'Hope in the Water' docuseries episode on aquaculture nominated for Emmy Award

On June 19, 2024, after just over two years since we first heard about it, the Fed by Blue-powered docuseries 'Hope in the Water' finally premiered on PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) in the United States. The groundbreaking TV documentary series aiming to educate consumers about seafood and how it can help restore the oceans has now gone a step further after its episode on aquaculture was nominated for an Emmy award.

The three-part character-driven docuseries, from four-time James Beard and Emmy Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern and his production company Intuitive Content in collaboration with multi-award-winning producer and storytelling visionary David E. Kelley, highlights the stories of innovators, fish farmers, and fishermen working toward a sustainable future for the planet.

Specifically, the nomination has gone to the second such episode, "Farming the Water," which, hosted by well-known television presenter Martha Stewart, tells the stories of fish farmers who are feeding the planet while saving oceans and waterways. The U.S. National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has nominated it in the category of Outstanding Coverage of Science and Technology.

Episode 2: redefining what it means to farm with the ocean, not from it

"This episode shines a light on the urgent need for regenerative aquaculture and the promise of blue food systems to help feed a growing population while healing our planet. From ocean farmers to innovators reimagining how we harvest food from the sea, Farming the Sea uplifts the stories of those leading a movement toward sustainable, nutritious, and equitable solutions," Fed by Blue Executive Director, Jennifer Bushman, recapped the Emmy-nominated episode in her LinkedIn profile.

Even more, the co-founder of Fed by Blue, along with Jill Kauffman Johnson and Katherine Bryar, added that this nomination also marks a historic first: the first time Martha Stewart's work has been recognized in the Emmy news category. "A testament to her commitment to education, sustainability, and amplifying meaningful stories," Bushman commented.

"I am so proud to stand with the changemakers, communities, and advocates redefining what it means to farm with the ocean, not from it," Fed by Blue Executive Director concluded her LinkedIn post.

"That episode tells the incredible stories of water farmers who are at the forefront of helping solve our climate crisis through innovative solutions that have real impact on healthy food systems," said for his part Patrick Weiland, President at Intuitive Content. "We are so grateful to be able to share these stories with the world," he added.

Those interested in watching both the nominated Episode 2 and the rest of the docuseries can do so on PBS.org or the PBS app - click here for more information - although it is currently only available for viewing in the United States.

Aquaculture finally seen as an innovative technology

Born to create awareness about how responsible fishing and cultivation practices have the potential to protect our waters, when they thought of founding Fed by Blue, Bushman, Kauffman Johnson and Bryar did so because it was clear to all three of them that there was a lot of good to tell about responsible seafood, but no one was doing it from a global perspective and, worse, there was the divide between farmed and wild seafood, which added to the fragmentation.

With an image problem recognized by almost everyone - it is largely unknown to the general public, even in large producing countries for those who do not live near the farms - aquaculture has often been demonized even by some sectors within the seafood industry itself.

Therefore, if making a documentary about how the aquaculture industry can be managed sustainably was already an important milestone, the fact that it also got an Emmy Award nomination in Outstanding Science & Technology Coverage is a source of pride for its promoters, as the Global Marketing Director of BioMar and co-founder of Fed by Blue, Katherine Bryar recognized.

"We are extremely proud and honoured that we have been nominated for an Emmy Award in Outstanding Science & Technology Coverage for our Hope in the Water episode: Farming the Water," she wrote on her LinkedIn profile.

"Aquaculture is finally being seen as innovative technology!! With every major reporter scheduled to be in NYC on awards night maybe, just maybe we can turn the tide and people will see aquaculture as a solution," Bryar continued.

"Today is a win for our farmers, and a win for our planet. There is truly Hope in the Water!" she concluded.