From stories below the waterline to campaigns for change, Blue Media works with almost every project and unit in the organisation, and alongside numerous partners and local communities around the world. We tell the stories of the ocean, 1) through national and global press editorial, 2) through innovative visual media, and 3) by running media campaigns.
We have recently achieved significant campaign success in reversing a threat to re-open destructive longlining in the Maldives; activated a global audience, and engaged decision-makers in South Africa, on the plight of the African Penguin; and informed and engaged the British public on three key marine asks for its new government.
These campaigns were supported by impactful films and visual media and fronted by figures such as Sir Stephen Fry and ‘Black Mermaid’ Zandi Ndhlovu, the conservationist and influencer. Their stories – and the many others from our project work around the world – had a collective press editorial reach in 2024 of 21.41 billion.
In 2023, our campaign influenced the UK government to make a U-turn on its position on deep-sea mining. In Jersey our petition and press work made the case for significant marine protection — and the Jersey government now proposes to close 27 per cent of the island’s waters to bottom-trawling and dredging.
Blue Media films, including the story of the community-led call for protection on Amorgos in Greece, have been screened on the world stage at the Our Oceans Film Festival in Athens. A documentary about the success of the trans-boundary marine protected area in the Dominican Republic – made in collaboration with partners SeaLegacy, Mission Blue, Wyss Foundation, Caribbean Cetacean Society, Yachts for Science and Blue Nature Alliance – was premiered on the plenary Our Ocean stage.
On the south coast of England, we shot the documentary-length ‘Solent – the Oyster’s Return’. In collaboration with a local team in Devon, we produced a documentary to mark the 50th anniversary of the UK’s first no-take zone, around Lundy Island. We have also launched a hugely popular series of films in sign language.
Elsewhere we have now translated our immersive website ‘The Sea We Breathe’ into seven languages, including Arabic, and developed an animated VR experience, narrated by Helena Bonham Carter.
The UK Government has now launched its consultation on the closure of 30,000sq kilometres of England’s waters. Add your voice here.
