PLANET EARTH” CAMERA MAN FILMS FOR COAST

Anyone who has recently watched the BBC Planet Earth series could not be anything but impressed with the outstanding quality of photography. One of the photographers for that series and the previous Blue Planet series was Doug Anderson. His images and bravery in getting photos of oceanic White Tipped Sharks (possible man eaters) and his Emmy award for his shots of a Sei Whale feeding on the Blue Planet series has made him one of the world’s top underwater camera men.

So COAST were delighted when Doug offered to film, edit and produce two films on Arran for The Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST). His love of snorkelling and diving began in Lamlash Bay where, as a child, he would swim and fish with his grandfather, Thomas MacNeish. As a teenager he became more serious about diving and it was the skills honed in the sea around Arran that would see him develop into one of the world’s top underwater cameramen. . He worked on the films for five weeks this summer with the assistance of his wife Rosie, who collated and archived all the footage, Howard Wood, Davie Butcher, Sean Ferris and Gavin Cameron, who provided boats and diving assistance

For 10 years COAST has been trying to persuade the Scottish Executive to grant a no-take fishing zone in Lamlash Bay to allow the bay to regenerate. The two films, titled “The Bay” and “Caught in Time” have been made with this aim in mind but while they point to a nationwide problem, it is hoped to keep them as local as possible. “The Bay”, for which COAST has been given a £9,400 grant from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to help towards production costs, takes advantage of Doug’s world-class film’ skills to capture shots of the sea life in Lamlash Bay and around the shores of Arran
doug filming

DOUG FILMING CREEL FISHING METHODS

“Caught in Time” sees interviews with Fishermen, marine scientists and others involved in the management of the seas around Arran .The film also reveals why it has been so difficult for COAST to influence any change in Lamlash Bay. Doug said, ‘The two films cover two things. I hope people will watch The Bay and understand two things. Firstly, the amazing life that lives just below the surface of the seas around Scotland and secondly, that it is okay to feel ownership of a piece of land underwater, as you would on the surface. People get very passionate about disturbance to wild creatures and habitat on land, but unfortunately the marine environment is out of most people’s sight. It’s up to organizations like COAST using my footage to get the message across.”

‘Caught in Time is basically COAST’s journey from the past to Summer 2006. It will try to help people understand what has happened to the Eco-system and habitats and why its proposed small trial, although supported by the community & local politicians, has gone unsupported by Ross Finnie the Minister and his department for many years.

COAST vice-chairman Howard Wood said, “Through the films we hope to move forward with what COAST is all about. It’s not about stopping fishing; it’s about regenerating all marine life for the benefit of both marine conservation and fishermen but more importantly for future generations.’

Editing and production of the 2 films should be complete by late January 2007 and we like many other people and organizations are looking forward to viewing the completed films.

“PLANET EARTH” CAMERA MAN FILMS FOR COAST