The Green Fins Photo Contest – “Marine litter, the sea and the coast”
Call for Entries

"The deadline for Green Fins Photo Contest has been extended with two weeks, until 31 July 2008"

Background
The East Asian Seas region
The East Asian Seas region harbors more than a third of the world’s coral reefs and has the highest coral reef biodiversity in the world. Many of the estimated 1.3 billion people living within a hundred kilometers of the coast are dependant directly and indirectly on reef resources for their day-to-day survival. However, 38% of the reefs in Southeast Asia and over 14% in Northeast Asia have already been destroyed over the last few decades by pollution, sedimentation, tourist activities and destructive fishing methods, leaving a large percentage in critical or threatened conditions.

The Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA)
COBSEA is an intergovernmental grouping of ten countries bordering the East Asian Seas. The UNEP COBSEA Secretariat, based in Bangkok, Thailand, is the lead agency of the United Nations for marine environmental matters in East Asia. It is responsible for coordinating the activities of governments, NGOs, UN and donor agencies, and individuals in caring for the regions marine environment. The COBSEA member countries include Australia, Cambodia, People´s Republic of China, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Green Fins Programme
The Green Fins Programme was initiated in 2004 by the UNEP COBSEA Secretariat. It aims to encourage dive and resort operators and clients who use their services to adopt environmentally friendly practices when diving or snorkeling around coral reefs.
The Green Fins is active in three of the most popular diving-destination countries in the region, namely Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. You can find further information on the Green Fins Programme and related topics at www.cobsea.org.

Marine litter
Marine litter, also known as marine debris and marine garbage, enters the sea from land through rivers, from domestic sources, beach-goers, urban areas etc. It also enters the sea from ships and other vessels at sea. Marine litter comprises a wide range of materials, including persistent plastics and a variety of other problematic pollutants.
Marine litter causes a wide range of ecological, environmental and socio-economic impacts, including ingestion by and entanglement of marine life, fouling of coastlines and interference with navigation. It has been suggested by some researchers that an estimated three times more garbage (much of it plastic), is being thrown into the ocean each year than the amount of fish taken out (www.gpa.unep.org).

The Green Fins Photo Contest
The Green Fins Photo Contest is being organized in collaboration between the UNEP COBSEA Secretariat and the Green Fins Programme, and is open to residents in the 10 member countries of COBSEA.

Objectives
The Green Fins photo contest aims to raise awareness of the impact of marine litter on the coral reef ecosystem and the marine environment in general.

Theme
“Marine litter, the sea and the coast”

Eligibility
The contest is open to residents of the 10 member countries of COBSEA - Australia, Cambodia, People’s Republic of China, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.
Entries are encouraged from high school and university students, members of the public, media, government, businesses, private organizations and NGOs.
Members of the selection committee, representatives of organizing and sponsoring institutions or their family members are not eligible for submitting entries.

Prizes
All three winners will be invited to attend the 2nd COBSEA Marine Litter Workshop and Cleanup Campaign in Pattaya, Thailand, 18-20 September 2008. With the help from its sponsors, the COBSEA Secretariat will cover the cost for travel and accommodation during the time of the workshop. In addition, the three winners will receive:
1st prize: USD 500
2nd prize: USD 300
3rd prize: USD 200

Entry Rules and Conditions
1. There is no age limit.
2. You can only submit one photo per entry, but you can submit as many entries as you want.
3. All entered photos should have been photographed within one of the 10 member countries of COBSEA.
4. Feel free to
- Enter color, black and white, or partially desaturated photos.
- Edit your photo however you like.
- Enter photos taken at any time.
- Enter composite photos, where you combine more than one photo into what looks like a single image.
- Enter photos of other kinds of artwork as long as you own the copyright for such artwork.
5. All entered photos should illustrate the theme of the photo contest: “Marine litter, the sea and the coast”.
6. You must be the sole author and owner of the copyright for all photos entered.
7. The Selection Committee reserves the right to disqualify photos for any reason. Don’t enter photos that:
- You didn't take or for which someone else owns the copyright;
- Show someone else's copyrighted work (for example, a photo of a painting);
- Serve mainly to advertise a product;
- Show nudity, drugs, violence, or symbols or acts of hatred; or
- Photos that are illegal or prohibited.
8. By submitting photos you give UNEP and the Green Fins Programme permission to use the photos for non-profit purposes, including but not limited to environmental education and awareness. This permission includes, but is not limited to, publication by UNEP and the Green Fins Programme in printed materials, television broadcasts and web sites. You will not be compensated for such use. However, where reasonable, we will acknowledge credit for the photos.

Photo format guidelines
• Entries have to be original digital photos with sufficient native resolution to be printed in ”11.2 x 18” at exhibition quality (6 Mega Pixels or above).
• Entries should be submitted as email attachments and should be in JPEG format (jpg or jpeg) and the file size should not exceed 3 MB.
• Lower resolution photos will be accepted where your internet connection or email provider does not allow the upload of high resolution photos. If this is the case, entrants will be asked to submit the original digital file after the judges have selected the 30 finalists.
• Email your photos to us at (email address) from a real email account so that it is easier for us to contact you if you’re a finalist.
• Entries must be accompanied by a filled-in entry form. The entry form can be downloaded from www.cobsea.org and www.greenfins-thailand.org. Photos without entry forms will not be considered.

Deadline
Entry forms with photos should reach the UNEP COBSEA Secretariat by midnight 31st of July 2008. No entries will be accepted after the deadline.

To submit your entries
• Email your entries together with your filled entry form to: greenfins.photocontest@gmail.com
• Write “Marine litter, the sea and the coast” in the subject line of your email and include your name in the photo file name (e.g. StevenCooper_ReefSabah2020.jpg).
• Make sure you have provided the photo file name also in your entry form.
• Please submit your photos only as described above. Unfortunately, only digital files can be accepted. Prints and CDs cannot be accepted.

Selection of winners
A Selection Committee consisting of representatives from UNEP, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand and Green Fins representatives will choose 30 finalists based on artistry, photo quality and how well the photos portray the photo contest’s theme.

The 30 finalists will be notified by 31st of July 2008. Finalists who did not previously submit a high-resolution version of their photograph via email are requested to submit it on CD-Rom by mail to:-
COBSEA Secretariat,
United Nations Environment Programme
United Nations Building, Floor 2, Block B
Rajdamnern Nok Avenue
Bangkok 10200
Thailand

Winners and commended photographs will be notified by the 8th August 2008.
An award ceremony for winning entries will be held in Pattaya, Thailand on Saturday 20th of September 2008.

ENTRY FORM
( Click Here )