Shark Photographer of the Year 2026 Opens for Entries

The Shark Trust has opened entries for Shark Photographer of the Year 2026, and it is a good reminder that sharks, skates, rays, and chimaeras need more than fear headlines to tell the truth about them.

Entries are open until Aug. 31. Photographers can submit up to three images, and this year the overall title goes to the photographer with the strongest set of three. The contest will also recognize standout images from the British Isles and overseas, along with photos that reflect Shark Trust programs such as Living with Sharks, the Oceanics Programme, and the Great Eggcase Hunt.

The winners are scheduled to be announced at the Shark Trust’s For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on Nov. 27. There is a small £5 entry fee, and the top prize includes a shark diving trip to Aliwal Shoal, South Africa.

A photo contest might sound soft compared with tags, seasons, bag limits, and enforcement. It is not. Public attitude shapes wildlife policy, and sharks are one of the clearest examples. Some people want every shark treated like a monster. Others want to pretend big predators carry no risk at all. Both views are lazy.

Divers, spearfishermen, anglers, and coastal families know better. Sharks are wild animals. They deserve respect, not cartoons. Some species need strict protection. Some fisheries need hard management. Some encounters require clear-eyed safety decisions. Conservation works best when people are honest about the animal in front of them.

Good underwater photography can do that. It shows power, beauty, behavior, habitat, and sometimes the scars left by bad human decisions. If you are in the water with a camera and you have the shots, this is worth a look. The ocean does not need more fantasy. It needs people willing to show it straight.