Lewis Burnett, Shark feeding frenzy, Ningaloo Reef (Animal 2020)

I was lucky enough to witness a handful of these "baitballs" last year on the Ningaloo Reef, an area well known for its healthy shark populations. The humble Anchovy has a hard life on the reef here, following large plankton blooms these small but numerous fish congregate at certain times of the year in huge balls or "baitballs" for safety. Unfortunately for them once the predators in the area catch onto the action these balls last only an hour or so before they are eaten up. Hundreds of sharks, fish and birds smashing apart the smaller bait makes for one of the most amazing experiences an underwater photographer can ask for. Watch your back though as these amped up sharks are beyond excited from all the food in the area!

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.