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August 11, 1997
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

People of the Sea
BBC / National Geographic Documentary on Newfoundland premieres at the Summit of the Sea

People of the Sea, a new documentary by renowned filmmakers Hugh Miles and Patrick Morris, will have its world premiere at the Summit of the Sea in St. John's on Wednesday, September 3.

The People of the Sea explores the past fortunes and future hopes of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador through the use of spectacular natural history photography and archival footage. The film reviews the long and intimate relationship between the people of the province and the sea, and examines the importance of capelin in the life cycles of marine and land animals.

Breath-taking underwater cinematography captures shoals of capelin as they navigate perilous waters to spawn on beaches. Danger comes in the form of cod gliding by, picking off unsuspecting fish; gannets diving into the sea from great heights, spearing the capelin as they swim several feet under water; and, osprey plunging feet first into the ocean, grasping clawfuls of fish before ascending back into the sky. Equally inspiring is the cinematography of Newfoundland's rugged and majestic coastlines and the marine mammals who dwell there.

The premiere is in aid of the Protected Areas Association (PAA) of Newfoundland and Labrador. PAA is a non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to the establishment of a network of protected natural areas in the province by the year 2000.

The film is a co-production of BBC and National Geographic Television. It is produced and directed by award-winning producers Hugh Miles and Patrick Morris. The principal underwater cameraman is Alastair MacEwan and the principal "top-side" cameraman is Doug Allen, both award winning cinematographers. The narrator is Shane Mahoney, the Chief of Ecosystems Research and Inventory for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Music for the documentary was written by Bill Whelan, who also composed the score for Riverdance.

People of the Sea has been nominated in the Best Conservation Film category at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival, scheduled for September 22-27. The Jackson Hole festival is one of the largest and most prestigious wildlife film festivals in the world. It is scheduled to air in North America later this year.

The Summit of the Sea is an international oceans management conference being held in St. John's from September 1 to 6. The Summit brings together industry representatives scientists, ecologists, lawyers, policy makers, fisher people and environmentalists from across the globe to discuss issues, policies and technologies that impact the marine environment and the people who depend on it.

Contact:

Jan Woodford
Summit of the Sea
phone: (709) 729-4323
fax: (709) 579-2067
email: jwoodfor@cabot500.gov.nf.ca

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Backgrounder
The Protected Areas Association of Newfoundland and Labrador

The Protected Areas Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (PAA) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to the establishment of a network of protected areas in the province by the year 2000.

An affiliate of the World Wildlife Fund Canada, which is a national group that spearheads the Endangered Spaces Campaign among other key conservation initiatives, the PAA promotes the protection of biodiversity and wildlife through a system of reserves that will capture adequate portions of all the ecoregions and subregions. As well, PAA promotes the extension of protection to include aquatic regions by the year 2010.

The association was formed by citizens in the St. John's area in 1989 and has since grown to have hundreds of supporters from across Newfoundland and Labrador. It has two annual fundraising events, a Walk for Wilderness during Earth Week in the spring and an annual Benefit Concert in the fall, both held in St. John's. It has published numerous books, documents and pamphlets about the ecoregions of the province and the importance of conservation based on ecoregion and habitat protection.

The PAA pursues the achievement of its conservation goals through participation in educational activities in schools, communities and public forums, interaction with government and citizens' groups and through a wide range of partnerships.

For more information, contact:

Laura Jackson
Executive Director
Protected Areas Association of Newfoundland & Labrador
phone: (709) 726-2603

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Backgrounder
The Summit of the Sea
St. John's, Newfoundland
September 1 - 6, 1997

The Summit of the Sea brings together scientists, ecologists, lawyers, industrialists, policy makers, fisher people and environmentalists from across the globe to discuss issues, policies and technologies that impact the marine environment and the people who depend on it.

The Summit Core Conference theme of "Understanding and Managing the Oceans" encourages exploration of all oceans-related issues. What will the shape of the fishery in Atlantic Canada and the World be in the future? What will a sustainable fishery look like, economically and environmentally? Are Individually Transferable Quotas (ITQ's) the future of the wild fishery? Is Aquaculture the real future of the commercial fishery? What fishing gear should be used? Will consumer oriented campaigns, such as the eco-labelling of finfish products, change the way we fish? What does the future hold for coastal communities, not just in Atlantic Canada, but around the world. What should the priorities be for ocean research? These are just a few of the questions which will be discussed during the conference.

International and environmental law are also on the agenda. The current Canada-US dispute over Pacific salmon and the earlier Canada-Spain turbot dispute are just two examples of international fishing conflicts that are common throughout the world. Although the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea has been ratified and there has been agreement on Straddling and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, there is still debate on the effectiveness of international law as a mechanism to enforce sustainable development of marine resources. Among other issues, conference delegates will be discussing the questions of what is the role of the military in enforcing international and environmental law and what technologies are emerging to help enforcement?.

These are just some of the issues that will be discussed in the Plenary Sessions, which include Oceans Management and International Law, Ocean Science and Technology, Sustainable Fisheries, and Oceans in History and Culture. There'll be lots of action at the workshop sessions too: these smaller venues allow participants to get into more detail on an issue. Details like what happened to the cod? What is the relationship between Fisheries Management and Fisheries Science in Canada? What should it be?

The Summit is one of the most prestigious oceans policy gatherings in the world in 1997. The list of Speakers reads like an International Who's Who of Oceans' Management. Three heads of United Nations Organizations will be attending, including Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program, Dr. Federico Mayor, Director General of UNESCO, and Bill O'Neil, Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Other Speakers include Dr. Sylvia Earle of SeaWeb; Dr. Elisabeth Mann Borgese, founder of the International Ocean Institute; Dr. Hiroshi Ohba, Chairman and CEO of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd, and Dr. Gunnar Kullenberg, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), to name only a few.

In addition to the Core Conference, there are 11 other national and international oceans-related conferences scheduled for early September. Each offers a unique program focussing on a specific aspect of oceans management and like the Core Conference are sure to offer stimulating and informative discussions.

For more information on the Summit of the Sea, contact:

Jan Woodford
Summit of the Sea
phone: (709) 729-4323
fax: (709)579-2067
email: jwoodfor@cabot500.gov.nf.ca