Bermuda’s ocean champions gathered last week for the Bermuda premiere of Ocean with David Attenborough, hosted as a private event by The Nonsuch Expeditions and presented by 10percent for the Ocean and the Sargasso Sea Commission at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.
The event drew a full house, with many prominent figures from Bermuda’s marine conservation, scientific research, and advocacy communities. Among the distinguished guests were government officials and dignitaries, including the Hon. Jaché Adams, JP, MP, Minister of Public Works and the Environment; the Hon. Kim Wilkerson, JP, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice; the U.S. Consul General Antoinette Hurtado, and the acting Deputy Governor.
"It was a privilege to attend this important screening and engage with others committed to protecting our ocean as marine conservation remains a priority for the Government,” said the Hon. Jaché Adams, JP, MP, Minister of Public Works and the Environment. “I want to thank all of the organisers and sponsors for their efforts and look forward to working collaboratively to help ensure the sustainable use of Bermuda’s marine resources for generations to come,"
“This vital film has been four years in the making and reflects the collective effort of hundreds of people working together to spark a profound shift in how we protect the ocean,” said Jasper Smith, founder of 10% for the Ocean, one of the film’s producers. “It is a sobering truth that we spend 100 times more on ice cream than we do on ocean conservation. Through 10% for the Ocean, we’re calling on individuals, businesses and foundations to take the 10% pledge — by committing just 10% of your annual giving to the ocean, we can end the most destructive forms of fishing, restore marine ecosystems, and bring the ocean’s former abundance back to life.”
Jean-Pierre Rouja, founder of The Nonsuch Expeditions, had previous experience working with Doug Anderson, director of underwater photography for ’Ocean’, as well as co-producer Silverback Films. In 2015 the team worked together in Bermuda for a month to produce a Sargasso Fish sequence for the BBC Natural History Hunt series — which was also narrated by David Attenborough. “We spent nine months of prep work and several weeks of filming to secure the three minutes of footage that made its way onto the screen, which is quite common for productions like this,” said Rouja. “We have also joined the 10% for the Ocean effort, as their mission aligns with ours, and should be seriously considered by the Bermuda philanthropic community.”
“The message is clear: the ocean's health is essential to the health of the planet,” said Dr. David Freestone, executive secretary of the Sargasso Sea Commission. “We know the threats, and we know that tools like area-based management can help. Now it is up to us to collaborate and put measures in place to ensure these iconic areas keep functioning as they should.”
The screening was also a timely opportunity to highlight Bermuda’s commitment to ocean stewardship ahead of the upcoming UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France (June 9–13) and was followed by an engaging panel discussion with local ocean science experts.
Panel speakers included Dr. Mark Guishard, COO of ASU-BIOS; Jean-Pierre Rouja, founder of Nonsuch Expeditions, co-founder of BioQuest and Station-B; Jessica Mello, blue economy expert at Blue Bridges; and Fae Sapsford, marine research fellow for the Sargasso Sea Commission. The panel was moderated by Ali Hochberg, sustainability consultant and responsible tourism specialist.
Discussions centred around:
Bermuda’s history of important contributions to ocean and atmospheric science. Using decades of oceanographic measurements collected by time-series programs run by ASU-BIOS, we have increased our fundamental understanding of baselines conditions in the ocean, the ocean’s role in the climate system, and how the ocean is responding to a changing global climate.
Development and application of cutting-edge ocean science technologies. Recent examples include passive acoustic sensors for monitoring and protecting marine species; specialised modular sensors for coral reef assessment and management; and environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling and sequencing in partnership with local non-profit BioQuest.
The potential for growth in Bermuda’s blue economy. Blue economy industries such as marine tourism, renewable energy, and food production can be further developed in Bermuda through targeted investments in technology, data, and finance, along with the implementation of strong legal and regulatory frameworks to protect vital ocean resources.
Tools for ocean protection. Marine protected areas are regions of the ocean set aside for long-term conservation aims. There are a variety of other area based tools for ocean protection, such as the scientific designation of ‘important marine mammal areas’ that highlight critical habitat for cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), which can be used as a starting point for the discussion of conservation measures.
Protecting marine life in the open ocean. The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement is a recently adopted international treaty with the objective to conserve and sustainably use marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, including the Sargasso Sea — where the Bermuda Government is playing a leading role in conservation through its ongoing collaboration with the Sargasso Sea Commission.
The event was sponsored by Butterfield & Vallis, The Loren, and conservation patrons Brining and Lampit, and presented by 10% for the Ocean — one of the film’s producers in collaboration with the Sargasso Sea Commission, with support from The Nonsuch Expeditions