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Ocean literacy
Education and outreach has been a core part of my work for many years. As well as allowing me to work on creative projects, it reminds me to keep the research I do relevant and relatable to non-scientists.
Some of my most rewarding days during field trips have been spent with classes of school students in Mozambique and Madagascar, asking them about the ocean, sharing the posters, books and short films my collaborators and I have developed, playing games, drawing pictures and hopefully, sparking not only a fascination for marine wildlife amongst young people, but also an understanding of our reliance on the natural world.
The illustrated book 'The Dugongs of Bazaruto' was distributed to schools in Inhambane province, Mozambique in 2021. © Gretha de Wet
Playing a crocodile and sawfish game with primary school students in Tofo, Mozambique.
Sharing copies of 'The King of the Fishes' with communities in Inhambane province, Mozambique. © Joca Faria
The illustrated book 'The Dugongs of Bazaruto' was distributed to schools in Inhambane province, Mozambique in 2021. © Gretha de Wet
Educational films
Deep Connection is a short film that was made to introduce Namibian audiences to the diversity of sharks, rays and chimaeras in Namibian waters, and to explain the importance of these species as parts of a healthy ocean. Produced in collaboration with 42 Films Namibia.
Saving Madagascar's Sawfish is a short educational film, developed for audiences in Madagascar and produced in both French (with English subtitles) and Malagasy.
Produced in collaboration with Chris Scarffe Film & Photography.
I also contributed to the script for the multi-award winning short film Kokoly. This mini-documentary film, produced by marine conservation NGO Blue Ventures, provides a snapshot of the life of Madame Kokoly, a Vezo fisherwoman from southwest Madagascar. Through Madame Kokoly’s words, and those of other women in her community, we gain an insight into the heavy toll that overfishing and habitat destruction have taken on the Vezo people and experience the reality of their daily struggle for survival. The film aims to amplify the voices of marginalised individuals living on the front line of climate and ecological breakdown.
Illustrated books
I have written and co-designed the illustrations for several illustrated books about marine life. Not just for children, these books can also be enjoyed by adults and provide a valuable opportunity to share messages with communities where literacy levels may be low. Many coastal communities in the Majority World have limited access to reading materials, and I have seen first-hand how fascinated children and adults alike can be with identification guides and pictures of wildlife. I believe that creating books where the illustrations, story and language reflect readers' landscapes and seascapes, culture and daily lives is essential in connecting readers with a book's messages.
The King of the Fishes (2016)
Published in English, French, Portuguese and Malagasy, over 4,000 copies of this book have been distributed in Mozambique and Madagascar to date. Additional copies have been shared with schools, environmental education groups and researchers in Ghana and Mauritania. Illustrated by Jen Richards.
The Dugongs of Bazaruto (2021)
The Bazaruto Archipelago is a key habitat for the last remaining sizeable population of dugongs along the East African coast. This book was created for Mozambican communities and environmental education organisations, and a teacher's guide was developed to accompany the book. So far, over 3,000 copies of the Portuguese version have been distributed in Mozambique.
A PDF version of this book is available online, in English and Portuguese , and a teacher's guide is also available upon request.
All About Sawfishes (2021)
An illustrated book about sawfishes - how to identify them, where they live, the threats they face and how we can protect them. Currently available in English and being translated into French. Illustrated by Alexis Aronson.
Would you like to use these books in an educational or outreach programme? Are you interested in collaborating to develop an educational book? For these and other queries, please get in touch via my contact page.
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Marine tourism training
In 2012 I developed the MarWise course as an accreditation scheme for marine wildlife-watching operators in Namibia. Based on international principles for responsible tourism around marine mammals, the scheme accredited 22 individuals from 11 tour companies in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund.
Collaborators
Collaborations with artists and film makers have resulted in some of my most rewarding work. I have been fortunate to work with a number of inspiring creative professionals to make short educational films, picture books and species identification guides, and to provide scientific and conservation contexts for art exhibitions.
My collaborators include:
Chris Scarffe, film maker and photographer.
Alexis Aronson, illustrator.
Tom Meskell, artist and sculptor.
Basking shark willow sculpture by Tom Meskell. © C. Barrett
Assisting artist Tom Meskell with a basking shark sculpture for his show 'Basking - The Nursery'. © Tom Meskell
Guide to the sharks, rays and chimaeras of Namibia, illustrated by Alexis Aronson (published 2024)
Basking shark willow sculpture by Tom Meskell. © C. Barrett