Overfishing in Southeast Asia: an ecological and human drama

The 15th edition of the Carmignac Photojournalism Award is dedicated to Southeast Asia and the violations of human and environmental rights caused by illegal fishing and overfishing.

Applications open from 19 May 2024 to September 9, 2024
>> APPLY HERE

Since the mid-20th century, artisanal coastal fishing has given way to large-scale deep-sea industrial fishing, which affects all the seas of the world. To meet the exponential demand and face the competition, many players in the sector no longer hesitate to resort to used illegal fishing and overfishing practices with devastating consequences.

Today, 80% of the species suitable for consumption are fully exploited or overexploited, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Behind this out-of-control industry which is threatening biodiversity, human rights violations are increasing: deplorable working conditions, widespread forced labour and human trafficking are transforming many seas into no-go areas.
Southeast Asia, which has one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world, is the centre of gravity for global fisheries. According to SEAFDEC (the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center), the region contributed approximately 52% of the total output by fisheries in 2018, representing more than $21 billion. Today it is one of the areas most threatened by illegal fishing practices and human rights violations, particularly in the South China Sea, the Gulf of Thailand as well as the Philippine and Indonesian archipelagos.

The 15th edition of the Carmignac Award supports the production of a 9-month investigative photo report documenting these violations and the consequences of intensive fishing in Southeast Asia.

Interested photographers are invited to submit their applications before September 9, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. (GMT) via the following link.

A jury consisting of experts on the subject and contemporary photography will meet in Paris in September 2024 to select the winning project which will then run from October 2024 to May 2025 and after that will be the subject of a travelling exhibition and a dedicated website.