The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) has launched Fragile Ocean, a campaign featuring a short film set to the song Final Rescue Attempt by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds.
The campaign, voiced by Melanie Zanetti (the voice of Chilli, Bluey’s Mum), invites Australians to reconnect emotionally with the ocean, even from the middle of the busiest streets.
“With 76% of Australians living in cities, surrounded by concrete, glass and steel, it’s easy to forget how deeply we’re all connected to the ocean — even if we can’t see it,” said AMCS director of communications, Imogen Scott.
“This is a campaign about wonder and urgency. The ocean is crying out for help. Our Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo have suffered back-to-back bleaching events. Marine heatwaves are driving the toxic algal bloom in South Australia. For those who know these places, it feels like losing a friend.
“But it’s not too late. One of the most powerful tools we have is strong legislation. Right now the Albanese Government is revising national nature laws - this is our moment to secure the protections our ocean and wildlife desperately need. We want people to watch this short film, feel moved and take action.
“Even the simple act of signing a petition can be mighty when thousands of voices come together.”
Fragile Ocean, created by multi-award winning production company Collider, has marine animals rendered in water moving through urban streetscapes to remind Australians that the ocean touches every part of their lives.
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds’ provided the powerful soundtrack drawn from their 2024 album Wild God, which explores themes of grief, transformation and the human condition.
“We are deeply grateful to Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds for lending us their extraordinary song, Final Rescue Attempt,” said Scott.
“It’s the perfect soundtrack for a nation grappling with the loss of nature — and asking, what now? That’s where AMCS comes in. We know the solutions. And when enough people speak up, change happens.
“This isn’t just about loving the beach or whale watching from our shores — ocean health is inseparable from our own. The good news is, if we act now, our reefs, ocean and marine life can recover. But they need us to give them that chance.”
Actor Melanie Zanetti donated her voice for the narration, recording the voice over from her studio in Los Angeles.
Credits:
Production Company: Collider
Rachael Ford-Davies, Managing Partner & EP, Collider
Andrew van der Westhuyzen, Founder/Creative Director, Collider
Hoss Ghonouie, Head of Studio Production, Collider
Georgia Moraitis, Producer, Collider
Copywriter, ABEL
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds ([PIAS] Recordings (UK) Limited t/a Play It Again Sam)
Melanie Zanetti (Prime Rib Productions)
Sophie Haydon, Executive Producer, Sonar Music
Timothy Bridge, Sound Designer, Sonar Music
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