MPB, Europe’s top camera reseller, is partnering with Blind and legendary underwater photographer, scuba diver and biologist Laurent Ballesta to give you the chance to win the Nikon D5 that captured his images on the set of his acclaimed documentary 700 Sharks in the Night, as well as a limited edition and signed print of the photograph that earned him the 2021 Wildlife Photographer of the Year award. To have a chance of winning, head to mpb.com/blind-magazine and follow the entry instructions.
Today, as part of this competition, Laurent Ballesta explains to Blind the challenges of ocean preservation, his concerns, and the role of major NGOs in the field.
Can you tell us about your early commitment to preserving the planet?
There was no clear beginning for me. I never considered myself an activist. I have too much respect for real activists, like Paul Watson or Lamya Essemlali of Sea Shepherd. These are people who take extreme risks, go to prison, and physically fight against whaling. I travel, I explore, I take photographs. It’s not the same thing. Activism, for me, is a total commitment, often at the expense of one’s own safety and comfort. I’m more of a witness, a transmitter of images, and I don’t want to appropriate a cause that requires such dedication.
Yet, through your photos, you convey a message, don’t you?
Less and less, I think. Today’s beautiful images, especially on Instagram, create more covetousness than respect. I prefer to show rare, bizarre things, little-known creatures, to arouse mystery and respect. Showing a coelacanth, an almost prehistoric animal, or a Philippine horseshoe crab is to show the strangeness of the marine world. This strangeness can provoke esteem, even fascination. It’s another path I’m trying to explore, more intimate, less spectacular.
Do you think photography can still be a tool to save nature?
No, not really. There are enough images of the world’s beauty today. The real battles are being fought elsewhere. Those who say they photograph to save nature make me smile. If you really want to save nature, join Sea Shepherd, fight poachers, lobby in Brussels. Taking photos is no longer enough. Photography can be a medium, a means of raising awareness, but it doesn’t replace concrete action. Too many photographers claim to be environmental heroes, when all they do is travel and accumulate likes. This isn’t bad in itself, but we must remain clear-eyed about its impact.
What are the main threats to the oceans today?
The greatest threat is the erosion of biodiversity, caused primarily by overfishing. Many fisheries are indiscriminate and devastating. Then there are microplastics, particularly microfibers from our laundry detergents, which disrupt food chains. Physical and noise pollution, coastal development, and constant human presence make matters worse. Ocean warming and acidification are also dangers, particularly for calcareous organisms like corals. And even the laws meant to protect are often ignored or insufficiently enforced. Marine biodiversity is under attack on all fronts.
What do you think about marine protected areas?
The concept is excellent, but the implementation is often disappointing. In France, we talk about 10% of marine protected areas, but in reality, only 0.1% are actually protected with strict regulations. We need to go much further if we want to achieve the 30% target by 2030. A marine protected area doesn’t always mean a ban on fishing or destructive activities. Often, it’s just a monitored space, not a preserved one. We need to be careful with the terms.
Can you tell us about Andromède Océanologie and the Gombessa Expeditions, two organizations that you manage?
Gombessa is a project exploring underwater mysteries: unknown species, unexplored ecosystems, deep dives. Each expedition has a scientific and visual goal. We try to explain, document, and tell the story of what we discover, while highlighting the unknown. It’s almost like the work of an underwater science journalist. Andromède is more technical: a marine environmental studies office. There are 21 of us, including 18 permanent employees, and almost all of us are professional divers. We mapped the French Mediterranean and developed the Donia app (more than 70,000 users) , which helps boats anchor without damaging the seabed. Our strength is the field, active diving, and intimate knowledge of marine habitats.
Do you also do ecological restoration?
Yes. For example, in Beaulieu and Golfe-Juan, we replant seagrass beds torn up by anchors every summer. We also restore coral reefs that have been buried for 30 to 40 years. We uncover them, then replant sponges, gorgonians, and coral. It’s patient work, but promising. There’s a certain satisfaction in being able to say: here, there was a disaster, and we’ve started to repair it. It’s tiny on a global scale, but it’s tangible.
What are your greatest discoveries?
There was the tracking of the coelacanth with a tag, and more recently, the discovery of a field of 18 million fish nests off the coast of Corsica. It’s gigantic, spectacular, and still little known. The BBC has already acquired our images for Blue Planet 3, scheduled for 2027. These nests attract rare predators, including certain species of sharks and even angel sharks, which are extinct elsewhere. It’s a major ecological discovery.
Do many people do what you do?
No, very few combine very deep photography, exploration, and scientific research. There are some, especially in France, but it’s not common. Below 100 meters, few of us make real observations. And even fewer document them rigorously. It requires a combination of skills: technical, scientific, and artistic. It’s not an easy path.
Can you tell us about Sea Shepherd and Paul Watson?
He’s a key figure. Paul Watson never harmed a human, but he physically blocked the whalers. When his crime was saving lives, it’s still complicated to judge him. We need people like him. Today, laws are no longer enough. The people at Sea Shepherd are often the only ones who truly act. They embody direct, courageous, and frontal resistance. Watson has always rejected violence against humans, but he defends non-human life tooth and nail. For several years now, we’ve been experiencing a catastrophic regression in environmental matters: some flout rules, or go back on them, on pesticides, for example. The coming Trump era, and in its wake, a whole uninhibited world that dares to utter the most outrageous insults, and clearly has no ecological conscience, depresses me. Faced with the indifference of states, the commitment of organizations like Sea Shepherd has become vital.
What other NGOs are important for ocean preservation around the world?
There are a few, of course. In addition to Sea Shepherd, there is, for example, Blum, an NGO that does remarkable legal and political work, campaigning against destructive fishing. They work in the shadows, often without media recognition, but with great determination.
Why are there so few marine activists?
Because it’s expensive. It requires ships and qualified personnel. It’s more complex than entering a factory on land. Paul Watson has donors, but not all of them can afford this level of action. And the sea is far away, it’s vast, it’s expensive. Many NGOs prefer land-based actions, which are more visible and accessible. This is regrettable.
What are the important actions that everyone can take for the oceans?
Stay informed, choose the right fish products, and avoid harmful big brands. The greatest act of resistance today is to continue learning and cultivating your critical thinking. Making the right consumer choices is sometimes more powerful than a vote. Information is our main weapon. And being a responsible consumer is a daily political act.
What still fascinates you underwater today?
There is still so much to discover. The underwater world remains largely unexplored. I realized, at 50, that I wouldn’t have time to explore everything I’d like. It’s a realization that’s both frustrating and stimulating. It pushes me to select my projects carefully, to go further in each mission. What fascinates me are these shadowy areas, these unknown creatures, these abysses that resist our gaze. As long as there is mystery, I will want to dive.
Enter the competition to win Laurent Ballesta’s Nikon D5 and a limited edition and signed print of his 2021 award-winning photograph. More information about the competition can be found in this article published at its launch.
About MPB: MPB is Europe’s top camera reseller, making it easy and sustainable to access used camera gear and save money since 2011. Do you have a camera or gear you’re ready to pass on to a new storyteller? Get your free, risk-free quote now and find out how much it’s worth.
More information about Laurent Ballesta here.
