While in El Golfo, I visited the local high school to show video and photos to students of vaquita that I filmed only a few days earlier. Unbelievably, it was the first time anyone had visited them and their school to talk about the vaquita.

For the past year, Miguel Reyes Franco has been taking part in the alternative gear experiments in the region. He gives us an insight into the issues surrounding Vaquita conservation from a fishermen’s perspective.

We are releasing the footage for non-commerical use to educate the general public about the Vaquita porpoise. You may share, post, and use media for educational and non-commercial purposes.

I had the opportunity to spend time with and speak in depth to scientists Barbara Taylor and Tim Gerrodette of the NOAA Fisheries Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, California.

Today I joined Catalina Lopez Sagástegui of Noroeste Sustentable (NOS). Their mission is to “construct and implement a long term vision for the region’s sustainable development through a political and social agreement”.

Lorenzo Rojas Bracho has been the ‘voice for vaquita’ for many years. He is redefining what a ‘scientist’ is in an era full of critical conservation issues for marine mammals.

I never dreamed I would be in a position to even see vaquita, let alone film the animal in the wild. The stage was set, perfect weather for seeing vaquita.

Scientist Barb Taylor asked me to join a team from the RV David Starr Jordan to document what was happening 5 miles away. Bob Pitman sighted a marine mammal on the “big-eyes” moving erratically.

Windy days have dominated the past week and a half here in the northern Gulf of California frustrating researchers, local fishermen and even myself, the lone filmmaker trying to document “the story”.

Today, I had the opportunity to join the “Corsair”, a tri-maran sailing out of San Felipe everyday to search for vaquita. Rather than posting visual observers to find the animals, researchers are listening for the vocalizations underwater.

After settling into the rhythm of San Felipe, adjusting to the heat and pace of this sleepy seaside town, I am spending most of my time with Tom Jefferson and his team, researchers Paula Olson and Tom Kieckhefer.

Today is the beginning of my journey to search for and document the vaquita – the world’s smallest and most endangered cetacean (whale, dolphin or porpoise).

In October 2008, we travel to San Felipe, Mexico to follow an international scientific expedition to document the last remaining vaquita – the most endangered, and the smallest of all cetaceans.

The series of educational documentary films – Whales of the Mediterranean Sea are now available online subtitled in 6 languages – Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic and Greek.

WHALE TRACKERS is a series of documentary programs that journey across the world’s oceans to explore the lives of whales, dolphins and porpoises.
We join international scientists on expedition investigating and shedding new light on the mysteries of these animals and their struggles for survival in a rapidly changing world.
WHALE TRACKERS examines how we can [...]

The film “Sperm Whales of Greece – Life in the Trenches” is an official selection at the 2008 EcoFilms environmental film festival in Rhodos, Greece.

“Fishy Business – The Illegal Driftnet Fishery” is an official selection of 2008 Reel Earth Environmental Film Festival in New Zealand.

Chris Johnson of earthOCEAN is named to the board of directors of Filmmakers for Conservation (FFC) – a non-profit organization “using the power of film and media to conserve our natural world”. FFC is the global conservation organisation and charity for the wildlife film and television industry.

With experience combining new media, wildlife and conservation filmmaking, Chris [...]

Apart from the technical side of making a series of films like these, there is also the human side the requires time and a sensitive touch.

Earthocean release a new documentary about Marine Protected Areas entitled “Santuaries of the Sea”.