Culture, Ecology, Economy – 8 chapters
Until 2011, Réunion Island was a small marine paradise. Since then, this French department is locked into a dramatic nightmare: sharks are killing surfers and swimmers along the beaches of the West Coast. This unprecedented situation sparked tensions and controversy between nature conservationists, scientists, surfers, fishermen and beach goers. OCEAN71 investigated on an island in a constant state of aquatic emergency.
Oysters, the Arguin sandbank, the tides, many tourists visit the Arcachon bay ignoring that this unique biological maritime space hosts one of the most mysterious creatures of the sea : the seahorse. Almost extinct a decade ago, the bay is pride to have today the highest concentration of seahorses in France.
Before the black gold made some families of the Arabian peninsula immensely wealthy, nomades settled down along the southern side of the Persian Gulf and risked their lives by fishing the earliest source of wealth in the region : pearls. Today, the practice has disappeared, but the Emirates still possess one of the most fabulous pearl’s treasure in the world. Here is an investigation on a well kept secret.
