Charlie Young | Underwater Photographer | Marine Scientist | Sailor | UK
Charlie is an award-winning marine scientist, presenter, and avid sailor whose work has seen her invited to speak at events such as COP26 and the Blue Earth Summit. Fiercely passionate about human impacts on the ocean, Charlie's work has taken her around the globe to research and document anthropogenic stressors and has been published in some of the world’s top scientific journals.
Charlie hails from the rugged Pembrokeshire coastline and now lives full-time on her self-renovated wooden catamaran "Feral" where she is currently exploring the Eastern Atlantic.
Now living full-time at sea, Charlie dedicates her life afloat to documenting wildlife, conducting scientific research, and investigating human abuses on the ocean.
Her mission? To get below the surface of this lawless frontier and shine a light on its greatest challenges, untold stories, and undiscovered mysteries.
When did you first start your storytelling journey?
In 2018, my journey to becoming a storyteller began when I joined The Elysium Expedition alongside Nat Geo photographers as a lead scientist investigating plastic pollution in the biodiverse waters off of Indonesia. Here I presented my first documentary and since then have leveraged film, photography, and writing to inspire positive action for the ocean.
What path did you choose after leaving school?
On leaving school, I moved to Bristol to study Conservation Biology (BSc Hons) before then continuing on to complete a master’s in Marine Science (MRes) at Glasgow University.
What are the fondest memories from your upbringing that you feel impacted your life choices and lifestyle today?
Forced to grow up in a wetsuit, I spent my childhood with sandy toes and salty hair, exploring rockpools with my family and discovering wildlife under the waves. It was here that my fascination with the natural world began. Inspired by my dad, a BSAC dive instructor, I became a diver at the age of 14, and since taking my first breath underwater, I haven’t looked back!
What/who currently inspires you?
Mariana Van Zeller
Charles Clover
Hugo Tagholm
Chris Burkard
Current Projects
I focus my work on investigating human abuses on the ocean. Previously I have looked at issues such as plastic pollution. Now, I am focusing my efforts on investigating the topics of overfishing and climate change, where I will be reporting on these issues from the frontlines as I sail throughout the Atlantic.
What would you most like to change in the world/environment today?
I would like to help put an end to overfishing and see the ocean restored to a healthy state where man and the sea live in balance.
Are there any books/documentaries that have guided your thinking, and that you'd like to recommend to other ocean lovers?
Books:
End of the Line & Rewilding the Sea by Charles Clover
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Documentaries:
Sea of Shadows
Black fish
End of the Line
Fish Pirates: Trafficked by Mariana Van Zeller
What legacy do you hope to leave?
Answers to helping solve some of the greatest challenges facing the ocean.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to follow their dreams as an Ocean Storyteller?
For anyone looking to become an ocean storyteller, I would advise the following tips:
1. Get out there and start creating. Develop your craft, voice, and skills.
2. Network. Connect with the people you admire. Have conversations. Build your community, and through that, comes opportunity.
3. Think outside the box. Don't follow others. Don't copy. Find your unique angle and carve your own path.
4. Be patient and don't give up. The most successful people I know are the ones who didn't let anything stop them from continuing to try.
