New Film by Annie Crawley Showcases One Woman’s Quest to Protect Colombia’s Shark Sanctuary
SEATTLE, WA — In her powerful new documentary “The Island of the Shark: Guardians of Malpelo,” filmmaker, ocean educator, and underwater cinematographer Annie Crawley invites audiences into the heart of Malpelo Island, a part of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor, to tell a story of resilience, conservation, and one woman’s extraordinary mission to defend the last stronghold for migratory sharks in Colombia.
The film follows Erika Lopez, co-founder and executive director of Biodiversity Conservation Colombia (BCC), as she battles illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing at Malpelo Island—a UNESCO World Heritage Site located 500 kilometers/300 miles off the Colombian coast.
Rising from 4,000 meters below the sea, this remote volcanic island is one of the most biologically rich marine ecosystems on Earth, home to massive schools of fish as well as migratory silky sharks, hammerheads, whale sharks, tuna, and more.
“When I first dove at Malpelo, I was overwhelmed,” says Lopez in the film. “Hundreds of sharks surrounded me. I went from being petrified because of movies like ‘Jaws’ to falling in love with them as I experienced their true reality. That moment changed my life.”
Despite being a Colombian national park protected by law, Malpelo has long been a target for illegal shark fishing. The documentary reveals how Lopez, once a dive guide witnessing these crimes firsthand, transformed into one of the region’s fiercest defenders.
With limited resources and unmatched resolve, she co-founded Biodiversity Conservation Colombia and, with co-founder Jacob Griffiths, launched the Silky, a 55- foot catamaran named after the sharks she works to protect. Together with Colombian National Parks, the Colombian Navy, and ecotourism allies like Colombia Dive Adventures, Lopez has built a frontline defense network, patrolling this vital marine corridor 24/7.
“Erika Lopez is more than a conservationist,” says director Annie Crawley. “She is the heartbeat of Malpelo. Her courage, clarity of vision, and unwavering dedication are what inspired me to make this film.”
“The Island of the Shark” doesn’t just showcase breathtaking underwater cinematography—it lifts the veil on the dangers facing one of the last places on Earth with a high shark biomass.
More than 70% of oceanic sharks and rays have been killed by humans in the last 50 years, largely due to overfishing and demand for shark fins around the world. The film delivers a call to action, reminding viewers that ocean animals don’t recognize national boundaries, and that international collaboration is essential for marine protection.
From harrowing sea rescues and illegal fishing chases to scientific exploration and grassroots mobilization, Crawley captures the real-time urgency of ocean conservation. The film also celebrates the unique biodiversity of Malpelo—its massive schools of jacks and snappers, 100,000 Nazca booby birds, endemic lizards and crabs, and nutrient-rich upwellings that sustain the food web from sea to sky.
Film Premiere & Impact Campaign
“The Island of the Shark: Guardians of Malpelo” will premiere [INSERT FESTIVAL/PREMIERE DETAILS] alongside an international impact campaign aimed at raising awareness of IUU fishing and supporting Biodiversity Conservation Colombia.
About the Filmmaker
Annie Crawley is an award-winning underwater photographer, filmmaker, and ocean speaker based in Edmonds, Washington. Through her projects Our Ocean and You, Dive Into Your Imagination, and the Edmonds Underwater Park, she works to inspire global ocean literacy. Crawley is known for telling stories that fuse science and heart to drive conservation change.
Press & Screenings Contact annie@AnnieCrawley.com www.AnnieCrawley.com www.IslandoftheShark.com Mobile/WhatsApp USA +1-805-453-1947
Follow the film:
#IslandOfTheShark #GuardiansOfMalpelo #SaveSharks #ErikaLopez #BCC
