Losing Nemo

There’s really no good way to say this, but, the thing is: we’re losing Nemo.

Some of you – many, probably – will know Pixar/Disney’s (mostly) wonderful animated films. Bringing up our kids in the noughties, 2003’s Finding Nemo was one of our favourites. With 40 million copies sold, it’s the most popular DVD of all time, so we obviously weren’t alone! The adventures of Nemo the reef-dwelling clownfish, it’s a heartwarming tale of family, friendship and letting go that brings vividly to life the underwater world of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

And since those days, I’ve had the immense privilege of diving coral reefs in real life. Seeing for myself clownfish nestling in sea anemone, giant barracuda pulling up to the cleaning station, napoleon fish, sunfish, parrotfish, angelfish, immense manta ray wheeling overhead, sharks of every kind – nursing, blue, ragged tooth, whale, hammerhead. All on reefs of living corals in all their kinds, like trees and bushes, fingers and fans, plates and leaves, sheets, heads, tables and mushrooms, an incredibly intricate living system, home to a million (about a quarter of) marine species, the most diverse habitat in all God’s creation.