is principally a tour journal about a band in the ascendance, and contains humour, pathos, and occasional Spinal Tap-style rock ’n’ roll antics. The journey for chondrichthyes, the cartilaginous fishes, and more specifically the Elasmobranchs - sharks, rays, skates, and sawfish – has been less amusing. After more than 400 million years (Dr. Samuel Gruber refers to them as “the lords of time”) the persistence of many of these species was looking less than certain.
So, with time to spare before starting a proposed PhD (Sphagnum reintroduction in the UK uplands, naturally!), I decided to make a film about them. What threats were they facing? What are the consequences for marine ecosystems removed of sharks? How do we prevent their over-exploitation and conserve animals with life-history traits (e.g. low fecundity, slow growing, long lived, wide ranging) that make them especially vulnerable?
The openness, willingness to engage, and generosity with their time of many scientists I had approached, having previously studied for a BSc and a Masters in the environmental conservation area, had greatly impressed me. I had researched marine conservation and fisheries sustainability, usually with a shark-tinged bias, and I set about contacting those I had cited to see if any would be interested in being interviewed by a first-time amateur filmmaker. To my surprise, and everlasting gratitude, some were. The schedule and my budget (or lack of one) precluded a number of people I would have loved to have met, and a number of places I would have loved to have visited. However, the project was taking shape.
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