Chasing Coral

Chasing Coral

2017, Nature  -   3 Comments
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Ratings: 9.00/10 from 29 users.

Richard Vevers has travelled the world documenting the disintegration of coral reefs. The Netflix feature length documentary Chasing Coral explores the evidence collected from these journeys and what it could mean for the future of our planet.

Long fascinated by the wonders and mysteries of the underwater kingdom, Vevers became troubled by the diminishing quantities of sea life he would witness over the course of his multiple underwater excursions. Once vibrant coral reefs - the structures that aid immeasurably in protecting biodiversity and survival both on land and sea - were becoming bleached and withered. He enlisted the assistance of scientists, marine biologists, divers and other oceanic enthusiasts. He tapped the creative team behind the similarly themed Chasing Ice - the 2012 documentary that focused on the melting of the world's glaciers - and set out to pinpoint the progression of this destruction. A series of complicated camera rigs were devised in order to capture photographic evidence of this phenomenon.

Their findings are harrowing. Up to 80% of coral reef structures across the Florida Keys have eroded, a trend that is being echoed in ocean masses all over the world. The signs of their demise are apparent with the appearance of bleaching, a process that was first discovered in the 1980s and began to reach global prominence during the late 90's. This is the result of rising sea temperatures. Just a degree or two of sustained warming can destroy the coral reef's ability to survive and serve its crucial functions. In another 25 years, if these temperatures continue to rise unabated, an entire ecosystem might become a thing of the past.

The film features a wealth of jaw-dropping underwater photography. The interview subjects describe the intricacies of coral reefs with great acuity and illustrate the connection we should all feel with the natural world that serves us.

But above all else, Chasing Coral is designed to serve as a call to activism. The filmmakers and their extended team have used their underwater imagery to educate others on the crisis. In the process, they've built a global coalition which is devoted to combatting the ill effects of climate change. The film is an invitation to join this worthy movement.

Directed by: Jeff Orlowski

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Maggie Kwok
Maggie Kwok
3 years ago

"Chasing Corals" is an outstanding documentary that can awaken the world. This is a valuable tool to educate others and our next generation, because if they take action to protect our oceans, they will know what kind of living environment they should have in the future.

Thank you to your excellent team for discovering the main problems caused by climate change and making incredible videos for us.

Gary
Gary
3 years ago

Loved the video, I wish there would have been artificial lighting on the coral, especially the dead coral. Unless you're in shallow water with a lot of sunlight, the colors of the reefs don't show up, or the lack of color, as in the dead coral.

User 1
User 1
3 years ago

Thanks for posting this video! Been awhile since I've seen a good doc, this one hit the spot. Just wished it had a good ending. Maybe yeah? We've leaving this all up to the next gen. Please don't drop the ball.