Our short film and campaign supports the collaborative efforts of the nonprofit Fish On to implement a new Marine Protected Area off the coast of Carpinteria, CA — the Mishopshno State Marine Conservation Area.
ABOUT THE SHORT FILM
Our oceans are overfished, overpolluted, and overheated, but
marine policy advocate Anupa Asokan knows that strict “conservation”
isn’t the answer to protecting California’s coastline.
Instead, she’s finding middle ground.
Through her nonprofit Fish On, Asokan advocates to strengthen California’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) while ensuring that Indigenous tribes and local fishers can maintain their cultural and community ties to the area via low-impact recreational fishing.
However, the fishing industry insists on continuing business as usual. Those opposed have embarked on smear campaigns in an attempt to sway the public and the California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. Asokan will have to change many hearts and minds to ensure her part in the designation of Mishopshno State Marine Conservation Area in 2026 .
Will her allies in the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Environmental Defense Center be enough to convince California decision-makers to protect this biodiverse coastline?
WHY DOES THE MISHOPSHNO SMCA MATTER?
The defined area is a white shark hotspot! Carpinteria’s coastal waters serve as a nursery for juvenile white sharks, a vulnerable keystone species in regulating marine life populations facing the threat of habitat destruction and commercial fishing bycatch.
The waters are teeming with biodiversity! The area's diverse habitats — kelp forests, rocky reefs, sandy bottom, and an adjacent salt marsh — are powerful carbon sequesters that are home to kelp bass, rockfish, leopard sharks, octopus, spiny lobster, gulls, herons, egrets, harbor seals, whales, dolphins, and more.
The location holds strong cultural significance. The area of Mishopshno has long been an important marine and cultural resource for all Chumash people. As the first stewards of this land, the Chumash have lived in harmony with the land and water for millennia and have used both the land and water to fish from shore for cultural, recreational, and subsistence purposes.
Tribal & State co-management is a
priority. Designation of the proposed SMCA would add
a Tribal MPA to the region, strengthening the role of the Santa Ynez
Band of Chumash Indians in co-management, monitoring, and marine
education activities. It would also protect a pre-colonial
underwater ancestral site in the area. The goal of the SMCA is to
honor the Chumash people’s cultural heritage and continued
relationship with their ancestral waters.
COLLECTIVE GOAL
Decision makers and stakeholders often sideline protecting the
ocean for profit, benefitting short-term economic interests at the
expense of everyone’s long-term relationship with the ocean.
Fish On encourages everyone to be a steward of
the sea by highlighting the importance of marine biodiversity,
Tribal-State co-management, and small-scale fishing to educate and
inspire the public to pressure decision-makers and designate the
Mishopshno State Marine Conservation Area.
The ocean is boundless. With establishment of this SMCA, ocean
ecosystems will thrive, sustaining both marine life and the
communities that rely on them — while inspiring others around the
world to establish their own protected areas.
ABOUT THE TEAM
Lorena Bally, Filmmaker. Lorena is a bilingual storyteller supporting environmental justice in the Americas through her writing and ecosystem restoration work. Her journalism specializes in issues surrounding Indigenous sovereignty, and her grant-writing and restoration skills assist Native-led organizations working towards land and water remediation on ancestral territory. She splits her time between Chile and the United States.
Valentina Scaife, Filmmaker. Valentina is a master of creative storytelling and adventure, working at the intersection of environmental rights and social justice to bring important narratives into the spotlight. She uses mixed media to support communities and amplify the stories of this vibrant, beautiful planet.
Tava Kessler, Editor. Tava is a cinematographer, editor, and director specializing in adventure filmmaking. His work bridges commercial and documentary storytelling, spotlighting the connections between people, places, and purpose. Based in San Diego with global experience, he aims to make storytelling a catalyst for real-world impact.
OUR BUDGET
Among the storytelling we do for publications and brands as independent freelancers, Valentina & Lorena wanted to create a pro-bono short documentary for an organization whose heart is for the planet.
Our first collaborative documentary is for Fish On, a nonprofit whose mission is to expand Marine Protected Areas while granting fishing rights to small fishing communities who rely on the ocean.
Funds raised will be allocated to the full production and
post-production costs to travel on-site in October, pay crew fair
wages, secure permits and camera equipment, and edit a powerful
educational documentary that highlights the marine biodiversity of
Carpinteria and the important work of the Mishopshno coalition.
HELP US SAFEGUARD OUR OCEAN & COASTAL COMMUNITIES.
Your donation or sponsorship powers the production of raw storytelling to raise public demand, push the boundaries of change, and support Fish On, a small organization with a big mission: A healthy ocean, abundant fisheries and equitable access to thriving coastal ecosystems.
This film can open doors for Fish On to scale for similar, urgently needed initiatives.
When you support this documentary, you are supporting:
✔️ Independent journalism
✔️ Healthy Marine Ecosystems for All
✔️ Environmental Science
✔️ Hopeful Climate Stories
✔️ Indigenous-led Stewardship
✔️ Seals, Sharks, Dolphins, and Whales
We would not be able to accomplish this documentary without you all.
Whether you're interested in a sweet sticker or in being a co-producer
for this film, we are grateful to you for backing this passion project
for the planet in any capacity possible.
THANK YOU!
Disclaimer: This is a noncommercial film for
educational purposes only.
Perks
- Everything above
- Limited edition Fish On hat (ships to you)
Highlights
See all activity23FAQ
- Will this fund the entire film? Yes, this amount will help pay for our full production and post-production costs, and reimburse our members for the pre-production research and expenses.
- Do I have to pick a reward or can I just invest my own amount? You can invest however much you'd like! All you have to do is select the "Monetary Contribution" button and input your own amount. If you want a reward, just select the reward category you'd like.
- Can I purchase more than one reward? YES! when you click on a reward, you can specify a "Support Amount." Enter the total of all of the rewards you would like there, and leave a note in the "Message to the entrepreneur" listing the rewards you want.
- What else should I know about where the funding is going? Up until now, our team of two (Valentina & Lorena) have been self-funding and volunteering their time, energy, and talents to make this a reality. These funds will support their labor at a nominal rate. We will also be contracting the talented editor Tava to weave a story from the hours of shots and interviews we will collect.
Activity
Meet the team
- Everything above
- Limited edition Fish On hat (ships to you)
