SHARKWATER [16.05.2009] Category: Surf film

"An eye opening experience"


SHARKWATER
A review by THE COLT


I have to admit I was pretty taken back by what I witnessed and learned through this film, and I thought I knew a lot. I have always loved the ocean and it's creatures, but I do remember a time when I was younger, when I didn't really care what was happening to sharks, and actually saw them as a pest and no need for them. As I became a little older and wiser I began to realise that these creatures are less of a threat than fellow human beings that I am faced with every day, and now find myself in arguments with others who just don't get that WE ARE THE ENEMY not the other way around.

It seems like great timing that this film has come into my hands with all the latest media hype around some recent shark attacks here in Australia. I certainly feel sorry for those that were involved however hope they see that this is a freak accident and they don't lose confidence for the sport and lifestyle they love. I digress, let's get to the movie...

You are about to embark on a journey with Rob Stewart into the world of sharks and our shameful interaction with them...

As soon as you put on the film you are taken underneath our playground and you begin to see the true beauty of what it offers. Sometimes we forget just how diverse the ocean really is and the amazing 'world' that lies beneath the surface that we are faced with every time we surf.

The first 20min of the film takes you on a journey into the world of the shark and the fact that if we don't start looking after these creatures not only will they perish, but we as humans will also perish. Sharks are strongly linked to the worlds ecosystem and if we keep on killing them in the mass slaughter we carry on with currently, we are setting up our own end.

After the first 30min opening you get introduced to Patrick Moore (captain of Sea Shepherd) and go on an adventure with him and his crew to stop shark killing in Costa Rica and the Galapagos islands. As the journey begins your eyes are opened to the critical mass murdering that goes on everyday in our oceans. With this in mind you are left sitting wondering why isn't anyone doing anything to stop this, and why are governments sitting back taking no action. Shortly thereafter you realise like everything else in a greedy world that all this slaughter is for one thing...money! When big $$ get involved all reasoning and understanding go out the window no matter what the long term consequences are.

The film's main theme is around the legal and illegal elements of shark fin trading and how much of an impact this has on shark (and other sea creatures) dwindling numbers. When you see and hear some of the statistics that are raised through the film you wonder how anything has even survived this long. The truths are hard to swallow and have you wanting to know what more you can do.

With a well structured and filmed documentary, it has you feeling like you are heading out there with the crew. You meet a number of professionals throughout that spend their life studying sharks to help us, as humans, understand more about their behavior and life patterns. You learn some great insights into the world of sharks and that we fear a creature that we know so little about and causes less fatalities a year than fingers we have on one hand.

I think everyone should see this film at some time or another and pass it on to friends and family to help educate as many people as possible that SHARKS ARE NOT THE ENEMY!

mesurf has just started speaking with Australia's leading shark expert Ian 'Sharky' Gordon and will be bringing insights and information to its members over the coming months, so stay tuned. If you have any specific questions in regards to sharks then drop us a line at sharks@mesurf.com.au

FACTS
The ocean covers 2/3 of our planet
80% of life on earth lives in the ocean
Sharks are 'afraid' of us
Sharks have been here for more than 400 million years, 150 million years before the dinosaurs
Sharks hold the underwater world in order
Without sharks, our ecological system on land would die and we would become extinct

Human deaths per year by:
elephants and tigers: 100
execution: 2,400
illegal drugs: 22,000
road accidents: 1,200,000
starvation: 8,000,000
AND....
SHARKS: 5!

And we kill over 100,000,000 a year!

You do the math...I think it is easy to see we need to start taking action now.

                        


"A great educational and inspirational film. Everyone should see this." - mesurf



TITLE: SHARKWATER
TYPE: Doumentary
CATEGORY: FILMS
WEB: www.sharkwater.com
RRP: $26

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