Jasper Pääkkönen Instagram – Farquhar Atoll – one of the most remote locations on the planet. It’s one of the outer islands of the Seychelles, located in the middle of the Indian Ocean, north of Madagascar. A unique habitat for both land and marine life. However, a long history of commercial overfishing and ecological exploitation threatened the future of this fragile ecosystem. Luckily, in recent years, local authorities have started to protect the atoll by implementing practices for sustainable tourism. Without human prescence on the atoll there would simply be no way to protect it from unwanted visitors. In 2016, a massive cyclone devastated the Island, its infrastructure, vegetation, and shallow reef areas by turning massive, house-sized coral heads and bommies upside down, leaving the atoll decimated. A period of reconstruction paved the way for the first eco tourists to return a few years later. Slowly, the ecosystem started to recover, the reefs rebounded, and most endemic species returned, not least thanks to the implementation of strict guidelines imposed on the visiting guests. Through eco-tourism (ie. having year-round human prescence) this remote island is guarded against illegal fishing vessels that have, in the past, arrived all the way from Sri Lanka and Madagascar. Conservation measures and scientific research have been implemented and the atoll is managed in the most sustainable possible way, with very limited numbers of visitors allowed each year (with the main activities being fly fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling). This short film will be shown at the Rise Film Festival tour in Germany, Austria, France and Switzerland this spring. (And the full film later streamed on the usual platforms.) Director: @greghegel Cinematography: @greghegel @brianchucky Main sound track: my fellow Finn @axelthesleff Made possible by @alphonsefishingco @bluesafariseychelles Featuring: @keithroseinnesflyfishing @jasperpaakkonen @marinagibsonfishing @devanvdm @egoiststephan @paulosplayground @cullanashby @fly.gerry #farquhar