Francesca Trotman | Ocean Advocate | Underwater & Wildlife Photographer | UK
Francesca is a talented underwater and wildlife photographer born in the UK. She became obsessed with sharks at the age of eight and amazingly learnt how to scuba dive at only thirteen years old.
She is also the founder of the marine conservation organisation @lovetheoceans, based in Mozambique. Their mission is to establish an MPA in Jamango.
When did you first start your storytelling journey?
I only really started documenting our organisation's work a couple of years into it, probably around 2016 but I first visited Mozambique in 2013.
What path did you choose after leaving school?
I went straight to the University of Southampton and did a BSc in Marine Biology with Oceanography. I then switched in my first year to an MSci in straight Marine Bio. I have taken a 7-year break from university and am now doing a PhD at Newcastle University.
What are the fondest memories from your upbringing that you feel impacted your life choices and lifestyle today?
For my 8th birthday, my Mum took me to the London aquarium where I fell in love with sharks for the first time. One of the tank cleaners picked up a shark tooth from the bottom of the tank and gave it to me. I kept it in a box for 5 years. I think that was a good indication!
What/who currently inspires you?
Our team inspires me daily, it's made up of such passionate individuals who really care about what they're doing and work their hardest to make sure it's done right. My friends inspire me too.
Current Projects
Love The Oceans work is my life. Currently, we're doing:
Research
- Fisheries: sustainability assessments
- Coral reefs: health assessments
- Megafauna (humpbacks/whale sharks/mantas): population counts & bioacoustics
- Ocean trash: trash removal and upcycling to eco-bricks
- Turtles: nest identification & guarding
- In-situ elasmobranch assessments: BRUV assessments on meso & apex predator presence.
All of our research is being used to inform conservation action and legislation for the marine protected area we're working to establish. Our MPA will be locally managed so we have a range of outreach projects:
Outreach
- Marine Resource Management lessons: 10-13yr olds
- Swimming lessons: 4-18yr olds & raising money for the first community pool. Enabling safe interactions with the water and therefore stewardship of the ocean
- Ocean Conservation Champions (OCC): an internship program for local children to get further qualified and run their own conservation workshops
- OCC Education Program: sponsorship of 2 local kids to finish high school
- Sustainable Fishing Project: working to eliminate net fishing in the district and transition fishermen to more sustainable methods
- Sustainable fishing workshops: for active local fishermen
- Responsible tourism workshops: for tourism operators and owners in the area
- Women's Health Project: introduce more women into the marine space and tackle gender equity locally
- Alternative livelihoods: identifying possible other sources of income alternate to fishing, alleviating pressure on the ocean to provide food & financial security
What would you most like to change in the world/environment today?
It'd be great to see more locally managed marine areas. Protected areas are only as good as their management and local people are best placed to make the most informed and realistic decisions about nature on their doorstep. Local management and holistic conservation are what we need much more of around the globe.
Are there any books/documentaries that have guided your thinking, and that you'd like to recommend to other ocean lovers?
Scientific journals mainly! But I also love:
Films:
End of The Line
Racing Extinction
The Cove
Before The Flood
Books:
How To Be A Woman - Caitlin Moran
Invisible Women - Caroline Perez
Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race - Reni Eddo-Lodge
All We Can Save - Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
Be The Change - Gina Martin
Hood Feminism - Mikki Kendall
What legacy do you hope to leave?
Leave the world a better place even if it's just a tiny part of it or a few people. Make your difference.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to follow their dreams as an Ocean Storyteller?
Don't give up. Be resilient and persistent and Just. Keep. Going.
WEBSITE: https://lovetheoceans.org
INSTAGRAM: @lovetheoceans | @francescatrotmanphotography
