Against the deep blue of the Caribbean ocean, a cluster of fish with open mouths gathers tightly. Nearby, a few smaller fish swim gracefully, silhouetted against the crystal-clear water.
A scuba diver in red shorts and a black wetsuit explores a vibrant Caribbean coral reef. The scene is filled with various corals and clear blue water, capturing the tranquility and beauty of marine life.
An underwater scene of a vibrant Caribbean coral reef showcases various corals, sponges, and small fish swimming gracefully. The blue water provides a serene backdrop, highlighting the diverse marine life and rich colors of this tropical ecosystem.

Treasure of the Caribbean

Nature & Wildlife·1 x 50 min·Completed

'Treasure of the Caribbean' follows fishers, scientists, and conservationists racing to protect a newly discovered, vital coral reef and its fish breeding grounds.

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Genre
Conservation
Nature & Wildlife
Science
Duration
1 × 50 min
Definition
4K
Audio
5.1
Status
Completed
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Synopsis

A Story of Hope in Troubling Times
Guatemala. A fisherman struggling to feed his family is forced further offshore and discovers an unknown reef a great distance from the mainland. The reef is brimming with life and big fish the likes of which haven’t been seen before. When a handful of scientists find out, they conspire with local fishers to keep the reef a secret – and for good reason.

If word gets out, the reef will be plundered by a host of forces, such as illegal fishers from neighboring countries, unscrupulous charter boat captains catering to wealthy sports fishers, and fisheries officials willing to look the other way to line their pockets.

‘Treasure of the Caribbean’ is a rich mix of adventure, natural history, and cutting-edge conservation science told against a ticking clock. 

The heroes of the story form an unlikely alliance: fishers, scientists and conservationists are working together to explore and protect the reef. What they are finding thus far is staggering.  The reef is approximately 250 square kilometres, five times the size of Manhattan, featuring three-times the live coral-cover of any reef in the region, and it’s teeming with life! There are canyons, vertical walls, subsea cliffs and deep ocean caves. But what’s most remarkable is that the edge of the reef is studded by giant spires that sprout hundreds of feet off the sea floor, forming points that look like a crown, giving rise to its name, ‘the Cayman Crown’.

But there’s more! A series of clues suggests that the Crown is the site of an unknown fish breeding ground, a hotspot where tens-of-thousands of fish converge en masse – from far and wide – to reproduce. If true, the Crown could be critical to protecting and managing some of the region’s most important commercial fish species, which millions of people and countless communities rely on.

‘Treasure of the Caribbean’ is a conservation story that unfolds on newly discovered coral reef.  In times of despair, it’s a powerful story of hope. 

Central to the story is a bold new vision of reef and fisheries conservation. Fishers and scientists are working side-by-side to uncover what they believe is a network of fish breeding grounds that seed each other, with the Crown as a critical hub. Their plan is deceptively simple: find and protect the breeding network and ensure healthy fish populations.

From discoveries to setbacks, from cutting-edge science to spectacular natural history, ‘Treasure of the Caribbean’ will take audiences to the frontlines of a struggle to explore and protect one of the most incredible natural discoveries of the 21st Century … offering us all a blueprint for a new era in ocean conservation.

Team

Produced and directed by Ana Salceda
Executive producers Ivo Filatsch, Sabine Holzer
Production companies A production of Terra Mater Studios and BelugaSmile Productions LLC in co-production with The WNET Group, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and Doclights/NDR Naturfilm in association with PBS and CPB

Awards & Recognitions

Gijón, Spain Wild Oceans FilmFest Winner (Category: Best Production About Animal Behaviour or Ecosystem Description) 2024
La Jolla, USA Impact DOCS Awards Winner (Category: Award of Excellence Special Mention/Documentary Feature) 2024
Namur, Belgium FINN - Festival International Nature Namur Official Selection 2024
Eckernförde, Germany Green Screen - Internationales Naturfilmfestival Eckernförde Official Selection 2024
San Diego, USA Blue Water Film Festival Official Selection 2024
Sondrio, Italy Sondrio Festival Winner (Category: Stelvio National Park Award) 2023
Los Angeles, USA FFFF Feedback Female Film Festival Winner (Category: Best Feature Film) 2023
Halle, Germany SILBERSALZ Science & Media Festival Official Selection (Category: Best Nature Film) 2023
Belize City, Belize Belize International Film Festival Official Selection 2023
Jackson Hole, USA Jackson Wild Media Awards Finalist (Category: Ecosystem - Long Form) 2023
Innsbruck, Austria Innsbruck Nature Film Festival Nomination 2023
Rotterdam, Netherlands WFFR - Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam 2 Official Selection 2023
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