Tucked away in the northern extremities of the Gulf of California in Mexico, lives the entire world population of the Vaquita porpoise. Its range is the smallest of any marine mammal – living in an area less than 40 square miles.

Filmmaker Chris Johnson of earthOCEAN had unprecedented access for three years to one of the world’s most grave marine conservation stories. In 2008, he joined the international scientific effort – Expedition Vaquita – to find and document any remaining animals in the region. He interviewed international conservation groups and met with local fishermen to find out what solutions, if any could be found in time.

Johnson notes: “We had two goals for the project – the first was to film and photograph the elusive Vaquita porpoise and document the people racing to help it survive. The second and most important, was to create a much-needed tool for outreach efforts to communicate scientific findings and conservation recommendations for the Vaquita, while addressing the challenges for people in local communities.”

In recent years human pressures have taken an enormous toll on the desert porpoise. Gill nets – nearly invisible fishing nets set in the water like curtains and often left unattended by coastal fishers primarily fishing for shrimp – are the greatest single cause of Vaquita mortality. Vaquita become entangled and drown when they accidentally swim into the nets.

Tim Ragen, Executive Director of the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, a supporter of the multimedia project says – “Chris brings an essential, balanced perspective to a complex issue fraught with socio-economic challenges. His efforts will increase awareness of people around the world regarding the plight of this highly endangered species.”

Vaquita aren’t the intended target of any fishery, they are merely the bycatch of local fishers trying to earn a living and feed their families. For the fishers of El Golfo de Santa Clara, San Felipe and Puerto Penasco, the Vaquita is collateral damage.

The Vaquita is sliding ever closer to the edge of oblivion where it is on course to join its cousin; the Baiji. The Baiji, also known as the Yangtze River dolphin, lived only in China in the Yangtze River. In 2007, it is the first cetacean species to be declared extinct in modern times, as a direct result of human activities.

To watch the documentary online, follow updates about the vaquita, and read blogs from various experts visit the website – www.vaquita.tv

In September 2010, earthOCEAN will freely give DVDs through partners to local communities of El Golfo de Santa Clara, and San Felipe Mexico so people with limited internet access can watch this story, and make a decision about the importance of the Vaquita to the biodiversity of the region.

“Vaquita – Last Chance for the Desert Porpoise” is supported by grants from The Ocean Foundation and United States Marine Mammal Commission with support from scientific and conservation partners – NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center in the United States and in Mexico Instituto Nacional de Ecología, Noereste Sustentable, CEDO – Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans and WWF Mexico.

Mark J. Spalding, President of The Ocean Foundation and active in Vaquita conservation for 25 years, says the documentary is “beautiful and made me fall in love with this unique animal all over again.” Spalding expressed that “we have confidence that this film will convince people that this rare and elusive animal is a Mexican treasure worth saving.”

In the first episode, visit the shallow, sheltered bays of Peninsula Valdez in Argentina where southern right whales gather in the winter months to give birth. Explore the complex relationship between humans and these gentle great whales as an unexpected change in their environment suddenly threatens their long-term survival. The kelp gull population has exploded in recent years, with many learning to feed of the skin and blubber of resting whales, particularly the vulnerable calves. Scientists believe that as attacks increase they are impacting calf survivorship. Can the problem be solved, and the whales saved?

In other episodes;

Explore the depths of the Greek Ionian Sea, with a socializing sperm whale group. Dive below the surface and observe rarely seen behavior, as a tiny, one-ton calf is welcomed into the family. Today the future for the calf, and its family is uncertain as their habitat
deteriorates due to human pressures, specifically due to illegal driftnet fishing. Continued use of a fishing method banned throughout the world, fishers looking to catch tuna or swordfish cheaply end up catching just about everything, including sperm whales. Brace
yourself for footage of bloodied dolphins, floundering leatherback sea turtles and highstakes boat chases.

Tucked away in the northern extremities of the Gulf of California in Mexico, lives the entire world population of vaquita porpoise, the rarest cetacean (whale, dolphin or porpoise) on Earth. The vaquita is also the smallest of all cetaceans. At less than five feet long, calves are the size of a loaf of bread at birth. A black stripe runs forward from each flipper to the middle of the lower lip. It has a black circular patch around each eye, and its black lips set off a haunting little smile. With only 150 animals remaining, the vaquita may be running out of time.
Join the Whale Trackers as they try to capture the elusive vaquita on film for the first time since its discovery a mere 50 years ago.

Explore Whale Trackers through multiple episodes as we journey alongside international scientists as they make exciting and unexpected discoveries that contribute to our understanding of the fragile oceans that whales, dolphins and porpoises call home.

Web Series – www.WhaleTrackers.com

With the popularity of the PBS web series, the Voyage of the Odyssey – Chris & Genevieve Johnson developed the Ocean Encounters education initiative – a series of videos, images and sounds presented on DVD with educators from the Melbourne Zoo.

The aim is to have content generated from the Voyage of the Odyssey readily accessible to the presenter/educator in an array of formats on DVD. This digital experience used broadcast video, images and stereo sound to allow visitors to the zoo to experience as close as possible, what is like to be on a global scientific expedition making discoveries (virtually) with along the way.

This is not a linear program, rather a multidimensional way to access information/content from the Voyage of the Odyssey which is entertaining for the general user, yet informative enough for an educator to utilize. Content can be directed or modified to fit a variety of structures, subject areas and age groups, while still addressing specific curriculum outcomes.

There was also a ‘live’ element to the Ocean Encounters program. A component of the presentation allows students and interested members of the public to interact directly to R/V Odyssey crew and scientists for 15-20 minutes per session.

In a presentation format, the teacher/presenter would use the interactive program to help explain or visualize a certain concept. For instance, if the Melbourne Zoo has a day on the “human impacts” on the ocean environment, the presenter/educator could pull up the following content from a set of DVDs.

• The Odyssey video report entitled: “Plastics – the deadliest predator of the sea”.
• The sea turtle entanglement video, filmed by the Odyssey in the Galapagos Islands.
• Images and video interviews on the Tuna Longline, pilot whale interaction study done in Papua New Guinea.
• The Global warming audio report with images.
• An audio report on ship strikes and entanglements of northern Right whales.
• Roger Payne’s ‘Voice from the Sea’ piece on Sharking Finning, Aquarium Reef Fish trade.
• A video interview with Wood’s Hole Toxicologist, Dr. Celine Godard on toxicants in the sea.
• Audio report and images of Whale Standings around the world.

The content of the Voyage of the Odyssey is quite unique in that it contains very in-depth material not just on whales but also other issues related to all aspects of the marine environment.
During each presentation, which could last up to an hour, the teacher/presenter links to the Odyssey for a 15-20 minute question and answer session if desired via videophone.

By delivering the interactive content on a DVD, this allows the educator/presenter to use a remote control to access desired content (video, images and sounds) in a simple, convenient way while it is displayed with an LCD projector. Furthermore, it involves using one system of playback, eliminating the potential of difficulties that may be encountered with additional computer technology.

In addition, the Ocean Encounters Initiative, is a working prelude to distbute educational video and audio reports from the Voyage of the Odyssey to educators in local communities as well on a number of topics ranging from whale and dolphin biology and conservation, to ocean policy issues, natural history and information on ecology of marine creatures.

Voyage of the Odyssey prinicipal investigator, Dr. Roger Payne, and Genevieve Johnson talk to students at the Melbourne Zoo via videophone from the whale research vessel Odyssey.
The set of DVDs are produced, filmed and photographed by Chris Johnson with educational content and curriculum produced by Genevieve Johnson. The overall aim of the Ocean Encounters program is to:

• To inform local communities about the marine life that inhabits their local waters and the open oceans.
• To underscore the need to preserve the ocean as a healthy, integrated ecosystem so it can continue to play its role in securing a healthy future for local communities and all life on earth.
• To use whales to capture the attention of children, and once their interest is aroused, help them go further so they may develop informed opinions about a wide variety of ocean issues.
• To encourage students to start working for change now so when they grow up they may continue their involvement in working to improve the health of the seas.
• To encourage and model sound environmental management practices for future decision makers. Students will be able to relate to a program that focuses on the wise use and management of resources, specific to their own marine environment.
• To provide information to local communities about their local marine life so as to enable them to become aware of the risks that marine life surrounding their island home faces, and to recognize how grave that danger would be if that life was diminished or lost.
• To empower socially responsible citizens to become actively involved in protecting whales and the seas, realizing that their contributions are valuable and necessary whether made as individuals or as a member of a group.