In the latest “Refit Issue” (Issue 56) of SuperYacht Times, Features Editor Leona Caanen sits down with Toby Nowlan, the wildlife director and producer behind the groundbreaking documentary Ocean with David Attenborough.
The conversation bridges the gap between high-end maritime luxury and the urgent need for marine conservation, arguing that the two industries share a “vital truth”: both are fundamentally dependent on a healthy ocean.
The Guardian of the Deep: Toby Nowlan on Industry Accountability
For Toby Nowlan, the relationship between superyachts and the ocean should be more than just transactional. Having spent four years filming in the world’s most remote marine environments from the massive Papahānaumokuakeā Marine National Monument to the deep Pacific, Nowlan has witnessed both the ocean’s terrifying fragility and its “extraordinary capacity for recovery.”
“The superyacht industry is in a unique position to set the example. Rather than following trends, it should be at the forefront of ocean protection.” Toby Nowlan
Nowlan argues that owners, builders, and guests are not just spectators of the sea but its primary stakeholders. His vision for the industry involves a shift from passive enjoyment to active stewardship, particularly through the following avenues:
- Science-Ready Refits: Issue 56 highlights how refit projects can incorporate research equipment, turning private vessels into “vessels of opportunity” for marine biologists.
- Operational Responsibility: Addressing “invisible” impacts like noise pollution and carbon footprints during the design and refit phases.
- Support for MPAs: Encouraging owners to leverage their influence to support Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which Nowlan describes as the “engine rooms” of ocean regeneration.
Bridging the Gap: The Monaco Forum
The interview follows a high-profile screening of Ocean with David Attenborough at the Monaco Yacht Show, an event that has increasingly transformed into a forum for environmental discourse. Nowlan emphasizes that the industry’s greatest asset its ability to access the most ecologically sensitive parts of the planet, comes with an inherent responsibility to safeguard those very coordinates.
Actionable Conservation: The Blue Marine Connection
The piece also underscores the work of organizations like the Blue Marine Foundation. Through the Blue Marine Yacht Club (BMYC), owners like Peter Lürssen have already demonstrated the “results at scale” that can be achieved, such as the €2 million endowment that helped protect 445,000 square kilometers of water around Ascension Island.
