Gaurav Patil wins the overall prize at the 2026 Mangrove Photography Awards for capturing a hidden 'ghost net' in India.
Gaurav Patil won the overall prize at the 2026 Mangrove Photography Awards for an image capturing a hidden 'ghost net' glowing under ultraviolet light. The photograph, taken south of Mumbai, India, highlights the hazards of discarded fishing nets in mangrove ecosystems. Mangrove forests are vital coastal environments found in over 100 countries. These ecosystems provide nursery habitats for fish, protect coastal communities from storm surges, and sequester significant amounts of carbon dioxide. They are also known to be a significant source of biodiversity, supporting more than 1,500 species. The competition featured images from around the world, including Florida Bay, Indonesia, and the Galapagos Islands. While mangroves face threats from pollution and deforestation, global mangrove cover has seen a net increase of 477.2 square kilometers between 1985 and 2025. The awards showcased the extraordinary beauty and fragility of these coastal forests.