as long as I remember I’ve had a fascination for our oceans whether it
fascination for our oceans whether it
fascination for our oceans whether it was by surfing waves or seeing what lay
was by surfing waves or seeing what lay
was by surfing waves or seeing what lay beneath their surface this passion for
beneath their surface this passion for
beneath their surface this passion for our blue planet has dictated my whole
our blue planet has dictated my whole
our blue planet has dictated my whole life so far by pursuing this passion I
life so far by pursuing this passion I
life so far by pursuing this passion I managed to make a living by sharing the
managed to make a living by sharing the
managed to make a living by sharing the oceans beauty to photography and film I
oceans beauty to photography and film I
oceans beauty to photography and film I started out by wanting to show just how
started out by wanting to show just how
started out by wanting to show just how beautiful our world is and highlight
beautiful our world is and highlight
beautiful our world is and highlight underwater ecosystems just like this
underwater ecosystems just like this
underwater ecosystems just like this coral reef here
coral reef here
coral reef here with the hopes of educating and
with the hopes of educating and
with the hopes of educating and inspiring people to care a little bit
inspiring people to care a little bit
inspiring people to care a little bit more about our blue planet throughout my
more about our blue planet throughout my
more about our blue planet throughout my question documenting these wonders of
question documenting these wonders of
question documenting these wonders of our underwater world
our underwater world
our underwater world I began to realize just how important
I began to realize just how important
I began to realize just how important these blue parts on our globe are for
these blue parts on our globe are for
these blue parts on our globe are for our very own survival let me give you a
our very own survival let me give you a
our very own survival let me give you a few facts here all human life is
few facts here all human life is
few facts here all human life is affected by our oceans they cover 71% of
affected by our oceans they cover 71% of
affected by our oceans they cover 71% of the planet they feed us they help
the planet they feed us they help
the planet they feed us they help regulate the globe’s temperature they
regulate the globe’s temperature they
regulate the globe’s temperature they provide us with energy with
provide us with energy with
provide us with energy with entertainment coral waves are continuing
entertainment coral waves are continuing
entertainment coral waves are continuing to prove they’re an important source for
to prove they’re an important source for
to prove they’re an important source for new medicines being developed and about
new medicines being developed and about
new medicines being developed and about 50% of the oxygen we breathe comes from
50% of the oxygen we breathe comes from
50% of the oxygen we breathe comes from the ocean think about that when you’re
the ocean think about that when you’re
the ocean think about that when you’re sitting here in breathing OH
sitting here in breathing OH
sitting here in breathing OH they’re also one of the largest carbon
they’re also one of the largest carbon
they’re also one of the largest carbon sinks on the planet and on top of all
sinks on the planet and on top of all
sinks on the planet and on top of all that about 1 billion people largely
that about 1 billion people largely
that about 1 billion people largely living in developing countries rely on
living in developing countries rely on
living in developing countries rely on fish as their primary source of protein
fish as their primary source of protein
fish as their primary source of protein in certain communities it’s very easy to
in certain communities it’s very easy to
in certain communities it’s very easy to see their connection with the ocean and
see their connection with the ocean and
see their connection with the ocean and just how big of a role it plays in their
just how big of a role it plays in their
just how big of a role it plays in their lives
lives
lives I’ve met with seaweed farmers in
I’ve met with seaweed farmers in
I’ve met with seaweed farmers in Southeast Asia who after decades of
Southeast Asia who after decades of
Southeast Asia who after decades of using destructive fishing methods
using destructive fishing methods
using destructive fishing methods resorted to this more sustainable and
resorted to this more sustainable and
resorted to this more sustainable and more profitable way of life I’ve also
more profitable way of life I’ve also
more profitable way of life I’ve also seen fishermen in Tanzania will go out
seen fishermen in Tanzania will go out
seen fishermen in Tanzania will go out and look for whale sharks not the hunt
and look for whale sharks not the hunt
and look for whale sharks not the hunt is beautiful big fish but they’ve
is beautiful big fish but they’ve
is beautiful big fish but they’ve realized that these whale sharks in the
realized that these whale sharks in the
realized that these whale sharks in the schools of fish they’re after
schools of fish they’re after
schools of fish they’re after feed on the same prey I found out it’s
feed on the same prey I found out it’s
feed on the same prey I found out it’s not photographers it’s actually these
not photographers it’s actually these
not photographers it’s actually these small little shrimps but I’ve also met a
small little shrimps but I’ve also met a
small little shrimps but I’ve also met a community of Bajau or sea gypsies who
community of Bajau or sea gypsies who
community of Bajau or sea gypsies who could no longer use their traditional
could no longer use their traditional
could no longer use their traditional fishing methods as there simply wasn’t
fishing methods as there simply wasn’t
fishing methods as there simply wasn’t enough fish
enough fish
enough fish left in the sea where they live instead
left in the sea where they live instead
left in the sea where they live instead they have to resort to compressor diving
they have to resort to compressor diving
they have to resort to compressor diving to catch any fish at all this dangerous
to catch any fish at all this dangerous
to catch any fish at all this dangerous practice as you can see this fishermen
practice as you can see this fishermen
practice as you can see this fishermen do here is you know the little plastic
do here is you know the little plastic
do here is you know the little plastic tube in his mouth is providing him with
tube in his mouth is providing him with
tube in his mouth is providing him with air that’s supplied from the surface by
air that’s supplied from the surface by
air that’s supplied from the surface by an old compressor that his wife was
an old compressor that his wife was
an old compressor that his wife was operating now these compressors they
operating now these compressors they
operating now these compressors they often break they’re full of fumes so you
often break they’re full of fumes so you
often break they’re full of fumes so you can imagine it’s a very unhealthy and
can imagine it’s a very unhealthy and
can imagine it’s a very unhealthy and dangerous practice and the people in his
dangerous practice and the people in his
dangerous practice and the people in his village many of the men have had been in
village many of the men have had been in
village many of the men have had been in accidents some have passed away some are
accidents some have passed away some are
accidents some have passed away some are paralyzed so a very dangerous practiced
paralyzed so a very dangerous practiced
paralyzed so a very dangerous practiced eke out a living so even though our
eke out a living so even though our
eke out a living so even though our oceans are so important to us we haven’t
oceans are so important to us we haven’t
oceans are so important to us we haven’t done very well in preserving them
done very well in preserving them
done very well in preserving them overfishing a practice where we take
overfishing a practice where we take
overfishing a practice where we take more fish than can possibly be
more fish than can possibly be
more fish than can possibly be replenished happens on a daily basis
replenished happens on a daily basis
replenished happens on a daily basis coastal pollution is creating ocean dead
coastal pollution is creating ocean dead
coastal pollution is creating ocean dead zones that might never recover a
zones that might never recover a
zones that might never recover a changing climate due to excessive carbon
changing climate due to excessive carbon
changing climate due to excessive carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is causing sea
dioxide in our atmosphere is causing sea
dioxide in our atmosphere is causing sea levels to rise in oceans to become more
levels to rise in oceans to become more
levels to rise in oceans to become more acidic which directly impacts coral
acidic which directly impacts coral
acidic which directly impacts coral reefs around the world in these coral
reefs around the world in these coral
reefs around the world in these coral reef structures think about them as the
reef structures think about them as the
reef structures think about them as the buildings in a big city like New York
buildings in a big city like New York
buildings in a big city like New York for example now imagine this city
for example now imagine this city
for example now imagine this city without these buildings or only damaged
without these buildings or only damaged
without these buildings or only damaged buildings this is the equivalent of and
buildings this is the equivalent of and
buildings this is the equivalent of and on the water scene like that
on the water scene like that
on the water scene like that it’s kind of grim and no life left
it’s kind of grim and no life left
it’s kind of grim and no life left what’s supposed to be a driving
what’s supposed to be a driving
what’s supposed to be a driving ecosystem is just completely empty
knowing all this was happening to our
knowing all this was happening to our oceans I started to feel an obligation
oceans I started to feel an obligation
oceans I started to feel an obligation to not only document the beauty but also
to not only document the beauty but also
to not only document the beauty but also highlight the destruction of our marine
highlight the destruction of our marine
highlight the destruction of our marine resources well this isn’t as fun and
resources well this isn’t as fun and
resources well this isn’t as fun and definitely not as glamorous as
definitely not as glamorous as
definitely not as glamorous as photographing pristine ecosystems or
photographing pristine ecosystems or
photographing pristine ecosystems or filming charismatic marine megafauna I
filming charismatic marine megafauna I
filming charismatic marine megafauna I found that by working together with
found that by working together with
found that by working together with people that were equally passionate
people that were equally passionate
people that were equally passionate about ocean conservation yet had
about ocean conservation yet had
about ocean conservation yet had different skill sets than me we could
different skill sets than me we could
different skill sets than me we could actually make a difference in conserving
actually make a difference in conserving
actually make a difference in conserving this blue marble we live on making this
this blue marble we live on making this
this blue marble we live on making this realization had a huge impact on my life
realization had a huge impact on my life
realization had a huge impact on my life as a photographer and filmmaker and I
as a photographer and filmmaker and I
as a photographer and filmmaker and I started to seek out scientists and
started to seek out scientists and
started to seek out scientists and different conservation groups and work
different conservation groups and work
different conservation groups and work together with them to shed light on the
together with them to shed light on the
together with them to shed light on the important work they were doing kind of
important work they were doing kind of
important work they were doing kind of creating more awareness maybe changing a
creating more awareness maybe changing a
creating more awareness maybe changing a few minds here were there and I was
few minds here were there and I was
few minds here were there and I was positively surprised to find out
positively surprised to find out
positively surprised to find out big of a role these storytelling images
big of a role these storytelling images
big of a role these storytelling images and video could play in all this
and video could play in all this
and video could play in all this in 2014 I came across quite a
in 2014 I came across quite a
in 2014 I came across quite a fascinating story I was living in the
fascinating story I was living in the
fascinating story I was living in the Philippines back then and typhoon Haiyan
Philippines back then and typhoon Haiyan
Philippines back then and typhoon Haiyan had just hit the country causing
had just hit the country causing
had just hit the country causing widespread destruction part of my work
widespread destruction part of my work
widespread destruction part of my work was covering the aftermath in order to
was covering the aftermath in order to
was covering the aftermath in order to raise funds for the people affected by
raise funds for the people affected by
raise funds for the people affected by this natural disaster when we came
this natural disaster when we came
this natural disaster when we came across one Island it seemed that the
across one Island it seemed that the
across one Island it seemed that the locals were recovering quite well on
locals were recovering quite well on
locals were recovering quite well on their own terms the main reason being
their own terms the main reason being
their own terms the main reason being was that they still had their livelihood
was that they still had their livelihood
was that they still had their livelihood they might have lost their homes and
they might have lost their homes and
they might have lost their homes and their Island was heavily affected by the
their Island was heavily affected by the
their Island was heavily affected by the typhoon but their livelihood was intact
typhoon but their livelihood was intact
typhoon but their livelihood was intact and here on this island called
and here on this island called
and here on this island called malapascua the locals heavily depended
malapascua the locals heavily depended
malapascua the locals heavily depended on the presence of treasure sharks so
on the presence of treasure sharks so
on the presence of treasure sharks so divers from all over the world come here
divers from all over the world come here
divers from all over the world come here to see these beautiful long-tailed
to see these beautiful long-tailed
to see these beautiful long-tailed charismatic animals and they pay very
charismatic animals and they pay very
charismatic animals and they pay very good money to do so you see a group of
good money to do so you see a group of
good money to do so you see a group of divers and one of these sharks passing
divers and one of these sharks passing
divers and one of these sharks passing by very close and just in case you’re
by very close and just in case you’re
by very close and just in case you’re wondering this isn’t a breakfast buffet
wondering this isn’t a breakfast buffet
wondering this isn’t a breakfast buffet for sharks these sharks are actually
for sharks these sharks are actually
for sharks these sharks are actually very harmless like pretty much all
very harmless like pretty much all
very harmless like pretty much all sharks and rarely take an interest in us
sharks and rarely take an interest in us
sharks and rarely take an interest in us but tourism like this though brings in a
but tourism like this though brings in a
but tourism like this though brings in a lot of money and for the locals in
lot of money and for the locals in
lot of money and for the locals in malapascua it was more than enough to
malapascua it was more than enough to
malapascua it was more than enough to rebuild their homes and recover from
rebuild their homes and recover from
rebuild their homes and recover from this typhoon on their own terms
this typhoon on their own terms
this typhoon on their own terms unlike some other communities that
unlike some other communities that
unlike some other communities that mainly relied on fishing as a primary
mainly relied on fishing as a primary
mainly relied on fishing as a primary source of income oddly enough though
source of income oddly enough though
source of income oddly enough though even though these sharks were worth so
even though these sharks were worth so
even though these sharks were worth so much more alive than dead they were
much more alive than dead they were
much more alive than dead they were still fished quite heavily knowing this
still fished quite heavily knowing this
still fished quite heavily knowing this was happening I started working together
was happening I started working together
was happening I started working together with different conservation groups on
with different conservation groups on
with different conservation groups on campaigns to try to get more protection
campaigns to try to get more protection
campaigns to try to get more protection for these sharks with their help we
for these sharks with their help we
for these sharks with their help we managed to present a story of malapascua
managed to present a story of malapascua
managed to present a story of malapascua and sharks at the Convention on
and sharks at the Convention on
and sharks at the Convention on International trade in endangered
International trade in endangered
International trade in endangered species it’s an event where world
species it’s an event where world
species it’s an event where world leaders come together and they decide on
leaders come together and they decide on
leaders come together and they decide on which species will gain more or less
which species will gain more or less
which species will gain more or less protection based on certain criteria
protection based on certain criteria
protection based on certain criteria kind of like a Noah’s Ark of
kind of like a Noah’s Ark of
kind of like a Noah’s Ark of conservation so this was a good success
conservation so this was a good success
conservation so this was a good success because last year these sharks gained
because last year these sharks gained
because last year these sharks gained more global protection and are now fully
more global protection and are now fully
more global protection and are now fully protected in the Philippines this really
protected in the Philippines this really
protected in the Philippines this really showed me that when passionate people
showed me that when passionate people
showed me that when passionate people come together and were
come together and were
come together and were on a common goal positive change is
on a common goal positive change is
on a common goal positive change is really possible it’s not only possible
really possible it’s not only possible
really possible it’s not only possible it’s very likely to happen so I’ll
it’s very likely to happen so I’ll
it’s very likely to happen so I’ll continue to find those people to work
continue to find those people to work
continue to find those people to work together with and do my very best in
together with and do my very best in
together with and do my very best in conserving this beautiful blue planet
conserving this beautiful blue planet
conserving this beautiful blue planet that we call home thank you
that we call home thank you
that we call home thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment