Starfish Tennis, Anyone?
The Brave Fish Prepared to Tackle a Starfish Invasion
Whilst filming Our Oceans we found that sometimes inspirational stories come from the most unexpected places, and even characters who may have been overlooked for years, can turn out to have the heart of a hero when you shine the spotlight on them. For series DoP Roger Horrocks, an unassuming fish called a Steenjie in Afrikaans, a sea bream known to the team as ‘Stinky’, would prove as inspiration to show that the best solution when faced with adversity can be to get along with your neighbors and work as a team. The biggest surprise for Roger was that this little sea bream is a fish he has seen a thousand times whilst diving the kelp forests of his home in Cape Town, yet he never imagined it would lead in a battle to save its offspring from a starfish invasion!
“Trust me on this one”
When local Cape Town naturalist and camera operator Steve Benjamin first observed this behavior while freediving near his hometown, he knew he had stumbled upon something extraordinary. Convincing the team, however, was another matter. “The Steentjie fish isn't rare, big or flashy like an octopus. I remember saying to Roger, ‘You're going to have to trust me on this one’, because for just a few weeks a year these boring silver fish suddenly become all colorful and striped, they become Super-Dads! An otherwise unremarkable fish does something incredible,” enthused Benjamin.
Kelp glade stake out
Teamed up with Nina Faure Beaulieu, who was studying the Steenjie for her MSc course at the University of Cape Town, the Our Oceans team worked to unlock this unexpected behavior. Nina's research footage captured on the seafloor gave an indication of the extraordinary lengths these normally competitive little fish go to in order to protect their eggs but no one imaged how they would react when faced with an army of egg-eating brittle stars, setting aside their differences and banding together to see off the invasion!
‘Even though I had seen the Steentjie before while diving in False Bay I’d never had a chance to really observe its nesting behaviour so having the opportunity to really get an insight into its grit and determination was incredible. It feels like that little fish did something surprising every day that we watched it.’
- PJ Kotze, Cinematographer
Nature doesn’t always follow your script!
Our Oceans Researcher Nadia Aswani Camera assistant PJ Kotze and Roger joined Steve to tackle the challenge of filming this unknown story. However, upon arrival, they faced an immediate hurdle: despite perfect timing, the fish had moved from their usual breeding site. Nature doesn’t always follow your script! The team spent the first ten days diving the kelp forests in search of ‘Stinky’. Their persistence finally paid off, finding the fish in the full swing of the breeding season. It was a race against time to capture the special moments of these fierce fathers before their eggs hatched.
Game, Set, Match
Perhaps one of the most standout moments in the Steenjie fish story is when two fish went head to head in a head-turning match of starfish tennis. PJ was lucky enough to secure courtside seats at the Our Oceans Open ’The day we filmed the “Steentjie Tennis” sequence definitely stands out. I vividly remember following the fish through the camera monitor as it swam up and dropped a starfish above its neighbour’s nest and then in the same shot the neighbouring fish swam up and caught the starfish. I remember both Roger and myself laughing through our breathing loops as the scene played out in front of our eyes, although I think I was laughing out of relief that I didn’t mess up that shot.’
It’s not every day you get to witness a starfish grand slam, and capturing this playful interaction required a combination of grit, skill, and cutting-edge technology.
To achieve this remarkable sequence, the team faced freezing waters, strong swells, and the challenges of working at depth. “Roger and I were diving on closed-circuit rebreathers, which were essential for getting close to the Steentjie,” explains PJ. “These fish are usually quite skittish around the bubbles from traditional SCUBA gear, but the rebreathers allowed us to approach them without disturbing their behavior.”
Rebreathers weren’t just about stealth; they also enabled the team to spend up to three hours at the bottom—critical for observing the intricate dynamics of the Steentjie’s unique behavior.
When it came to filming, the team relied on RED Digital Cinema Helium and Gemini cameras housed in Nauticam underwater casings. “The dual-base ISO of the Gemini was a game-changer,” PJ notes. “In the low-light conditions we often encountered, it allowed us to capture stunning detail without compromising on quality.”
By using this advanced setup, the team ensured that every flick of the Steentjie’s fin and every bounce of the starfish was recorded in the highest resolution possible. “It was crucial to give our editors as much data as possible to work with, ensuring the playful energy of this underwater tennis match could shine through,” adds PJ.
CAPTAIN’S LOG
Roger and PJ witnessed firsthand that it's not just brittle stars these feisty fish fend off. One male even tried to chase Roger off his territory! Initially skeptical about how such an understated little fish could hold a TV audience, Roger quickly changed his mind. Not only were they hilarious when they kept dropping starfish onto each other's territory, but he found their fearlessness, parental dedication and above all their ability to work as a team when it really matters, truly inspirational.
But it wasn't just the bream putting the crew to the test. The team had to navigate challenging conditions as storms continually blew through, creating huge surges and green seas. While the divers ducked below the surface, using specially adapted grip to keep steady shots and wearing dry suits with heated vests to stay warm in 50 degree F water, the boat crew weathered the full force of the storms, bearing the brunt of challenging conditions to continually monitor the divers and ensure their safety.
Photos by PJ Kotze and Steve Benjamin ©Netflix 'Our Oceans'