Monday's Inspirational Photo: Hawksbill

For the second year, Monterey Bay Aquarium invited folks to celebrate World Ocean Day by submitting their best, most beautiful and most inspirational ocean photos to our annual Ocean Action Team photo contest.

We received more than 200 incredible entries and had a hard time selecting just three to recognize. Our 2008 winner is Becky Kelly, for her photo, "Hawksbill in Cozumel, Mexico 2008".

Hawksbills, like most sea turtles, are critically endangered and are on the IUCN red list as a protected species. The beauty that Becky captured in her photograph documents just one reason why our world is richer for their continued existence.

Congratulations to Becky and all the other entrants. Please: keep enjoying the ocean, and taking great photos. We'll be seeking new submissions for the contest in 2009.