On Feb. 6, SCCF hosted ocean explorer, educator, and filmmaker Jean-Michel Cousteau as the speaker for the 8th annual Paul McCarthy Memorial Lecture.

The son of French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, Jean-Michel Cousteau has been exploring the ocean since first being “thrown overboard” by his father at the age of 7 with newly invented SCUBA gear on his back. He has investigated the world’s oceans aboard the famous Calypso and Alcyone expedition vessels; produced over 80 films and countless television specials, public service announcements, and articles; and been a dedicated advocate for the need to act responsibly and preserve the fragile underwater ecosystems that are so intricately tied to all life on earth.

About 400 people came to the Sanibel Community House to hear him speak on his lifetime of ocean exploration and advocacy.

During his talk, Jean-Michel Cousteau emphasized the essential role the world’s oceans play in sustaining life on Earth, from producing much of the oxygen we breathe to supporting biodiversity and regulating the planet’s climate. He spoke about the growing pressures facing marine ecosystems, including pollution, fossil fuel exploration, impacts from large cruise and cargo vessels, and a changing climate, noting that these threats are not distant problems but ones affecting coastal communities around the globe and close to home.

Cousteau also reflected on the legacy of his father, Jacques Cousteau, and his lifelong concern for the accelerating pace of ocean degradation. He underscored the urgency of protecting marine biodiversity and emphasized the importance of education, particularly inspiring young people to care for and advocate on behalf of the ocean. These themes are central to his work with Ocean Futures Society, the nonprofit marine conservation and education organization he founded in 1999.

Throughout the talk, he returned to a central theme of shared responsibility, encouraging attendees to act thoughtfully and proactively to safeguard ocean health for future generations.

“We have a lot of work to do still, and we’re still very much involved at Ocean Futures Society in fighting to do a better job,” he said.

For eight years, SCCF’s Paul McCarthy Memorial Lecture Series has connected people with speakers aligned with our mission to protect and care for Southwest Florida’s coastal ecosystems. The Boler Family Foundation underwrites the speaker fees and expenses as a way to honor a dear family friend. Paul McCarthy was the founder of Captiva Cruises and an engaged and community-focused presence on the Sanibel and Captiva for many years.

More about Jean-Michel

Jean-Michel Cousteau’s films have received the Emmy, the Peabody Award, the Sept d’Or, and the Cable Ace Award. In 2006, his PBS-KQED documentary, “Voyage to Kure,” in part inspired President George W. Bush to proclaim the Northwester Hawaiian Islands a Marine National Monument — at the time the largest marine protected area in the world.

His most recent film, “Wonders of the Sea,” uncovers the complexities of our interconnected world of life in the oceans and shows us how we are all asked to safeguard the future of our water planet. Narrated by Arnold Schwarzenegger and starring Jean-Michel, his two adult children, Céline and Fabien and Jean-Michel’s team; this adventure takes viewers to beautiful locations around the world, including Fiji, California, Sea of Cortez, Bahamas, and the Mediterranean Sea.

Jean-Michel has been honored with many awards and inductions, including the Environmental Hero Award at the White House National Oceans Conference, the National Marine Sanctuaries Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, the Champion of the Ocean Award from Monmouth University, the Environmental Hero Award from Environmental Defense Center, and the Environmental Academy Award from the World Business Academy.

He was also honored with the highest French civilian order of distinction, the Chevalier de la Légion D’Honneur, Knight of the Legion of Honor from the President of France, François Hollande, in May 2016.