On July 25, 2020, the MV Wakashio plowed into the coral reefs off the island nation of Mauritius and began leaking oil into the Indian Ocean. The oil spill occurred near popular tourist beaches and two environmentally protected areas, endangering coral and marine life. Outraged by the disaster, thousands of Mauritians took to the streets in protests.

As a result of the spill, many Mauritians were left jobless. Hundreds of fishermen and hospitality workers turned to cleaning the oil for wages in order to survive financially. The spill poses great economic and ecological implications for the island, and many fear it will take decades to recover.

Director, producer: Shelby Wilder
Executive producer: Rocco Castoro, Emily Molli
Production manager: Rebecca Gibian
Camera operator: Shane Miller
Camera assistant: Khedive Appa
Editor: Shane Miller
Published with SCNR