Veteran National Geographic photographer, filmmaker, and Worcester State alumnus Brian Skerry has spent decades documenting the wonders and the woes of the world’s oceans.
Skerry returned to his alma mater recently to present a special compilation of his latest work, a three-part PBS documentary series, Sea Change: The Gulf of Maine in Eager Auditorium, Sullivan Academic Center. The screening was followed by a Q&A in which Skerry answered questions from students, faculty, staff, and alumni in the audience.
President Barry M. Maloney introduced Skerry, who earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from the university in 1984. Maloney noted that Skerry has had an impressive career as an Emmy Award-winning producer, director, and undersea photojournalist, working extensively for National Geographic over the past 20+ years. “He has spent over 12,000 hours underwater, which is the equivalent of over a year and a half straight underwater,” Maloney said. “His dedication to his work is noteworthy.”
Skerry has received numerous prestigious awards and accolades, including being named a National Geographic Society Photographer Fellow and Explorer of the Year. From witnessing the devastating impacts of overfishing and pollution firsthand, to seeing the remarkable resilience of marine ecosystems when they are protected, he has made it his life’s mission to use his powerful visual storytelling to spur governments to action.
Skerry’s photography and photojournalism have helped raise awareness of environmental issues and led to policy changes that have had a positive impact on the world’s oceans.
The Sea Change film series focuses on the Gulf of Maine – a 36,000-square-mile body of water stretching from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia, that is warming 97% faster than the rest of the global ocean.
During the Q&A, an audience member asked Skerry how to help friends and relatives who don’t believe in climate change understand the impacts of a warming ocean.
“Most people want to do the right thing, but we have become too tribal and defensive, which is unproductive,” he said. “I think the best approach, as a visual storyteller, is to present personal experiences and observations backed up by scientific evidence and visual documentation. This helps build trust and allows people to make informed decisions rather than resorting to defensive tactics.” Skerry acknowledged that some people are resistant to change, but believes that given the right approach, people will often choose to do the right thing.
Skerry said that, as a journalist, he felt a sense of responsibility and urgency to tell stories about the problems facing the ocean, such as ocean acidification and the need to protect more of the ocean through marine protected areas.
“I wanted to tell a more complete story about the ocean and really our ocean planet, since even though humans are terrestrial creatures, the ocean makes up 98% of the Earth’s biosphere and provides over 50% of the oxygen we breathe,” he said.
The film compilation also showed how coastal communities and fishermen in the Gulf of Maine are adapting to the changes, such as pivoting to aquaculture like kelp farming and mussel farming.
Skerry emphasized the need for more marine protected areas in the Gulf of Maine, as there are currently no fully protected no-take marine protected areas in the entire region.
“We’re nowhere near where we need to be in terms of protecting the global oceans,” he said. “But I’ve seen what’s possible when we create marine protected areas – the oceans can come back, if we give them a chance.”
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