Sharkwater is a 2006 documentary film written, directed, and produced by Canadian filmmaker and conservationist Rob Stewart. The film highlights the beauty of the oceans, particularly the underwater world of sharks, and exposes the illegal and harmful practices of the shark finning industry.
The movie centers around Stewart's journey as a wildlife photographer to investigate the illegal shark finning industry. He travels to the Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica, and Guatemala to expose the brutal reality of shark finning. The film shows how millions of sharks are killed every year for their fins, which are used in the luxury dish shark fin soup. The practice of shark finning is illegal in many countries, but continues to thrive due to the high demand for shark fins.
Sharkwater also highlights the vital role of sharks in maintaining the balance of the marine ecosystem. Stewart shows how the removal of sharks from the ecosystem results in the uncontrolled growth of other marine life, which can be detrimental to the entire ecosystem in the long run.
The documentary received critical acclaim for its breathtaking underwater cinematography and the message it delivered about the conservation of sharks and the oceans. It has won numerous awards, including the Audience Award at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Audience Award at the Atlantic Film Festival. The film was followed by a sequel, Sharkwater Extinction, which was released in 2018, and explores the continued threats to sharks and the oceans.