need sharks? The ‘sales points’ haven’t been properly thought through and outlined. Those involved in conservation lack the skills of those involved in the PR world, the commercial world, the advertising world. It’s a pity they don’t come closer together, it’s a pity there aren’t more of those types of people involved in conservation.”
Trying to engage and inspire
I was armed with a Canon XA10, small, user-friendly, virtually idiot-proof, kindly supplied by Canon (Europe) Ltd, and a Go Pro. First stop was Vancouver, to interview Pauly and Dulvy, then the Bahamas, where I met Gruber and Guttridge, and got to swim with six species of shark (amazing), and then Miami to meet Heithaus. Finally, on a beautiful day, after walking Cornish beaches, I met a very welcoming Peirce at his home.
Samuel Gruber talks of “influencing policy makers towards conservation laws through education”, and I firmly believe that sound science and good data inform good decision-making. I very much doubt this film will exert any influence on policy-makers or stakeholders, although the work of those certainly has done and continues to do so, but I hope this film can bring something to the story, to engage, inspire, and educate as I have been in making this film.
It is certainly not the BBC’s Shark series – the footage of sharks is filmed mostly with me flapping around on or near the surface, or from a boat or jetty! It’s not Peckinpah, it’s not Leone, or Scorsese, or Lean. It’s not even Michael Bay (what is?)! However, for me it’s been one of the most enjoyable and worthwhile projects in which I have been involved, and if it makes just one person think about shark or marine conservation, or wider conservation and environmental issues, then I would be thrilled. Similarly, if it turns people on to the fantastic music of Spiritualized, hooray!
Daniel Pauly talks of huddled scientists disengaged with a wider public - preaching needs to be to the unconverted, the young especially. I want my children to be able to have the experiences I have been fortunate to witness, in making this documentary, and elsewhere. I know myriad individuals and organisations are working to ensure this. “It’s now a race, against negative things that happen and positive things that counter this,” says Pauly. “It is in our hands. It is not in the hands of a 68 year old, it is in the hands of the next generation, but it will be decisive because probably the next generation will decide whether the Earth becomes a hellish place or not.”
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