A Sea of Hope | Protecting the Bight

The Great Australian Bight is a stunning marine sanctuary, where over a thousand kilometers of dramatic cliffs stand as a natural fortress, safeguarding the ocean's vibrant life. Among the most cherished visitors to these shores are the Southern right whales, a gentle giant whose presence is both awe-inspiring and ecologically vital.
You might not be familiar with this endangered species, but the Southern right whales are crucial to the health of our planet. These majestic cetaceans play a key role in carbon sequestration, oxygen production, and maintaining oceanic biodiversity. Their existence directly impacts not just the marine ecosystem, but also the air we breathe and the climate we experience.
However, the survival of the Southern right whales is increasingly jeopardized by human activities. One of the most destructive threats they face is seismic blasting-a technique used to explore the ocean floor for oil and gas. This method involves powerful bursts of compressed air that ripple through the seabed, disrupting natural behaviors for whales. Repeated and accumulated exposure to acoustic energy over an extended period of time could cause severe damage among whales and other marine species.
"To build a bridge of compassion and understanding for an animal like a Southern right whale that very few people even know about. You have to do a little more than just talk about it. You really have to create an emotional bridge, and we do that through film and photography," shares our co-founder Cristina Mittermeier.
In our latest episode, our co-founders embark on a multi-year expedition along Australia’s remarkable coastline to capture the beauty and resilience of the Southern right whales as they nurture their young in these protected waters. Accompanied by award-winning wildlife photographer Scott Portelli, Cristina and Paul aim to raise global awareness about the critical importance of these ocean leviathans and deepen our understanding of their underwater world.
Discover the extraordinary journey of the Southern right whales in our latest episode!
To learn more about the vital role whales play in our ocean, visit the following link:
The Whale Pump: Why Is Poop So Important for the Planet?: www.sealegacy.....
Thank you to our Executive Producers:
MAC3 Impact Philanthropies
Ocean Born Foundation (‪@oceanbornfoundation9775‬)
Andy Mann
Cristina Mittermeier
‪@PaulNicklenPhotography‬
A special thanks to:
‪@ScottPortelli‬
‪@sonycine‬, Emmanuel Lubezki and their film crew for the production and footage usage from “The Knowing”.
Director
Paul Nicklen
Producer
Scott Portelli
Field Producer
Rosie Leaney
Underwater Photography
Cristina Mittermeier
Paul Nicklen
Scott Portelli
Andre Rerekura
Marcelo Johan Ogata (‪@bugDreamer‬)
Camera Operations/AC/DIT/Dive Safety
Marcelo Johan Ogata
Head of Production
Tyler Dunning
Editor, Color, Sound
Bryan Kowalsky
Editor
Jason Smith
Digital Asset Manager
Dee Wasielewska
Assistant Editor
Mark Matarese
Visual Effects
Harry Lee
Additional Footage
Andre Rerekura
Jaimen Hudson (‪@jaimen‬)
Jason Smith
OpenPlanet.org
Pond5
The SeaLegacy team recognizes and acknowledges the Goreng, Menang, and Wudjari people as the traditional owners of the Fitzgerald River National Park.
#whales #story #conservation #science