Oceans, Ocean Lives and Films

Oceans contain about 97% of the world’s water, sheltering a wide variety of marine and coastal floras and faunas. It is estimated that 91 percent of ocean species have yet to be classified, that means more than 2 million species remain a total mystery!

Isn’t it so pleasing to look at these wonderful creatures, to know about their unique features, and how the ocean became their home? But, some curiosity and some human practices are endangering the lives of marine creatures. Over-fishing, habitat loss, the introduction of invasive species, ocean pollution, ocean warming are few activities that are endangering their lives.

Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker and environmentalist crusader Louie Psihoyos, made a film, which warns that humans are erasing other species off the earth. The film is titled “The Cove”. It is based on the killing of dolphins in Japan-  it analyzed and questioned dolphin hunting practices in Japan.  The film had a huge public impact. Prior to the release of this film (2009), the Japanese were killing 23,000 dolphins and porpoises a year. Now, they kill less than 6,000 dolphins and porpoises a year. “The Cove” has won over 25 film awards including the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature in 2010.

Louie Psihoyos and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Jim Clark founded the Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS) in 2005. It is a non-profit organization that creates film, photography, media and large scale projections to increase awareness about the loss and protection of marine biodiversity. Psihoyos started OPS when a marine scientist told him that, by 2050, all coral reefs will dissolve if we don’t do something. 

Catch up with some of these awesome documentaries on the oceans, the wonderful marine and coastal habitats, and some inhuman activities on the creatures of oceans! 

  1. The Cove

2. Racing Extinction 

3. Chasing Coral

4. A Plastic Ocean

5. Mission Blue

6. Sharkwater

7. Planet Ocean

8. Desert Seas

9. Sea of Life

10. Sonic Sea

Written by Moumita Mazumdar
Information courtesy Matiur Rahman

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