Educational Media Reviews Online

This documentary offers the viewer a journey around the world which, on the one hand, explores the beauty of the global oceans and seas and, on the other hand, details the environmental issues that have arisen as a result of human overexploitation of marine resources.

Danielle Ryan, James Sherwood and their crew spent three years collecting personal stories and opinions of scientists, fishermen, park rangers, explorers, business owners, and even Presidents of different countries on the biggest problems facing the ocean such as pollution, plastic waste accumulation, overfishing, commercial whaling, and unsustainable marine and land-based activities. Through their different cultural and educational lenses, the individuals voice their concerns about the current practices and identify why there is a need for collaboration toward ecosystem-based management.

In addition to personal interviews, the authors layer in many local tales and legends. These stories underline the message of the documentary and offer a way to think about future through traditions of the past. As Tommy Remengesau Jr., President of Palau, says “The right thing to do is narrated through the legend. The values of the legends have been the moral stories, the lessons to be learned.”

The filmmakers foster a comprehensive conversation regarding the importance of worldwide engagement to protect and restore the oceans’ ecosystems. The documentary can be used for many educational programs that study topics related to marine ecology, marine ecosystem health, ecosystems, preservation of biological diversity, environmental management, marine resources conservation, pollution, and many others.

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