All Things Ocean with the Amazing Shari Sant Plummer
Ocean Activist, Film Producer & Photographer
What hasn't this amazing individual done? Shari Sant Plummer is co-founder and President of Code Blue Foundation. She is also Secretary/Trustee of the Summit Charitable Foundation, Vice President of Seacology, and a board member of the Sylvia Earle Alliance: Mission Blue. As a producer Shari has worked on many environmental films including “Mission Blue” and “Chasing Coral” on Netflix as well as “Sharkwater Extinction” and “Ghost Fleet”.
IOFF: Tell us about your work.
Sant Plummer: Through my work I try to create awareness and support for ocean issues primarily through photography, film and journalism, but also through institutions like the Smithsonian and the National Aquarium. I really enjoy working in the field on ocean expeditions with organizations like Mission Blue, Seacology and National Geographic where I can spend a lot of time underwater admiring and photographing the incredible diversity of wildlife.
IOFF: What first interested you in the ocean?
Sant Plummer: The ocean has always fascinated me, growing up in California I spent as much time as I could on the beach and in the waves. But it wasn't until years later when I started diving that I really fell in love with the ocean! My husband and I were certified together on our honeymoon in St John in 1999, and both loves continue to enrich my life with every year!
IOFF: How has Sylvia Earle’s voice and work inspired you?
Sant Plummer: Everything I've done for the ocean has been inspired by my friend Sylvia! We met on a liveaboard dive boat in Belize in 1999, I was a new diver and new to ocean conservation. I had seen her on a National Geographic special and so admired her fearless commitment to exploring and protecting the ocean! I was awestruck by her and so honored to be diving alongside this ocean legend! Over the week we were together she convinced me that protecting the ocean was the most important thing I could do to save all life on earth. I have been working and diving with her ever since, founding Mission Blue with her in 2009, and traveling together on numerous expeditions around the world. Sylvia never ceases to amaze me with her tenacity, curiosity, intelligence, humor, fortitude, humility, endurance, optimism and generosity. She is truly my north star (or "north starfish" she might say) in all things ocean!
IOFF: What is an example of recent policy changes or conservation wins that are good for the ocean and planet?
Sant Plummer: There have been many wins for the ocean over the last several years, new marine protected areas such as Revillagigados, Mexico, new legislation banning single use plastics, including nationwide bans by some countries, prohibitions on breeding captive cetaceans and opposition to Orca shows( marking a new era of respect for ocean wildlife), international support for laws to stop illegal fishing, and technological breakthroughs like Global Fishing Watch that help us police the high seas and stop not just illegal fishing but human slavery on those ships. All of these gains are the result of a new global ocean literacy, governments are aware of the economic value of a healthy ocean, people are educated on the plight of endangered marine species and the dangers of plastic, and both have an understanding of the importance of a healthy ocean ecosystem to human health. I think a lot of that awareness can be attributed to journalism, photography and film, translating decades of science to a broad international audience. Therefore supporting those media efforts can be catalytic in creating more positive gains for the ocean and the planet as whole.
We look forward to sharing more Sylvia Stories leading up to the benefit. Make sure to follow us on social media and use the hashtag #SylviaStories to share your own story.
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The Off the Reef Fall Benefit is hosted Saturday November 2nd in San Francisco, CA. All proceeds benefit the Student Education Program a free film program hosted in March for over 1,200 Bay Area middle and high school students. For more information and tickets to Off the Reef, visit our website here.
