A powerful photograph capturing seaweed farmers at work during low tide on Tanzania's Zanzibar coast has earned high recognition in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. The image, titled "Undersea Harvest," documents the sustainable algae farming practices that are transforming local communities while providing crucial environmental benefits.
Photographer Anna Boyiazis from the United States captured this striking scene showing two women, Maua Mkubwa (standing) and Maua Mdogo, tending to their underwater seaweed farm in the Menai Bay Conservation Area. This location represents the archipelago's largest marine protected area, where traditional fishing communities are adapting to new sustainable practices.
The photograph highlights a critical environmental and economic challenge facing coastal communities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Local residents who have traditionally relied on fishing for their livelihoods are now confronting severely depleted fish stocks. This crisis stems from widespread overfishing and other destructive practices that have damaged the marine ecosystem over time.
A female-led sustainable algae farming initiative has emerged as a promising solution to these interconnected problems. This innovative approach not only improves the economic prospects for local women but also delivers significant environmental advantages. The algae cultivation process naturally absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helps purify the surrounding water, and creates new habitats that support diverse marine life.
The winning photograph was taken using a Nikon Z9 camera with a 70mm f2.8 lens set at 38mm focal length, with technical settings of 1/160 second at f22 aperture and ISO 400. Boyiazis, a documentary photographer who splits her time between Southern California and East Africa, specializes in conservation, human rights, public health, and women's issues.
This image is part of Boyiazis's ongoing project "Finding Freedom in the Water," which was first published by National Geographic and documents women and girls in Zanzibar learning to swim as an act of empowerment. The photographer, who holds an MFA from Yale School of Art and a BA from UCLA School of Arts and Architecture, regularly contributes to major publications including GEO, National Geographic, and The New York Times Magazine.
The photograph competed in the "Oceans - The Bigger Picture" category, which focuses on reporting the vital influence and importance of marine environments for humanity and the planet. This category accepts images taken above or below water that convey symbolic or actual messages about seas as reservoirs of natural abundance, oceans as climate and weather drivers, or examples of human exploitation, protection, or restoration of marine environments.
The recognition of this photograph in the 2025 Adult Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition brings international attention to the innovative conservation efforts taking place in Eastern Africa. The image serves as a powerful reminder of how communities can adapt to environmental challenges through sustainable practices that benefit both people and the planet.
