree curves gracefully above a smooth, glass-like sea—captured in long exposure, evoking a final, quiet gesture of endurance. Winner of the Black & White category. | Vladimir BorzykinA fisherman is fishing in the river Matla during the low tide. Runner Up in the Black & White category. | Rajesh DharThe harmonious blend of mangrove nature with the modernity of the city — a captivating contrast where urban innovation meets the timeless rhythm of the wild. Winner of the From the Air category. | Ahmed BadwanAerial image taken from a helicopter of a tannin stained tidal creek and mixed mangrove community, NSW north coast. Runner Up in the From the Air category. | Stuart ChapeA stunning view of the Milky Way unfolds above a landscape where mangrove trees and forests blend in perfect harmony. Winner of the On the Ground category. | Gwi Bin LimPhoto taken at the seashore of Trawangan island, Indonesia, during sunset time. Runner Up in the On the Ground category. | Hoang The Nhiem
People
The otters get their reward for a busy morning of fishing. Winner of the Livelihoods category. | Freddie ClaireBakhawan Eco-Park in Kalibo, Aklan is a powerful story of nature’s revival and community resilience. Once a polluted shoreline, it has transformed into a thriving 220-hectare mangrove forest—protecting against climate threats and sustaining local livelihoods. This award-winning eco-park now stands as a symbol of hope, where families like the father and son in this photo enjoy the bounty of restored ecosystems. Runner Up in the Livelihoods category. | Danilo O. Victoriano Jr.
Underwater
While Clibanarius taeniatus is one of Australia’s more common hermit crab species, very little is known about it and I’m not sure it even has a common name. Winner of the Underwater category. | Alex PikeHalf and half scene of mangroves, cardinalfish, and ghost net, Indonesia. Runner Up in the Underwater category. | Renee CapozzolaA juvenile blacktip reef shark swims in its mangrove lagoon nursery in Palau. Highly Commended in the Underwater category. | Kiliii Yuyan
Emirates Award
A serene morning kayak journey through the lush mangroves on one of Abu Dhabi’s tranquil islands — where nature whispers in stillness, and sunlight dances gently on the water’s surface, creating a scene of pure harmony. Winner of the Emirates Award. | Ahmed BadwanAn aerial view from Reem Island where mangrove roots nourish the land, and skyscrapers rise—reflecting a city that breathes with nature. Runner Up for the Emirates Award. | Salem Alsawafi
Mangroves are ecological powerhouses. They sequester up to five times more carbon than terrestrial forests, protect over 15 million people from flooding, support the livelihoods of millions of fishers and coastal communities, and provide vital habitats for countless marine and terrestrial species.
Despite these widespread benefits, 50% of the world’s mangrove ecosystems are at risk of collapse by 2050, due to urban development and deforestation. More info can be found on the Mangrove Action Project website.
