Oyster Farming, Maine

Maine’s aquaculture industry is booming, it’s amazing to see a diverse set of characters getting involved in this industry. We spend two days on the water, one with Alicia Gaiero who founded Nauti Sisters Seafarm and another day with Emily from Emily’s Oysters who manages her own farm and sells directly at farmers markets around Maine. Both are fully female run oyster farms.

A Break For Makos

Top predators like mako sharks play a key role in maintaining a healthy eco-system, unfortunately for makos, which are the fastest sharks in our oceans, they don’t deal well with targeted fisheries as they reproduce slow and mature late.
Makos are one of the most common sharks caught on the high seas yet have almost no international protection, if we want to preserve this amazing species then this needs to change now. In August, 2019 the world will got together at the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. We were there to speak for makos and get them more protection globally.
To check out our film click here: A Break For Makos

Dominica’s Sperm Whales

Sperm whales are only at the surface for about 15 or 20 minutes at a time, yet photographer Brian Skerry is able to capture beautiful moments of these giant undersea predators. He experienced the rare opportunity to photograph a social gathering of sperm whales near the eastern Caribbean island of Dominica. He witnessed fascinating behavior such as whales playfully biting each other, rolling around, and babysitting. This assignment made Skerry realize that sperm whales are complex animals that have identity and personality, and exhibit traits similar to human beings.

Images from the October, 2018 article in National Geographic.
Online article here: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/10/explore-field-notes-brian-skerry-underwater-photographer-sperm-whales-dominica/

Diving the Southern Maine Coast

The Southern Maine coastline hosts an incredible underwater ecosystem from the picturesque Isles of Shoals to the well known dive site at Nubble Light house, there’s plenty to explore. Take a look at what lies beneath this incredible piece of East Coast Paradise.

McDermott Shapes

McDermott Shapes is owned and operated by brothers, Andy and Ryan McDermott. Since 2004 their work has been dedicated to creating surfboards and stand up paddle-boards that are custom designed for both riders and their waves. Four years ago they decided to open Blackpoint Surf shop in Scarborough, Maine’s custom surfboard shop.

As of recent the brothers are really focusing on greener manufacturing possibilities within the surfboard industry. After receiving a Seed Grant in 2013, Andy and Ryan have both worked closely with Maine Technology Institute (MTI), testing resin systems in the hopes of finding a manufacturing process that is environmentally conscious without sacrificing quality and board performance.

"We are passionate craftsmen and take pride in our work. We build boards for the same reason we surf, because it is what we love to do.”

Groundfish research in the Gulf of Maine

For several years, Marine Fisheries, the New England Aquarium's Anderson Cabot Center, Rutgers, and UMass Dartmouth have partnered with the recreational fishery industry to study release mortality in the Gulf of Maine so we can understand how best to keep fish stocks healthy and keep everyone fishing.

Check out the video of this project here: https://vimeo.com/331293194

Humanity Site Unseen

Irish artist Brian Maguire travelled with Concern Worldwide to a Protection of Civilian camp in Bentiu. The site is home to 120,000 people who have been displaced by war in South Sudan. We covered the life in the camp and Brian’s work.

His ‘HUMANITY Site Unseen’ exhibition is inspired by the people he met there. His works bear witness to a crisis so vast, its sufferers have been rendered anonymous by scale.

Shot on assignment for Concern Worldwide in South Sudan and Paris.

Watch the documentary of this trip here: https://vimeo.com/292531774

Whale sharks of Mafia Island

Mafia Island in Tanzania is home to a unique population of whale sharks. The fishermen of the island have an equally unique relationship with these sharks. The Marine Megafauna Foundation has been doing research in this special place since 2012.

Images shot on assignment for National Geographic.

Watch our short documentary produced for National Geographic on the research it takes to find out more about this population of sharks.
https://vimeo.com/202485341

Solidarity and the Art of Sustainable Lobster fishing

In Punta Allen, Mexico, a lobster fishing cooperative supports the community and the environment. Perched aside the sparkling Caribbean Sea, Ascension Bay in Punta Allen, Mexico, is the site of one of the most successful small-scale fisheries in the world. Punta Allen owes its existence to 49 spiny lobster fishermen who established the village in 1969, mainly to focus on a sustainable fishery. The co-op grew. Today, out of a population of about 550 in Punta Allen, 150 fishermen work the bay under a set of rules that ensure they never over-harvest. Informally, they are generous with each other when times are tough.

Shot and produced for Hakai Magazine.

Watch the documentary on the Punta Allen fishing community here: https://vimeo.com/235363806

Iceland’s whale tourism and whaling

Images from our short documentary film for Hakai Magazine.

In the bay off Reykjavík, Iceland, commercial whaling meets commercial whale watching. Whaling vessels—sometimes with dead whales strapped to their sides—and tourist-laden whale-watching ships travel the same waters, occasionally at the same time.

The fin whale meat is exported to Japan, while the minke whale meat supplies the domestic seafood market. But how popular is a traditional dish of minke carpaccio or grilled minke with horseradish and mushrooms? Not very. At least with the locals. Some polls say fewer than five percent of Icelanders eat whale meat. So who is eating it?

Link to full film here: The Cook, the Hunter, the Whales and their Watchers

Philippine crocodile, a critically endangered species

The Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) is the most endangered crocodile in the world and as the name suggests, endemic to the Philippines. Scientists estimate the adult population consists of less then 100 animals in the wild. In the remote Sierra Madre there are still a few crocodiles left and locals have learned to live with them. The Mabuwaya Foundation is doing great research and educational work in this region with hopes to stop this species from becoming extinct.

Images shot on assignment for Asian Geographic Magazine.

Tubbataha Reefs, a National Treasure

In May 2015, a scientific team ventured to Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park—a marine paradise within Asia’s Coral Triangle—to assess the biological status of the Philippines’ first ocean park. Over 1,000 species of animals, including many that are critically endangered, make their home in the sanctuary. It is essential habitat for the declining shark populations of Southeast Asia.

Though the area is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, little is known about its ecosystem, mostly because the tropical atoll is so remote—Tubbataha lies about 150 kilometers from the nearest port in the Sulu Sea. In the Samal language of the region, Tubbataha translates to “a long reef exposed at low tide.”

Shot on assignment for Hakai Magazine. Full story and video here: Expedition Shark

Tambalang – Caluya’s seaweed farms

The Caluya islands in the Philippines are home to over 4000 seaweed farmers. Seaweed farming is one of the most important livelihoods on these islands. It's proven to be far more sustainable than fishing and provides a better income.

Images shot on assignment for Asian Geographic Magazine, full story here

Additional video for BBC Fresh with Sally Snow here

Donsol, a town build true whale shark tourism

In the week of October 22nd, 2017, whale sharks had the chance to gain more protection at the CMS (Convention on Migratory Species) conference in Manila, Philippines.

As the host of this year’s Conference of the Parties (COP12) to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the Philippines had proposed that whale sharks should receive full protection wherever they are found. This proposition was successful.

Migratory species like whale sharks can be of huge value to certain communities, in Donsol, Philippines, whale sharks have truly changed the lives of the locals. This is the story of Donsol and what CMS can mean for their sharks.

Alongside these images we also produced this short documentary with the The Pew Charitable Trusts and help from the Conservation Media Group that was shown at the CMS Conference Of The Parties in Manila.

Feeding whale sharks, controversy in Oslob

In 2011, a group of fishermen in Oslob, Philippines started feeding whale sharks to attract tourists. They discovered that the bait they were using for fishing also attracted these sharks and thought it could make a good alternative livelihood if this would attract tourists to their town. Tourism soon took of and in 2016 it wasn't abnormal to see over 1000 tourists a day come here to see the biggest fish in the world. The tourism remains very controversial as many environmentalists and scientists believe feeding whale sharks can have a negative impact and mass tourism like this is something the town can't handle. As a result of whale shark's being present daily a group of researchers from the lamave project have studied these sharks and the impacts of the feeding on a daily basis in hope of reducing negative impact and learning more about this incredible animal.