The NBS-ENGROSSED team is thrilled to announce the winners of our Coastal Photography Competition, after receiving an incredible range of entries that captured the beauty and resilience of our coasts. We received entries from all across the Caribbean and were blown away by the talent shown by every single participant, from the oldest to the youngest. We would like to give a massive thank you to everyone who entered. Following weeks of inspiring entries and tough decisions, it’s finally time to reveal the winners.

Through the Lens of Tomorrow’s Eyes – Under 18

1st Place

Islanders Neglect – Nila Thomas

This photo was taken in Chaguaramas, behind Five Islands, a place where people come to bond with family, relax, or just enjoy some quiet time. Every day you can see boats passing, whether party boats or fishermen. This place has been split into two and everywhere you look you can see the neglect and the absence on respect left behind by the islanders. No matter where you look, one thing stands out: neglect. Piles of tires and metal have been dumped here, along with many piles of trash floating in the waters. Why can’t we have fun and still clean up after ourselves? It shouldn’t be one or the other. This photo doesn’t just show pollution, it shows carelessness, and it asks a simple question: if we love our island so much, why are we treating it like this?

2nd Place

Through the Lens of Erosion, Comes Hope and Resilience of a New Day – Nathan Ali

The magnificent coast line of Trinidad is showcased in the photo, along one the scenic beaches of the north coast. There is a vast ecosystem of life just below and above the waves. Coastal Erosion is a main problem caused by the strong waves and winds. However, in this photo the morning view of the rising sun together with the newly rooted tree symbolise hope for a new, brighter beginning even after negativity strikes as represented by erosion. Thus, this photo depicts beauty and resilience in nature.

3rd Place

Sun, Sea, and Sargassum – Amara Bhim

Taken on the shore at the Maracas Bay Fishing Village, this photo showcases both the beauty and challenges of coastal life. Visitors come for the sun, sea, sand and relaxing scenery. Coastal communities immensely benefit from the income generated through fishing and tourism. However, within the last decade, the Caribbean has seen a surge in Sargassum quantities, evolving from a rare seasonal event into a persistent crisis. Once pristine beaches, can quickly become covered with foul smelling Sargassum mats, repelling beachgoers and tourists. Sargassum also disrupts fishing activities as the seaweed can become caught in nets, lines, and boat propellers.
While there may be some positive uses of Sargassum, it remains a direct challenge to the identity, economy and resilience of Coastal communities and requires mitigation strategies to protect livelihoods and ecosystems.

Honorable Mentions

Light in the Dark – Diondre Phillips
Crunchy Crab Hunt – Kylan Campbell
Catching Dinner – Elizabeth Augustine
 

Through the Lens of Time’s Embrace – 18 & Over

1st Place

Where Fun Meets Destruction – Colleen Edwards

Marigot Bay is known in Saint Lucia as Hurricane Hole and a spot that was filmed in the famous Dr. Doolittle Movie. However, over the years of tourist visits, hotel and AirBnB’s built in the bay has left a devastating marine life. With the loss of mangroves in the bay and the sand on the beach it has left this area polluted and eroded. Tourist also come in on catamarans into the bay which has added to the increase of the beach erosion. With all this being said an environmental group has taken action to do water testing and create a science club with the community to help restore the bay. With coastal cleanups, advocating for the mangroves, and making the hotels do better for the bay.

2nd Place

Whispers of the Bay – Leisha Joseph

Nestled between lush green cliffs and the calm Caribbean Sea, this quiet bay tells a story of harmony between people and nature. The anchored boats reflect a community deeply connected to the sea relying on its resources for livelihood, yet respecting its power and rhythms. Framed by thriving coastal vegetation, this scene illustrates the quiet resilience of nature-based solutions. The natural cove, protected by mangroves and rock formations, acts as a buffer against erosion and storm surge, shielding the shoreline and sustaining the fishing community. In a time of rising climate threats, this photo reminds us of the importance of working with nature not against it. It captures not just beauty, but a way of life built on balance, adaptation, and hope. Coastal protection is not only ecological it’s cultural, and vital to the future of our Caribbean people.

3rd Place

The Mangroves Between Worlds – Chuma Isi

A portal is a threshold or a passageway that leads from one realm, state, or understanding into another. Portals are associated with transformation and transition, access to hidden knowledge, and interconnectedness between worlds. Mangroves are ecological portals, existing at the threshold between land and sea, freshwater and saltwater, stability and fluidity. Mangroves can be portals to future coastal resilience, if we are willing to step through.

No Section Title – 3926 No Column Title – 3927

Honorable Mentions

Shoreline Sustenance – Simone Ganpat
Tobago Oil Spill 2024 – Nandani Bridglal
If Is Not Trash, Is Sargasso – Rol-J Williams
No Bite – Nathan Nancoo
Reflections – Ashleigh Chee Hing

Congratulations once again to all the winners, and thank you to everyone who shared their vision with us. Your photos remind us why protecting these coastlines matters. We also extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsor, CCRIF, for making this competition possible.