Community News

Calling all divers, boaters, anglers, paddlers, birders and photographers!

Grab your camera and capture your experiences in the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary. Then, share your adventures online in a nationwide photo contest.

The annual “Get into Your Sanctuary” photo competition is hosted by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA)’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (NMS) and runs through Monday, Sept. 1. Photographers of all skill levels – aged 13 years and older – are invited to participate.

Pictures can be submitted in any of the following four categories:

• Sanctuary Recreation: shows responsible recreation on, in or near the proposed sanctuary, such as swimming, boating, paddling, diving or enjoying the beach.
• Sanctuary Views: shows the scenic beauty of the sanctuaries, including sunrises, sunsets and weather photos.
• Sanctuary Life: shows sanctuary inhabitants such as birds, fish and marine mammals. Be sure to follow NOAA wildlife viewing guidelines at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/wildlife-viewing/ to ensure inhabitants are not disturbed.
• Sanctuaries Around the World: shows the photographer’s personal connection to the ocean with photos from anywhere in the world. Submissions can include photos taken in the United States as long as it is outside of a national marine sanctuary. Photographers submitting to Sanctuaries Around the World should follow the guidance of the other three categories.

Photographers may submit up to 10 photographs. Submission forms for each category can be found at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/photo-contest.html.

Each photo must be a minimum of 1200 pixels on the long edge and contain no watermarks. They must also include the photographer’s name, date and location of the snapshot, and a brief description of the image.

Submissions featuring marine mammals and other protected species should include the species name (if known) and the kind of camera/lens used and approximate distance from the subject to ensure best wildlife photography practices.

Winning photographs will be featured in the “Earth is Blue” social media campaign.

Learn more about national marine sanctuaries by following NOAA’s Office of NMS on social media. Photographers are encouraged to tell their friends about the contest on social media by using #GetIntoYourSanctuary and #RecreateResponsibly.

For more information about the photo contest, visit https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/photo-contest.html or email earthisblue@noaa.gov.

The Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary was designated in 2024 and encompasses more than 1,700 square miles in eastern Lake Ontario. It protects and showcases dozens of shipwrecks and other historically significant underwater assets. For more information on the Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary, visit https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/lake-ontario/.