The pelagic fauna remains very little known, yet it is only found a few kilometers from the coast. Off the coast of Marseille, naturalists Thomas Roger and Frédéric Larrey filmed deep-sea animals for 3 years, from gigantic whales to tiny plankton. A fascinating journey to discover here.
The Mediterranean Sea represents less than 1% of the total ocean surface, but it is home to almost 10% of the world’s biodiversity. Not far from the coast, there lives a whole population of nomadic organisms, from the smallest to the largest. This group of living beings, which occupies the upper part of the water column close to the surface, is called the “pelagos”.
Blue and white dolphins • © Frédéric LARREY & Thomas ROGER
This is what gave its name to sanctuary created in 1999 by France, the Principality of Monaco and Italy, in order to protect marine mammals. In this now preserved 87,000 km2 area, biodiversity once again finds an environment to express itself and sometimes spreads into the rest of the Mediterranean waters.
Greater amberjacks under the eye of the camera • © Frédéric LARREY & Thomas ROGER
The film of Frédéric Larrey and Thomas Roger plunges us into the heart of this extremely rich ecosystem. Whales, sperm whales, dolphins, turtles, sunfish, blue-skinned sharks, tuna, jellyfish, crustaceans or planktonic organisms of all kinds… We discover an abundance of wild life, unique scenes and sometimes unsuspected behaviors.
Loggerhead turtle and its pilot fish • © Frédéric LARREY & Thomas ROGER
The documentary is full of fascinating footage. Such as the birth of two little sperm whales, an event during which the female is surrounded by her peers. Or this scene of hunting a dolphin, with unstoppable technique. Or the astonishing so-called “daisy” position that a clan of sperm whales adopts to protect the youngest from attacks by Risso’s dolphins…
The beauty of the images, the sounds and the original music totally immerse us in this environment that is so close and yet so little known.
The fin whale, second largest animal on the planet • © Frédéric LARREY & Thomas ROGER
This trip off the coast reveals great biodiversity, in a sea that was thought to be very depleted. Despite the pressures linked to human activities – overfishing, constant increase in maritime traffic, plastic and noise pollution, etc. – pelagic fauna seems to be resisting, the film notes.
Two sea devils during mating season • © Frédéric LARREY & Thomas ROGER
However, while some species are abundant, others are more fragile, such as the monk seal, in critical danger of extinction, or the fin whale, whose population continues to decline. Like the creation of the Pelagos sanctuary, preservation efforts must continue…
Thomas ROGER during the preview screening of the film in Sanary • © Alice Rysman
How did the project for this film come about?
This film project was obvious given that Frédéric and I have been working with this offshore ecosystem for more than 20 years. As naturalist guides, during our first discovery cruises of the Pelagos we noted a lack of knowledge among the general public of these giants inhabiting the high seas.
Also passionate about images, in 2013 we produced the book Pelagos, naturalist trip off the Mediterraneanwho will receive the world prize for underwater images.
During photographic missions, we began to accumulate filmed images with the idea of one day making a film. Over the last 3 years, we have only filmed and accumulated images and animal behaviors that were sometimes unprecedented.
The common denominator, whether we take the role of naturalist guide, photographer or cinematographer/director, is to reveal through images a still too little-known ecosystem located a few kilometers from our coasts, sheltering giants, such as the second largest animal on the planet.
To shoot these spectacular, sometimes rare sequences, up close to the animals, what special precautions did you have to take?
Concerning whales and dolphins, the prefecture issued us an authorization allowing us to dive as close as possible to the animals, because you should know that since 2011 a law prohibits any approach to cetaceans within 100 meters in the French Mediterranean.
Approaching and filming these animals requires knowledge of them and where they live. For 17 years, our playground has been located off the coast of Cap Sicié and the Hyères islands. A habitat made up of plateaus, canyons and abyssal plains that we know perfectly and where we know how to find this or that species depending on the seasons. Finding the animals is one thing, approaching them and then filming them is another.
By observing the animals’ behavior, we know if we have a good chance of approaching them and then filming them. As soon as the animals are not receptive, we abandon our approach and continue on our way. Certain species such as whales were very complicated to film because they were extremely shy.
The key to success was perseverance, taking to the sea as much as possible to find the group or individual “good customer” to let them approach, or even ignore our presence. I would like to point out that all of the images filmed were taken with apnea, the most effective technique for moving around and following these great nomads. Hundreds of days at sea have allowed us to sometimes be “in the right place, at the right time”.
Like Frédéric Larrey, you know this environment and its incredible diversity well, but what struck you the most, moved you or perhaps surprised you, during this shoot?
During all these years of wandering on the high seas, Mother Nature has given us very beautiful gifts, great moments of wildlife… I often remember the first times, which have a particular flavor for the naturalist that I am. During these last 3 years of filming, we were able to capture previously unseen scenes, such as this attack by a group of Risso’s dolphins on sperm whales, or even the closest approach to a sleeping whale on the surface and film its awakening.
Just a few days ago, we were able to spend 4 hours alongside a large male loggerhead turtle escorted by a hundred pilot fish, and witness the nuptial display of a dozen Mediterranean manta rays, called devils. sea.
Our passion for this ecosystem, which needs to be shown to be better protected, pushes us to continue reporting scenes of life and leads us towards new projects.
Pelagos, journey off the Mediterranean
A 52-minute film by Frédéric Larrey and Thomas Roger.
A co-production Les films du vivant / Fanny Productions / France Télévisions, in collaboration with Regard du vivant.
Broadcast Thursday September 21, 2023 at 10:45 p.m. on France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.
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