Symbiosis is an ongoing long-term documentary project examining the impacts of climate change and human activity on marine and coastal ecosystems.
Through a positive, solution-oriented approach, the project focuses on the conservation efforts of local communities and the work of marine scientists who are responding to environmental degradation from within the territories they inhabit and study.
Oceans are a fundamental pillar of life on Earth. They regulate the climate, sustain biodiversity, and provide economic, social, and cultural foundations for billions of people worldwide. Yet today, marine ecosystems are under unprecedented pressure. Rising temperatures, pollution, overexploitation of resources, and coastal development are pushing many environments toward irreversible thresholds.
Symbiosis was born from the need to understand these transformations beyond statistics, by observing how environmental change reshapes daily life, livelihoods, and cultural identities. The project aligns with the United Nations Ocean Decade (2021–2030), aiming to raise awareness and encourage deeper public engagement with marine conservation.
At its core, Symbiosis seeks to share stories of resilience, responsibility, and care — highlighting the efforts to restore ecosystems and safeguard a livable environment for future generations.
The second chapter of Symbiosis was produced in 2023 in Australia, one of the world’s most biologically diverse marine regions. Australian waters are home to ecosystems of global importance. Coral reefs, seagrasses, and coastal habitats support an extraordinary concentration of life and sustain local and international communities.
This chapter explores the intersection of contemporary marine research and Indigenous environmental stewardship. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the ocean is not merely a resource; it is an integral part of their land, culture, and identity. Knowledge passed down for thousands of years continues to shape their approach to caring for the sea and coast, which is grounded in responsibility, observation, and continuity.
This work reflects on the interconnectedness of marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs and seagrass meadows. These environments are vital for biodiversity, protecting coastlines, and supporting fisheries far beyond their immediate vicinity. They play a crucial yet often overlooked role in regulating the climate, storing carbon, and maintaining ecological balance.
Australia’s position as a global center for marine research brings scientific inquiry into dialogue with ancestral knowledge, revealing how different ways of understanding the ocean can coexist and reinforce one another.
This chapter emphasizes collaboration as a necessary foundation for conservation, where long-term stewardship stems from shared responsibility rather than control.