Underwater Experts Warn of Rapid Collapse of Marine Life

The fast-growing collapse of marine ecosystems took centre stage at the Conservation Summit of the Xposure International Photography Festival 2026, where leading underwater photographers presented strong visual and scientific evidence showing the rapid decline of ocean life.

The session was held as part of the festival’s 5th Conservation Summit and featured Dr. Alp Can, Academy Award–winning filmmaker Pippa Ehrlich, and National Geographic photographer Brian Skerry. Through long-term research and underwater photography, the speakers highlighted how climate change, industrial activity, and local human pressures are severely damaging coral reefs, kelp forests, and marine biodiversity.

Dr. Alp Can opened the discussion with his presentation, “A Photographic Odyssey: Rise & Fall of Coral Reefs.” Drawing from over 2,500 dives, he showed how once-healthy coral reefs have turned into degraded environments. Sharing recent data from Florida, he said one in five corals has already disappeared. While global warming remains the main cause, he stressed that pollution, coastal development, and human activity continue to weaken reef survival. Dr. Can added that although individuals cannot stop climate change alone, collective action can reduce long-term damage.

Pippa Ehrlich then shifted focus to kelp forests in her presentation, “Forests of the Sea.” She explained that kelp forests once covered nearly 30 percent of the world’s coastlines, but over 60 percent have now declined or vanished during her lifetime. Speaking about her work in South Africa’s Great African Seaforest, Ehrlich said the global success of her film “My Octopus Teacher” helped raise awareness worldwide.

Following the film’s release in September 2020, the response enabled her team to launch the 1001 Seaforest Species Project, which has documented more than 900 species so far. The project also revealed new discoveries, including multi-generation octopus dens and unknown ecological connections.

Ehrlich warned that the loss of kelp forests has caused serious chain reactions in the ocean. She pointed to declining African penguin populations, the disappearance of great white sharks from some regions, and severe drops in abalone numbers, all linked to kelp loss.

The session concluded with Brian Skerry’s presentation, “Ocean Soul.” With over 40 years of ocean documentation and dozens of National Geographic stories, Skerry revisited his famous 2007 cover story, “Saving the Sea’s Bounty.” He highlighted an image of a thresher shark trapped in a gill net, which became a global symbol of industrial overfishing.

Skerry said earlier estimates suggested 100 million sharks are killed every year, and warned that current numbers may still be just as high. He explained that the loss of apex predators like sharks destabilises entire marine ecosystems.

Despite decades of documenting destruction, Skerry expressed cautious hope. He said humanity now understands both the scale of the crisis and the solutions needed. He reminded the audience that oceans make up nearly 98 percent of Earth’s habitable space. The session ended with Skerry reading his original poem, “The Isorax,” an ocean-focused tribute inspired by The Lorax.

The Xposure 2026 festival includes more than 570 creative events, with 420+ photographers, filmmakers, and visual artists from over 60 countries. The festival features 95 exhibitions focused on conservation, culture, environment, and humanity, and runs until 4 February at Aljada, Sharjah, under the theme “A Decade of Visual Storytelling.”