The Blob

‘The Blob’ was the name given to a large mass of unusually warm waters in the northeast Pacific Ocean from 2013 to 2017. This warm water set of a chain reaction of destruction in the ecosystem, first effecting and killing off many of the phytoplankton, which effected the bottom feeders, which effected the fish, and the chain continued up to the common murre.

The common murre is a type of seabird that feeds on fish and nests on cliffs and rocks next to the ocean. During and after the heatwave millions of common murres died off and colonies failed to reproduce offspring for many years.

In 2019 I was commissioned by the United States Geological Survey to head to Alaska and spend two weeks onboard a research vessel where a team of scientists were conducting research operations to determine the health of the murre population and the ecosystem.

In addition to a body of photographs, I also directed and produced a short documentary on the team and their research, titled ‘The Blob’, which went on to be nominated in the first edition of the Wild Oceans FilmFest.