WATCH: Marine Conservation Society ‘Marine Values’ documentary series
The MCS films form part of a wider UK Research and Innovation project led by the universities of Portsmouth and Greenwich.
Three documentaries have been produced for the series ‘Marine Values’. Each explores the relationship between communities, waterways, the environment, conservation and economics.
Working with residents in Shetland, Portsmouth, and on the River Severn, the films were originally screened at workshops in each area in an attempt to increase engagement in local preservation, restoration and conservation projects.
Key issues raised in the series include the recent rapid decline of waterway health as a result of rocketing pollution levels. It’s also made clear that the ‘look’ of a river, for example, can be very misleading in comparison with the reality of its condition. ]
Elsewhere, people explain their close connections to the sea for work and play, and we explore the correlation between seafaring and the health of the ocean itself. Meanwhile, islands are presented as previous places of refuge for a variety of species, from otters to human beings and migratory birds.
The series has been produced to support the Sustainable Management of UK Marine Resources [SMMR] programme, which aims to improve the state of coastal and inland waters by ‘breaking down the barriers between science and policy’, integrating disciplines to form new research teams. A key aspect of this revolves around ‘understanding values’ within communities on the front line of the crisis facing British and international waters. The work is being delivered by the Natural Environment Research Council [NERC] and the Economic and Social Research Council [ESRC] on behalf of UK Research and Innovation, in partnership with Defra and Marine Scotland.
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Image: Hamish Duncan