Film
THE LAST OCEAN will be a ninety-minute, high-definition feature documentary that tells an intimate story of the Ross Sea – the last large intact marine ecosystem left on Earth and now under threat from an international fishing fleet targeting Antarctic toothfish. Unexploited, the Ross Sea has unique value to humanity and science – providing vital information about the workings of all marine ecosystems.
Told through the eyes of New Zealand filmmaker Peter Young, it follows his recent journey to Antarctica with American photographer John Weller, and subsequent meeting with Antarctic ecologist Dave Ainley. All three have been profoundly affected by their visits to Antarctica, and together resolved to help protect the Ross Sea – a formidable task, given the workings of CCAMLR, the international organization charged with its care.
Ainley, Weller and Young cover a broad spectrum of experiences and perspectives on Ross Sea issues. Weller, through his stunning photography above and below the water, enlightens us with the intricate working of this amazing ecosystem. Ainley adds to the power of these images with insightful observations as one of the world’s leading Antarctic ecologists. Young fills in the gaps, as he tries to understand the politics endangering one of Earth’s most precious natural places.
Interviews with Antarctic scientists, fishermen and politicians reveal who is slicing up this pristine pie and why. The film looks at the rules governing this priceless piece of ocean and exposes the nations that break them, following the toothfish catch from the tranquil waters of the Ross Sea to the bustling markets of Asia and North America.
But far from the big business and politics that seal its fate, life in this extraordinary ecosystem continues. Through the course of a summer season, we see that every organism is interconnected in a delicate and complex food web, and that the price paid for the toothfish is not what’s found in the market but what’s lost in the LAST OCEAN.
Distribution and Funding
The Last Ocean is an untold story, and its time has come. This feature documentary will have wide international appeal and easily crosses cultural divides. Antarctica is the only continent on Earth that truly belongs to the world.
Film distribution will include a festival release, followed by theatrical distribution and television sales. Shot and edited on high definition, The Last Ocean will have a “360° delivery,” working synergistically with the rest of the project – the website, book, publications, online library, and touring photographic exhibit – to create awareness of the Ross Sea. The film will also provide a resource for school curriculum and media.
A significant portion of the documentary already has been shot, including footage from the Ross Sea; the annual CCAMLR meeting in Hobart, Tasmania; and interviews with scientists, policy-makers and members of the fishing industry. The next scheduled film trip is to the International Marine Conservation Congress in Washington DC to interview scientists. This trip will also incorporate visits to fish markets in New York and Japan.
To date, all filming has been done through private contributions, and We Need Your Help. We must raise $30,000 before May 15th, 2009 for the next leg of this journey.