Glass House
Mar 2023, Anilao, Philippines
A yellow goby perches at the mouth of a discarded glass bottle on the seafloor, appearing to guard the gate of its home. The tiny fish lets out a yawn as if threatening any potential intruders to keep away.
This scene evokes conflicting emotions within me. While the presence of the glass bottle is an unnatural occurrence in the ocean, it has inadvertently provided shelter for the yellow goby. It's a stark reminder of how human waste, which shouldn't exist in nature, has become habitat for some marine animals. It's akin to how sunken ships have transformed into established ecosystems over time. Whether for better or worse, humans have irrevocably altered marine environments, leaving an indelible mark on our oceans.