Protecting our planet
Looking after the seas of the world is becoming increasingly important. In 2015 the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity set the target to protect 10% of the world's oceans by 2020, rather than 3% that is protected today, and earlier this year the UK government announced the creation of 23 new Marine Conservation Zones in English waters, but there is still a long way to go.
The organisers of the Underwater Photographer of the Year competition hope that by sharing the beauty of the underwater world, more people will realise how important it is to protect it.