Sage Ono's Image

Sage Ono (USA) explores the abundant life around the giant kelp forests in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

“With delicate lighting and a simple, yet effective composition, the photographer shows how beauty can be revealed if we take the time to look closely,” comments Wildlife Photographer, Biologist and Competition Judge Chien Lee.

The tube-snout is a small, pointy-nosed relative of the stickleback, and the two species have similar reproductive behaviour. Male tube-snouts secrete sticky threads which they use to bind together a nest of vegetation to attract mates.

A tube-snout’s nest is not used to house the eggs. Instead, females string their eggs around nearby stalks of giant kelp. The resident male guards them aggressively until they hatch.

These tube-snout fish eggs will fade in colour as the embryos develop. But for now, they sparkle like gems next to the kelp’s gold, glowing, gas-filled buoyancy aids. The green serrated edges of the kelp fronds complete the composition.