WEOFF: Stories from the Sea

This session is all about the ocean! Join us to find out what conservation work is being done to protect sea lions, manta rays and sharks, and be reminded of what makes the sea such a special ecosystem.

🦭 Sea Lions, Life By A Whisker (48min)

Directed by Amelia McCarten & Paul Phelan and produced by Sarah Beard & David Gross

This beautiful, family-friendly film, takes place along South Australia’s stunning Bunda Cliffs. Be immersed in a classic coming-of-age tale guided by one of Australia’s most unique, intelligent, and playful animals and take an intimate journey inside a rare colony where a life of great intimacy, tenderness, and clumsiness, must often give way to a life of great sacrifice and bravery. Dive into the world of an adorable Australian sea lion pup and meet marine park ranger, Dirk Holman, one of the people trying to save her species.

🪸 Be Kind to Nyinggulu (2min)

Directed by Nush Freedman and produced by Nush Freedman & Andre Rerekura 

This is a micro short film that was made to inspire positive action around the Nyinggulu coast during a busy tourism period. It’s about the small individual actions everyone can do to keep our home beautiful, safe and healthy for the future. 

🇲🇽 Giant Mantas of Mexico | The Resurgence of Revillagigedo National Park (4min)

Directed by Cristina Mittermeier and produced by Cristina Mittermeier, and Michael Gestal 

Five years after its protection, Mexico’s Revillagigedo National Park bounds with a resurgence of life–welcoming back the region’s incredible native species, like the endangered giant manta ray. SeaLegacy co-founder Cristina Mittermeier and marine scientist Frida Lara explore what’s possible when we give aquatic life space to recover and thrive. The pair greet a giant manta as an old friend, as it flips, flies, and glides through the water. The curious creature holds great symbolic significance and plays a vital ecological role within the ocean and all the marine life impacted by its sheer presence. The bounty and diversity of life Cristina captures within Revillagigedo National Park prove that protecting our marine ecosystems is the solution to saving our ocean. Only brightened by the endangered giant manta’s presence, this region’s achievements act as a guiding light of hope for conservation worldwide. 

🦪 Shellfish Reefs: Filters of the Sea (4min)

Directed by Megan Hayes and produced by Rebecca Daniel 

Shellfish reefs inhabit coastlines all over the world and have been shaping the health of the ocean for millions of years. Comprised of clusters of mussels, oysters, or clams, these reefs filter water and provide vital habitat for juvenile fish, vulnerable invertebrates, and even other shellfish! Unfortunately, this ecosystem is on the brink of collapse thanks to severe over-harvesting and poor water quality along coastlines.

🤿 My Blue Country (5min)

Directed by Paul Nicklen and produced by Jessica Todd-Marrone and Andy Mann

Freediving with tiger sharks is how André Musgrove challenges the misconceptions surrounding these vital animals and connects with his home in The Bahamas. As an underwater cinematographer, filmmaker, and photographer, André spends most of his time freediving on one breath for intimate encounters with some of the world’s most misunderstood predators. His love for the ocean is rivaled only by his passion for revealing its hidden beauty to his community and visitors from across the world. By teaching others to fall in love with the ocean, André hopes to protect its vulnerable wildlife for a healthy, brighter future. 

🦈 Older Than Trees (20min)

Directed by Pippa Ehrlich, produced by Tasmin Vosloo, and executive produced by Craig Foster

James Lea grew up dreaming of sharks; enigmatic monsters of the deep. In his first few years as a field biologist he fell in love with silky sharks in the Red Sea, where he got to interact with them and learn their individual personalities. But, in the space of just a few years he watched as almost each and every animal he had got to know was lost to the shark fin trade. Feeling heartbroken and helpless, James resolved to use his expertise as a scientist to protect sharks in places where they still have a chance to thrive. Older Than Trees highlights Lea’s work in the field, and the success he’s contributed to in getting protection for these ancient species through the creation of marine protected areas. 

A panel discussion and Q&A with the following speakers will take place after the screening of the films: 

Sarah Beard (Producer of Sea Lions, Life By A Whisker)

Sarah has over 30 years’ experience as a producer in film and television production, with unique sensibilities about production and storytelling, both above and under water. A multi-skilled professional with a solid track record of delivering highly successful projects to diverse international stakeholders. Sarah’s passion is making films for Impact, especially around ocean conservation, and her recent projects include the award winning ocean conservation film Blue and an Imax film about the critical status of the Australian sea lion, Sea Lions -- Life By A Whisker. She is currently the Series Producer for the National Geographic/Disney+ premium series, Secrets of the Octopus, with Executive Producer James Cameron screening April 2024.

Dirk Holman (Department of Environment and Water, featured in Sea Lions, Life By A Whisker)

Working with the Department of Environment and Water in South Australia in collaboration with the University of Adelaide and SARDI Aquatic Sciences, Dirk and his colleagues have been at the forefront of a ground breaking scientific study into the threats facing the Australian Sea Lion. By using photogrammetry acquired with drones to digitally reconstruct a 3D models of each animal, scientists are able to assess body mass and build an accurate picture of individual animal and overall colony heath in a non-invasive way.

With time running out, the sea lions’ survival depends on informed management. Providing accurate data to management agencies, and the people who are making the decisions on what actions need to be taken to protect these animals is the most effective way Dirk and his team can help make a difference to Sea Lion populations.

Australian Sea Lions are facing an uncertain future and face a myriad of threats, the largest being fisheries bycatch, predominantly from the demersal gillnet and rock lobster fisheries as well as entanglement in marine debris. With other pressures including habitat degradation, prey depletion, interactions with aquaculture operations, pollution, oil spills, and climate change are all inhibiting the recovery of the species.

Dr Ben Pitcher (Behavioural Biologist, Behavioural Studies Unit, Taronga Conservation Society Australia)

Ben Pitcher is a behavioural and sensory ecologist whose research focuses on the evolution of animal cognition and how animals use multiple sensory systems for foraging, communication and recognition in complex and changing environments.

Ben completed his Bachelor of Science at the Australian National University. In 2010 he completed his PhD at Macquarie University, Australia, and University Paris Sud, France, studying individual recognition and multimodal communication in Australian sea lions. Ben has worked with a variety of species including birds (from wrens to penguins), seals and ungulates.

In April 2017 Ben joined Taronga as a Behavioural Biologist. His research interests include animal behaviour, communication, cognition and sensory ecology, and explore how we can translate behavioural research into conservation and welfare outcomes.

To see our full program and detailed information please go to: https://wildearthoceania.com/