Surfrider Foundation’s Southern Blast – directed by the legendary Matty Hannon – exposes the dangerous impacts of seismic blasting on marine life in the Southern Ocean and amplifies the voices of local coastal communities who are standing up against big fossil fuel multinationals.
From Torren Martyn flying down the face of a heaving Shipstern monster, extraordinary underwater cinematography and incisive conversations with surfers, First Nations’ leaders, fishers, scientists and artists – including Annie Ford, Drew McPherson, Kyron Rathbone, Zoey Grey and the late, great legend of Tasmanian surf Mick Lawrence – Southern Blast is a cinematic surf spectacle that celebrates deep ocean connection and the power of local communities to protect their special saltwater places.
We know that people power works. Since the community campaign to stop new fossil fuel projects in the Southern Ocean kicked off in 2023 – including a national film tour of Southern Blast – the blasting proposal has been downgraded from 7.7 million hectares to 5.5 and then 4.5 million hectares. After a massive community action in March, where 1200 surfers paddled out in Torquay to say no to seismic blasting, the proposal has been downsized again to 3.17 million hectares.
Right now, with two disastrous seismic blasting projects sitting with the Australian government regulator NOPSEMA for approval, it’s time to ramp up the pressure and stop dangerous seismic blasting, once and for all.
Watch Southern Blast and then take action with Surfrider Foundation to protect Southern Sea Country.
