Photography Exhibition

What Does Marine Protection Mean to Me ?

The Blue4All Photography Contest invited citizens from across Europe to share what marine protection means to them. From numerous of inspiring submissions, 30 photographs have been selected by an international jury for the travelling exhibition and the 2026 Blue4All Marine Protection Calendar. These images, including four sea basin winners, showcase the beauty and importance of our seas and remind us that marine protection can only succeed when we all take part. Explore the gallery below and discover how people across Europe connect with the ocean.

The Winning Photos

Winner Atlantic Ocean - The solution (Vebjørn Karlsen)
This is Norwegian marine protection. Saltstraumen MPA is a very small protected area, with one of the world's strongest maelstroms. The area is protected because it contains endangered, rare and vulnerable nature. But like all other Norwegian MPAs, this is a “paper park”. Unfortunately, these are the images I feel represent this area today.

Winner Baltic Sea - The end of the journey of the European eel (Piotr Balazy)
During a dive near the Torpedo House at Babie Doły, Gulf of Gdańsk, Baltic Sea, I came across an illegally set fyke net full of fish. The European eel has become extremely rare in this part of the Baltic Sea due to overfishing, therefore it was difficult to witness another individual trapped in this way.

Winner North Sea - Sharing the sea (Francis Kerckhof)
To conserve the marine environment, we must learn to share the sea with marine mammals. These mobile creatures are not limited to any single area. Respecting their space and role in the ocean's food web ensures the health and balance of the marine environment.

Winner Med - Brotherhood (Julie Virginie Sferlazzo-Rouvier)
In this shot, two fan worms dance side by side among purple sea fans and orange corals, like siblings supporting each other in the silent sea. Their feathery crowns intertwine without touching—free yet united, each different yet complementary. Around them, life unfolds in a thousand colors, guarding a fragile harmony. As in any true brotherhood, what binds them is not similarity, but mutual trust and shared balance. In this hidden corner of the Mediterranean, biodiversity teaches us that coexistence is possible, and that together—even in the depths—we can shine with our own light.