Turtles however unlike whale sharks and manta rays are directly protected under Mozambican law.  Unfortunately however these laws are rarely enforced. Whilst one of the key goals of the film is to push through legislation to protect whale sharks and manta rays under national law it is vital that the laws are enforced if legislation is to be effective. 
Whilst making the film we saw first hand some of the threats to turtles as a small green turtle washed up on the beach close to where we had discovered the whale shark. A necropsy carried out by Jess Williams a scientist from the Marine Megafauna Foundation showed that its digestive tract contained significant amounts of plastic and was the probable cause of death. 
Whilst flying over Zavora in the microlight we also witnessed scientist Yara Tibirica and her colleagues battling on scuba to free a turtle, which was trapped in gill nets.  What we saw is very much the tip of a very large iceberg and shows how legislation is only the first step in the protection of whale sharks and manta rays in Mozambique.

Carlos Macuacua the presenter of the documentary and I joined up for these trips to sea with resident whale shark expert Dr Simon Pierce from the Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF). Simon’s mission was to take identification photographs of the whale sharks and to place a satellite tag on one of the whale sharks. The information collated from the photographs and the tags on whale sharks and manta rays are invaluable in learning more about this iconic species. The data clearly showing the importance of protecting the aggregation sites along the Mozambique coastline where the manta rays and whale sharks spend much of their time.

After spending the first few days in the water the team then took to the air with another member of the MMF: Experienced pilot and conservationist Janneman Conradie. Filming from the air gives you a completely different perspective of the coastline. Within minutes of reaching the ocean we quickly saw first hand the gauntlet that the whale sharks and manta rays have to run as gill nets littered the coastline where they feed and local communities fish.  The presence of the nets reminded us of the reports of four manta rays which had been unintentionally caught in the nets in nearby Zavora a few days previously.

As the plane banked to take us back to the airport our pilot noticed a small group of people further down the beach huddled around an indistinct white mass. We looped around again and to our surprise saw the carcass of a whale shark, which the local community were cutting the last few pieces of meat from.  We quickly returned to the airport and drove overland to find out more about what had happened.

On arrival in Coconut Bay we examined the shark and saw fresh cuts to the whale sharks pectoral fins a good indicator that the shark had been caught in the gill nets.  Moments later a local fisherman passed by and confirmed our suspicions telling us that the shark had indeed become entangled in the nets the previous day and died. Despite attempts by the local fishermen to free the shark. This event was a stark reminder of the need to find a balance between fishing communities, government legislation and enforcement, tourism and the marine life so that all can benefit.

In this context it has been a real fillip to start preproduction for this film on the conservation of whale sharks and manta rays having just returned from my two most recent filming assignments with such positive and inspiring stories. In the Seychelles the scientists from the University of Essex were positively glowing as they told me how the good management of the marine park had led to the dramatic recovery of many coral species. Whilst in Qatar I was reinvigorated by the wonder of Mother Nature at her best. Here I witnessed and filmed not only hundreds of tiny hawksbill turtles making their way to the sea from a protected hatching site, but also the big daddy of them all in the fish world, the whale shark. It wasn’t just one either! I was fortunate enough to swim amongst an aggregation of approximately fifty whale sharks that were busy gorging themselves on zooplankton.

Witnessing how well managed marine parks and conservation initiatives can benefit both the marine environment and the people that depend on it, has given me real hope that this project can be a real stepping stone in the protection of these iconic animals in Mozambique. Having lived in Mozambique for four years I realise it will not be easy. However I hope you will return to my blog to see how the production progresses and watch and share the finished film on its completion.

I am working with a great and diverse bunch of advisors and partner organisations that will be assisting in the content, production and distribution of the film. However I really value getting as many different points of view as possible. If you would like to share your views and opinions on the conservation of these animals please feel free to contact me at info@mozimages.com

All the best Chris