7 OCEAN DOCUMENTARIES YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY WATCH
In this article, we introduce you to 7 great documentaries about our oceans. We assure you: after watching these films, you will look at the world with different eyes.
Seaspiracy
Originally, Ali and Lucy Trabizi wanted to document the beauty of our oceans. But they quickly discover that the oceans are no longer the pristine paradise they once were. Instead, they document the plight of our oceans. They document the plastic flood and ghost nets, film whaling and the slaughter of dolphins, investigate overfishing and the destruction of the seabed. The problems they uncover aren’t new – but largely unknown. And they can all be traced back to one actor: the global fishing industry. The documentary is, in our view, a must-sea for everyone who loves our oceans and our planet.
A Plastic Ocean
In “A Plastic Ocean”, an international team of scientists, divers and activists travels around the world to investigate the state of our oceans. During the film’s four-year production period, they visited 20 different locations around the globe. The result? Shocking pictures that reveal the unbelievable extent of marine pollution and its consequences. We recommend this documentary, as it is not only shocking, but also informs about innovative solutions that inspire and give courage – solutions that reminded us of initiatives we visited with our Ecofluencer project, like the ban on plastic bags in Kenya or the Ecobricks on Lombok.
The documentary ends with a central message, demanding action: “A Plastic Ocean – We need a wave of change”. We can and must all contribute to protecting the unique diversity of our seas from the threat of plastic.
Socorro evolution
“Can we all learn to coexist with nature within our lifetime before we destroy it?” This is the question that producer, Bracenet-Supporter and free diver Roberto Ochoa asked himself for his film “Socorro evolution”. The documentary accompanies world-famous free divers and marine conservationists, including Tomoka Fukuda, Natalie Parra and Camila Jaber, as they explore the waters of the Mexican Revillagigedo Archipelago National Park in Socorro. It is fascinating to see how marine animals like manta rays or dolphins curiously react to and interact with the experienced free divers.
Chasing Coral
You’ve probably heard of coral bleaching before. But you are not sure what exactly it is and why corals are so important for the oceans anyway? Then you should definitely watch “Chasing Coral”. In this documentary by director Jeff Orlowski, scientists and divers pay witness to the worldwide phenomenon of coral death induced by climate change. The corals, once colourful and populated by fish, turn into a grey desert in front of the camera lens. For the first time ever, this team managed to document coral bleaching in time-lapses, capturing the enormous extent of its destruction.
It is a great documentary but comes with a bitter aftertaste. It will help you to better understand the consequences of climate change for our oceans. If you want to learn more about corals afterwards, more precisely about the coral triangle, then have a look here.
Mission Blue
If you have studied marine conservation for some time, you will have heard of Dr Sylvia A. Earle, a legendary oceanographer, author and National Geographic contributor. With her initiative “Mission Blue”, she is committed to protecting marine areas that are still intact, so-called “Hope Spots”. The documentary, named after the initiative, was filmed over three years in various locations around the world and traces Sylvia’s remarkable personal journey. Sylvia’s commitment and enthusiasm are incredibly inspiring, and her desire to change the world is contagious.
Artisihal
Wild fish stocks are on the decline all over the world. One of the causes of this is industrial fishing. “Artifishal” highlights the problems of salmon farms with open net enclosures and the threat they pose to wild salmon and other coastal fish species around the world. The film was produced by outdoor clothing manufacturer Patagonia as part of their environmental campaign against the expansion of salmon farms in 2019, raising awareness of negative examples in the fishing industry and aquaculture. It’s worth a watch, because only as informed consumers can we make sustainable purchasing decisions. You can find the documentary on Youtube.
Sharkwater
Sharks are often depicted as dangerous predators and enemies of humans. In “Sharkwater”, Canadian photographer Rob Stewart dispeled these prejudices and puts sharks into a more positive light. Even more than that: He draws attention to the shark hunting, looks behind the horrible scenes of the shark fin industry and explains its fatal consequences.
This film manages to grab your attention from the first second! We are grateful for people like Rob Stewart or Ocean Ramsey standing up for sharks, as they are so important for our oceans.
Do you know any more fascinating, entertaining or informative documentaries about our oceans? Please let us know! We are looking forward to hearing from you.
