Sharks to star in Net TV documentary series

The second series of the Planet Sea documentaries, produced by Shaun Arrigo on his travels around the world and in Malta, started on Net TV yesterday, with sharks being one of the main water-related subjects tackled.

After seeing so many shark documentaries, Mr Arrigo wanted to highlight a different aspect of sharks and leave it up to the viewer to decide on issues such as banning shark feeding.

Planet Sea Productions creates documentaries that celebrate the marine heritage. The programmes are aimed at educating the public on the dire need for marine conservation.

Planet Sea aims at highlighting issues that are particularly relevant to the endangered marine environment. Together with its sister, non-profitmaking foundation SOS - Save Our Seas, the series hopes to inspire positive action and encourage involvement and participation in conservation issues, Mr Arrigo said.

"Humanity has been dependent on the sea for millennia. Today, overfishing, pollution, intensive coastal development and climate change are threatening the survival of over one billion people. This cannot go on. We must ensure that our actions are sustainable if we are to save our seas."

For the past two years, Mr Arrigo has been travelling the globe - and its seas - gathering unique footage. Although the main focus of the resulting documentaries is marine, the footage also offers insight into "exquisite" lands.

The series is introduced with Mare Libre Cuba - from the charming island, which boasts the most "pristine" waters in the world and numerous wrecks to add to the natural splendour.

"The magnificence of these waters is highlighted by the Bull Sharks we encounter," said Mr Arrigo of his first-hand experience.

In Ocean Down Under, home to the Great Barrier Reef and every diver's dream, the graceful white-tip Reef Sharks steal the show, but the real action comes during the shark feed.

California sets the scene for the elusive Blue Shark in San Diego Blues, where Mr Arrigo dived in the enchanting kelp forests and was treated to underwater performances by the harp seal.

Over in the Bahamas, a playful dolphin dive provides a stark contrast to the relatively hostile sharks.

South Africa is renowned for its Great White shark dives - the fearsome fish that has attacked a number of humans many of whom have lived to tell the tale.

In the finale of the shark series, an attempt is made "to figure out if man is helping or hindering the shark species".

Other episodes of Planet Sea focus on The Rolex Middle Sea Race - the ultimate Mediterranean sailing challenge, with footage taken from five different camera angles - and the hardships experienced by long-line fishermen, as well as the extinction of Blue Fin Tuna.

Meanwhile, the Planet Sea - Save Our Seas petition has collected over 8,000 signatures. The campaign was intended to end in January, but things had to be put on hold, Mr Arrigo said, adding that the awareness campaign was still going on in schools, sponsored by the Malta Tourism Authority.

"Hopefully, Malta's EU membership will help the state of our seas. But, until then, the battle for marine conservation areas must continue," he said.

The Planet Sea documentaries are narrated in English and are appearing on Net TV on Thursdays at 8.30 p.m. for the next 10 weeks.