Prince William praises reformed illegal fisherman as a marine conservation hero

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1. https://www.irishnews.com/news/uk/william-hails-ex-illegal-fisherman-as-one-of-most-committed-guardians-of-nature-MUVVI7LSFRJHLM6T7PCPVKHI2M/ - Please view link - unable to able to access data
2. https://www.irishnews.com/news/uk/william-hails-ex-illegal-fisherman-as-one-of-most-committed-guardians-of-nature-MUVVI7LSFRJHLM6T7PCPVKHI2M/ - The Prince of Wales has praised a reformed illegal fisherman in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez for becoming one of the 'ocean’s greatest protectors'. William appears in the introduction to the third episode of Guardians, his series of wildlife documentary shorts highlighting the conservation work of rangers across the globe. Heir to the throne William is said to be passionate about restoring the health of the world’s oceans. Veteran broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough, whose new film Ocean premiered last month, is William’s inspiration for the six-part docuseries which he hopes will help nature’s wardens be 'valued, respected, seen' and promote the 'wonderful' regions they protect. In his filmed introduction, William describes how the Sea of Cortez – once called the world’s aquarium — is under pressure from warming waters, vanishing species, and illegal fishing which has 'pushed this ecosystem to the brink'. The eight-minute episode, released on Friday ahead of World Oceans Day on Sunday, features boat captain Jose Luis Cesena Calderon who spent more than 35 years diving at night as an illegal speargun fisherman before being invited to switch sides. Since 2009, he has been part of the monitoring crew of the non-profit Citizen Observers Network (Red de Observadores Ciudadanos) known as ROC and made up of local residents working with the authorities to patrol the waters. He takes part in dangerous night missions under cover of darkness to protect the marine environment in the Bay of La Paz. William, who is travelling to Monaco this weekend to mark World Oceans Day at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum, says: 'In this episode, we meet Jose – once an illegal fisherman – now one of the region’s most committed guardians of nature. From La Paz, he leads a quiet revolution at sea, building trust, turning the tide, and showing how those who were once part of the problem can become the ocean’s greatest protectors.' The number of illegal boats in the area has dropped from 58 to around six, the film reveals. Mr Cesena Calderon says: 'For me, being a guardian of the bay now, honestly, it makes me proud. Before, I was one of the people damaging the ecosystem. Now I really see the damage we were doing with the fishing methods we used.'
3. https://www.wildlensinc.org/feature-films/sea-of-shadows - Sea of Shadows is a feature-length documentary produced by Terra Mater Factual Studios in association with the Wild Lens Collective. Directed by Richard Ladkani, the film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2019, where it won the Audience Award in the World Documentary category. The documentary follows a team of scientists, activists, journalists, and undercover agents as they attempt to rescue the most endangered marine mammal on Earth, the vaquita, from the threats posed by Mexican drug cartels and Chinese traffickers. These groups are poaching the rare totoaba fish in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez, using destructive methods that threaten the entire marine ecosystem. The film highlights the collaborative efforts to combat illegal fishing and protect marine life in the region.
4. https://www.easthamptonstar.com/201988/sea-shadows-exposes-wildlife-crisis - The Sea of Cortez, also known as the Gulf of California, is home to the totoaba, a six-foot fish whose swim bladder is highly valued in Chinese medicine. This has led to illegal poaching by Mexican drug cartels and Chinese traffickers, creating a multimillion-dollar black market. The documentary 'Sea of Shadows' exposes this crisis, focusing on the efforts to save the vaquita, the world's smallest and most elusive whale species, which is being driven to extinction by the illegal fishing practices targeting the totoaba. The film follows individuals working to remove poachers' nets and protect the vaquita, highlighting the challenges posed by corruption and the black market.
5. https://fliphtml5.com/scdb/bbnc/Sea_of_Cortez%3A_Overfishing_is_culprit_for_vanishing_sea_life/ - The Sea of Cortez, also known as the Gulf of California, has experienced significant declines in marine life due to overfishing and poaching. The documentary 'Sea of Shadows' sheds light on the impact of illegal fishing practices, particularly targeting the totoaba fish, which has led to the near extinction of the vaquita, the world's smallest whale species. The film highlights the efforts of scientists, activists, and local communities to combat illegal fishing and protect the marine ecosystem in the region.
6. https://www.passeidireto.com/arquivo/145852817/destinos-compartilhados-vaquitas-totoabas-e-pescando-o-mar-de-cortez - The Sea of Cortez, also known as the Gulf of California, is facing environmental challenges due to illegal fishing practices targeting the totoaba fish. The documentary 'Sea of Shadows' explores the impact of these practices on the vaquita, the world's smallest and most elusive whale species, which is being driven to extinction. The film follows individuals working to remove poachers' nets and protect the vaquita, highlighting the challenges posed by corruption and the black market in the region.
7. https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/66/198706.html - The documentary 'Sea of Shadows' exposes the illegal poaching of the totoaba fish in Mexico's Sea of Cortez, driven by Mexican drug cartels and Chinese traffickers. The film follows a team of scientists, activists, journalists, and undercover agents as they attempt to rescue the vaquita, the world's smallest and most elusive whale species, from the threats posed by these illegal activities. The documentary highlights the collaborative efforts to combat illegal fishing and protect marine life in the region.