Private Project

Little Teeth - Saving Sharks on Bali

When a shark gets caught by a fisherman, it usually faces a dire and mostly short future. Indonesia is one of the world’s biggest export markets for shark fins to China and other Asian countries, where they are consumed in a soup that is considered a delicacy. The rising demand for this status symbol dish has decimated many shark species so badly they are on the brink of extinction. When these apex predators disappear, the balance in the ocean is at stake.

One surfer on Bali didn’t just want to stand back and watch. He set up a platform and floating pens in the sea and convinced local fishermen, who regularly by-caught juvenile sharks in their nets, to - instead of killing them - sell the sharks to him alive.

On „Shark Island“, the sharks recover from the stress and grow stronger before they are released back into a nearby marine park. Tourists can book ecotours and visit the shark rescue center, feed the sharks and even swim with them. Paul and Bali Sharks have rescued hundreds of sharks so far.

In this film, The Jetlagged document Bali Sharks’ work and accompany the release of rescued baby black tip reef sharks and bamboo sharks into the protected marine park of Gili Trawangan, giving them a second chance to make a difference for the oceans.

  • Hendrik S. Schmitt
    Director
    We live underwater
  • Claudia Schmitt
    Writer
    We live underwater
  • Hendrik S. Schmitt
    Writer
    We live underwater
  • Claudia Schmitt
    Producer
    We live underwater
  • Hendrik S. Schmitt
    Producer
    We live underwater
  • Claudia Schmitt
    Videographers
    We live underwater
  • Hendrik S. Schmitt
    Videographers
    We live underwater
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Environment, Nature, Conservation, Wildlife
  • Runtime:
    7 minutes 7 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 31, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    2,500 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Germany
  • Country of Filming:
    Indonesia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    GoPro, Sony HD
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Moving Waters Film Festival
    Bangalore
    India
    September 18, 2016
    World Premiere
  • Matsalu Nature Film Festival
    Lihula
    Estonia
    September 22, 2016
    European Premiere
  • Silently 4 - SHORT UNDERWATER MOVIE FESTIVAL
    Belgrade
    Serbia
    October 16, 2016
    Best Ecological Topic
  • 20th International Underwater Film Festival in Belgrade
    Belgrade
    Serbia
    December 17, 2016
  • International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival
    Kuala Lumpur
    Malaysia
    October 14, 2016
  • Waimea Ocean Film Festival Hawaii
    Waimea, Hawaii
    United States
    January 6, 2017
  • PIPA FILM FESTIVAL / Surf & Outdoors
    Tibau do sul, Rio Grande do Norte
    Brazil
    April 6, 2017
  • San Francisco International Ocean Film Festival
    San Francisco
    United States
    March 11, 2017
  • Finisterra Arrábida Film Art & Tourism Festival
    Sesimbra
    Portugal
    May 23, 2017
    Sea & Beach Award
  • Wildlife Conservation Film Festival
    New York
    United States
    October 26, 2017
  • Gödöllő Film Fest
    Gödöllő
    Hungary
    May 27, 2017
  • Voices from the Waters International Traveling Film Festival
    Bangalore
    India
    October 18, 2017
Director - Hendrik S. Schmitt
Director Statement

"The Jetlagged" film and document adventures above and under water and always look for the special stories about the oceans. We want to excite people to go out and explore the world and the oceans themselves, and create an awareness for the fragility of the amazing underwater world. Always on the search for adventures from the polar circle to the equator, we are fully committed to protect our marine world - everything in our world is, in one way or the other, connected to the oceans. By recording and transporting photos, videos and stories in and around the sea, we inspire others to experience and protect our oceans and our nature.