The Living Sea: A Fight for Our Oceans
As oceans face unprecedented pressure, from climate change and pollution to overfishing and habitat loss, the future of marine life has become one of the defining environmental challenges of our time.
His Excellency Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi joins marine and ocean wildlife photographer Brian Skerry for a focused conversation on the realities facing the world’s seas and the responsibility to protect them. Drawing on leadership, policy, and decades of visual documentation from beneath the surface, the discussion explores how fragile marine ecosystems are being pushed to the breaking point, and what must change to secure a living ocean for future generations.
The session connects global threats with local responsibility, examining how storytelling, science, leadership, and education can work together to move from awareness towards meaningful action.
This talk forms part of the Conservation Summit Opening – access requires summit registration
- Duration 30 minutes
Date
- 02 Feb 2026
Time
- 10:30 - 11:00
Speakers
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Fahim Al QasimiPrior to joining the Sharjah Government, he worked in strategic advisory and performance monitoring of a portfolio of state-owned assets in the UAE. With a background in public sector strategy and investments, he supported the Government in developing policies to achieve both financial and socio-economic returns in state-owned enterprises.
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Brian SkerryBrian Skerry is a documentary filmmaker and veteran photojournalist specializing in marine wildlife and underwater realms. Since 1998 Brian has been a contributing photographer for National Geographic Magazine, where he has created and photographed more than 30-feature stories, including 7 cover stories. His recent documentary film credits include Secrets of the Whales and Return of the White Shark, both currently streaming on Disney+. In 2021 Brian received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary as producer of Secrets of the Whales.
