We speak with Rob Stewart, director of the award-winning film Sharkwater, about his compelling case for the global protection of sharks. Busting the myth that sharks are unstoppable killing machines, Stewart portrays them as complex and evolved beings, beings whose survival is threatened by the lucrative shark-fin industry. “A dangerous shark makes money and sells papers,” he says, “If they tell you a shark is beautiful and perfect and wonderful and won’t attack you, that’s only going to make the news once.”
Stewart’s love of sharks has taken him as far as the Galapagos Islands, Guatemala and Costa Rica, where he has worked alongside Sea Shepherd to expose and stop shark poachers, at times under harrowing conditions. He joins us to talk about his film, his travels, and why sharks matter.
Sharkwater is Rob Stewart’s first film, and was Winner of Canada’s Top Ten at the Toronto International Film Festival, People’s Choice Winner at the Atlantic International Film Festival, Winner for International Documentary at the Beverly Hills International Film Festival. In addition to visiting schools across Canada to promote his message, Stewart has also appeared on The Today Show and Larry King Live.
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Animal Voices 