All Rise...

Judge David Johnson once visited the sacred island but got voted off almost immediately.

The Charge

Bringing back the good news from the world's oceans.

The Case

Shark Reef / The Sacred Island is a two episode DVD set from the series Saving the Ocean with Carl Safina. Safina is a marine biologist ("renowned," according to the back of the disc case), who journeys to different corners of the planet researching the latest in general ocean health.

The skinny on the two episodes:

"Shark Reef"
Carl travels to Belize to check out the thriving shark culture at Glover's Reef Marine Reserve. He gets some hands-on experience tagging and tracking the sharks, while imparting important updates on the current struggle for shark survival. Special attention is paid at the end of the episode to a movement in China to resist sharkfin soup.

"The Sacred Island"
The small island of Pembar, off the East African Coast, is Carl's destination this time and it turns out to be paradise on earth for greenies. Once threatened by over-development, the island has become an ecological heaven, managed by fisherman to provide long-lasting eco-bliss for both tourists and the fishing industry.

This is solid show, beautifully filmed, and full of interesting information. Carl Safina is an interesting host and he obviously has a deep and abiding passion for the subject matter. His presentation is straightforward and he adeptly transmits his enthusiasm for marine biology. If you have any interest in ocean related shows, check this out. It's well done.

The DVD is lean. Shows look slick in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen, the 2.0 stereo mix is standard-issue, and no extras.

The Verdict

Not Guilty.

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