While our oceans are facing a variety of climate change crises, documentary filmmakers like Clément Pourtal and Jérôme Brousse are presenting their recent important work done to create waves of awareness for ocean conservation. With the latest project, “THE BLUE QUEST PALAWAN,” Clément Pourtal and Jérôme Brousse take viewers on a journey to the heart of Palawan, Philippines, a region renowned for its outstanding marine biodiversity and conservation efforts. Inspired by the success of their previous work in Mexico’s Baja California, Clément Pourtal and Jérôme Brousse set out to capture the beauty of Palawan’s underwater world while highlighting the challenges and successes of community-led conservation initiatives.
In this exclusive interview, Clément Pourtal and Jérôme Brousse share insights into the making of “THE BLUE QUEST PALAWAN,” discussing the motivations behind choosing Palawan as the focal point, the significance of community involvement in conservation actions, and the impact they hope the film will have on raising awareness and support for marine conservation initiatives not only in Palawan but also around our blue planet. Explore the depths of Palawan’s oceanic wonders and discover the inspiring stories through our interview.
Question: What inspired you to choose Palawan as the focal point for your documentary, “THE BLUE QUEST PALAWAN,” and what aspects of the region’s marine biodiversity and conservation efforts motivated your decision?
Answer: I was aware of Palawan as I used to work for Pure Ocean, a marine protection NGO, who were involved with the privately funded Sulubaaï Foundation and, as an ambassador for the Marine Conservation Institute, I knew about the institutional conservation efforts in Tubbataha. I wanted to highlight the best solution to protect the ocean environment, which is the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and knew that this area of the coral triangle was an exceptional marine biodiversity hotspot home to a diverse range of amazing species – a great place to film and capture the insights of the inspirational people working to preserve this beautiful habitat.
Question: Can you share the significance of Palawan as a UNESCO biosphere reserve and the challenges it faces in terms of habitat loss and human activity, especially considering it’s referred to as the country’s ‘last ecological frontier’?
Answer: I can’t overemphasise the importance of this unique environment which is home to over 100 threatened marine species and is one of the last strongholds of the iconic Dugong. Made up of over 1700 islands, its rich mangrove forests not only help protect against storm surges and climate change but also act as fish nurseries, breathing new life into the biosphere.
The spread of agriculture has led to the destruction of rainforests while dynamite fishing and general overfishing have damaged habitats and led to dwindling fish stocks which local communities relied on for food and their livelihoods.
It is gaining a reputation as one of the best places to dive in the world but as the rise in tourism brings with it economic opportunities, these have to be balanced against the need to protect this exceptional ecosystem.
Question: Your previous documentary, “The Blue Quest – Baja California,” received acclaim. How did your experience in Mexico influence your decision to explore another marine biodiversity hotspot, Palawan, for your latest film?
Answer: Baja California in Mexico was an amazing experience and we weren’t disappointed with the incredible marine biodiversity including marlins, sharks and whales. Through making The Blue Quest – Baja California we met so many people who became friends and were able to shine a spotlight on the issues they face and the solutions which make a real impact. We support the 30×30 global initiative for governments to designate 30% of Earth’s land and ocean area as protected areas by 2030. To help achieve this our goal is that through the power of film and beautiful imagery, we can empower people to take action to protect the ocean so we chose Palawan, a biosphere of significant importance, for our next project.
Question: In “THE BLUE QUEST PALAWAN,” you emphasize community-led initiatives. Could you elaborate on the role local communities play in the conservation efforts portrayed in the documentary and how their involvement contributes to the overall success of these initiatives?
Answer: Put simply, conservation cannot work without the involvement of local communities whether in the Philippines or elsewhere. Organisations need to work in harmony with communities that have local knowledge. Shark fisherman in Baja California became eco-tourist guides and helped with scientific research which compensated for their loss of income. In Palawan, the creation of MPAs has impacted fishermen’s incomes but C3’s sustainably managed ecotourism is helping finance conservation efforts and an indigenous community project brings much-needed income into the area with local experts taking on the role of tour guides. The Sulubaaï Foundation Sea Academy programme has created MPAs which are managed by and benefit, local people alongside providing tailor-made training for communities to monitor and protect the ecosystems they live in.
Question: The documentary highlights the conservation and sustainable development program on Busuanga Island, including the creation of scientifically monitored Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). What specific challenges did you encounter while documenting these initiatives, and how were they addressed?
Answer: By creating MPAs you take away vital income streams for poor communities as they can’t fish there anymore. The challenge is to replace the traditional model with one that is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. Overcoming scepticism and mistrust with adequate funding and open communication, through community meetings, helps explain the reasons behind marine conservation initiatives and the possibilities for new forms of income generation that enhance the natural environment.
Question: The Sulubaaï Foundation’s transformation of Pangatalan Island is a remarkable story. What motivated you to feature this specific project, and what impact do you believe it has on the local community and marine ecosystem?
Answer: I felt it important to create a balance within the film by showcasing institutional and privately funded initiatives as we need both to maximise marine conservation. I first met Sulubaaï Foundation founder, Frederic Tardieu, at the 2022 UN Oceans conference in Lisbon where he shared his incredible story about buying the island for retirement and suddenly having a new career as a conservationist!
His team have created an amazing success story that needs to be shared and replicated globally. In an area ravaged by dynamite fishing, they have created MPAs and developed a series of over 250 artificial reefs, now home to 2500 transplanted corals and increased fish stocks, as well as planting 80,000 trees and mangroves which are managed by, and benefit, local people.
Question: The film showcases the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. What unique aspects of this remote coral atoll and its biodiversity compelled you to include it in your documentary, and what challenges did your team face during your visit to the marine station?
Answer: I became aware of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park through my MCI ambassador role and their Blue Parks initiative highlighting the best MPAs in the world. This 97,000ha coral atoll contains an abundance of unique biodiversity including turtles, sharks and pristine coral walls which explains why it is one of the best scuba diving sites on earth and a huge conservation success story.
The first challenge we faced was making the 12-hour crossing from Puerto Princesa to Palawan Island due to stormy conditions which kept us in port for three days. Normally people are not permitted to stay on the remote rangers station due to the tough living conditions but we were insistent that to make this segment of the film work we needed to live and breathe the life of a ranger. It’s really hard work for the rangers living on a floating 100m2 space carrying out vital repairs to the ageing structure and patrolling the site.
Question: How do you envision “THE BLUE QUEST PALAWAN” serving as a template for other threatened ocean areas, and what lessons do you hope viewers will take away from the film regarding effective marine conservation and sustainable development?
Answer: The Blue Quest’s mission is to visit marine conservation projects all over the world in order to highlight the marine conservation issues and best solutions alongside the dedicated people and communities involved. It is already serving as a template as having seen it, other ocean conservation actors have got in touch to enquire about us focussing on their work.
We want to inform viewers that MPAs are effective for people and the planet and that to meet the 30×30 objectives we should act now and everyone, not just politicians, can help achieve our aims. Vast areas of our ocean still need protection and with enforced protection and the involvement of local communities, in tandem with the appropriate level of financial support and transparent management, we can meet our goals.
Question: The documentary incorporates breathtaking aerial and underwater footage. Can you share some memorable moments or challenges your team faced while capturing these visuals, and how do you believe such footage enhances the audience’s connection to marine conservation efforts?
Answer: The Tubbataha dives were very tough. It’s a coral atoll in the middle of a 1000m deep sea with huge tidal movement and currents that move you around at 2m per second! My colleague Jérôme Brousse was also quite sick during the only opportunity we had to film the dugongs and unfortunately, we lost a drone in a storm
Showing such amazing marine life can inspire the audience to do what they can to protect it. As our Tubbataha interviewee Mama Ranger said: ‘Once you see something so beautiful, you want to do what you can to protect it’.
Question: Lastly, your film will be presented at various environmental events and film festivals. What impact do you hope “THE BLUE QUEST PALAWAN” will have on raising awareness and garnering support for marine conservation initiatives in Palawan and beyond?
Answer: I truly hope THE BLUE QUEST PALAWAN will act as a message of hope. We have just won three awards at the Southeast Academy International Film Festival and have been shortlisted for the prestigious International Ocean Film Festival in San Francisco where it will receive its international premiere. By being selected and screened at such events, we are able to share the messages of the people we met to help advance their missions and open up future funding streams. The reaction from potential sponsors has been incredible as our work brings to life the projects that people are working on, showing where the money goes – it’s an invaluable way to communicate to broad audiences who can offer different solutions.
The End of The Interview
In closing, we would like to thank Clément Pourtal and Jérôme Brousse for generously sharing their insights and experiences with us. Their dedication to marine conservation, as showcased in “THE BLUE QUEST PALAWAN,” is truly inspiring. Through their lens, we are inspired by a remarkable journey into the depths of Palawan’s oceanic wonders, uncovering stories of resilience, community-led initiatives, and the urgent need for environmental conservation. We thank them for their time, passion, and commitment to raising awareness about our marine ecosystem.
Click here to find out more about the work of The Blue Quest.