DOCUMENTARY • IMPACT CAMPAIGN
White Rock
A Hidden Crisis Gripping Australia’s Underwater Forests
The Film
Award-winning director Damon Gameau (Future Council, 2040, That Sugar Film) embarks on a journey to expose a hidden consequence of the climate crisis – the explosion of longspined sea urchins that are devastating Australia’s kelp forests.
Weaving together insights from Traditional Owners, firsthand accounts from fishers, and lessons learned from emerging industries, Damon discovers that a solution to this crisis not only exists, but exemplifies how ecological restoration can go hand in hand with economic opportunity – a true-blue, nature positive approach.
The Story OF WHITE ROCK
35 min.
RUN TIME
2024
PRODUCTION YEAR
key voices
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Damon Gameau
Filmmaker, Narrator and Impact Storyteller
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Wally Stewart
Walbunja Elder and Cultural Knowledge Holder
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Athena Ko
Chef and Sea Urchin Industry Advocate
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Professor Maria Byrne
Leading Marine Biologist in Sea Urchins and Invertebrate Biology
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Dr. Scott Bennett
GSRF Co-Founder and Senior Ecologist at IMAS
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Dr. John Keane
Research Fellow at IMAS
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Makoto Shimizu
Representative of Akita Sanriku Factory
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Dave Allen
Pioneering Sea Urchin Processor in Tasmania
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Shane Blackwell
Sea Urchin Diver
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Gavin Hayes
Abalone Diver
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Jayde Theodore
Abalone and Sea Urchin Diver
“this feels like a huge opportunity for australia”
Damon Gameau
Restoring Balance
Collaborative Solutions
White Rock shows how science, Traditional Owner leadership, fisheries and emerging industries can work together to reduce urchin pressure and help kelp forests recover.
IN-WATER CONTROL AND HABITAT REHABILITATION
Targeted removal and monitoring can reduce urchin pressure and give damaged kelp forests an opportunity to recover.
A sustainable urchin industry can support regional employment, create demand for harvested urchins and contribute to long-term management.
HARVESTING AND PROCESSING
Traditional Owner knowledge and cultural management are essential to caring for affected Sea Country and developing locally appropriate solutions.
SEA COUNTRY AND TRADITIONAL OWNER LEADERSHIP
Understand the crisis
From Kelp Forest to Urchin Barren
SPECIES OVERVIEW
THE LONGSPINED SEA URCHIN
The longspined sea urchin (Centrostephanus Rodgersii) or just “Centro” is an echinoderm, meaning this animal belongs to a group of marine invertebrates including sea stars and sea cucumbers which all have “spiky skin”. As its name implies, the longspined sea urchin is armed with exceptionally long, black, moveable black spines. Well protected from predators, the spines contain an irritant toxin, which is dispersed when pricked.
ECOSYSTEM IMPACT
WHAT IS AN URCHIN BARREN?
When sea urchin populations grow unchecked, they can overgraze kelp forests and create urchin barrens - degraded reef habitats with greatly reduced biodiversity and up to a hundredfold drop in primary production. Once established, these barrens can persist for long periods because urchins are remarkably adaptable, surviving on microalgae growing on rocks, drifting seaweed and even nutrients absorbed directly from seawater, allowing them to remain even after most kelp has disappeared.
TURNING A CHALLENGE INTO AN OPPORTUNITY
MANAGEMENT PATHWAYS
Harvesting, processing and reef restoration can work together as complementary tools for managing longspined sea urchins. By creating demand for harvested urchins while supporting targeted in-water control, these approaches can help reduce grazing pressure on reefs, support kelp forest recovery and create new opportunities for regional communities and industries.
THE CENTRO TASK FORCE
NATIONAL COORDINATION
The Centro Task Force brings together expertise from across sectors to support a coordinated national response to longspined sea urchins. Its approach focuses on reef monitoring, targeted in-water control, sustainable harvesting and processing, and the management of Sea Country — working towards healthier reefs and more effective long-term management.
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The Task Force has developed a national framework for addressing the ecological, social and economic challenges associated with longspined sea urchins across their range. Its priorities include research and monitoring, reef rehabilitation, sustainable industry development, Traditional Owner leadership and cross-jurisdictional collaboration.
THE IMPACT CAMPAIGN
FROM FILM TO ACTION
White Rock is more than a film — it’s a catalyst for real-world change. Through screenings, partnerships and practical solutions, the campaign is helping communities and industries act for healthier reefs.
Q&A TOUR SCREENINGS
12
Across the east coast in April–May 2025, sparking conversations and action.
COMMUNITY SCREENINGS
100+
Held around Australia since the initial tour, with more planned.
FESTIVAL SELECTION
2025
Official selection at the 2025 Ocean Film Festival as one of two long-form films.
From science to Sea Country, White Rock connects knowledge, culture and industry to drive change. The film is being used to build awareness, strengthen partnerships and inspire practical solutions from reef restoration and sea urchin management to sustainable industries and policy action.
Host A Screening
Bring White Rock to your community, organisation or event through a licensed screening.
White Rock is not available for general online viewing. The documentary is shared through licensed or hosted screenings.
Interested in a screening or partnership? We’d love to hear from you.
From impact to action
Eat An Urchin
The Eat An Urchin Hub connects consumers, chefs and communities with the processors, suppliers and venues helping turn Australia’s longspined sea urchin challenge into an opportunity.
By making harvested urchin easier to find, understand and enjoy, the hub helps build demand for a sustainable industry while supporting broader efforts to reduce urchin pressure on Australia’s kelp forests.
Education & Resources
Explore curriculum-aligned resources designed to help students and educators investigate kelp forests, climate impacts, longspined sea urchins and the solutions featured in White Rock.
Learn with White Rock
Classroom-ready activities and learning materials for primary students.
PRIMARY RESOURCES
Curriculum-aligned resources exploring reef ecology, climate change and marine management.
SECONDARY RESOURCES
Go deeper into the science, stories and solutions behind White Rock through our dedicated learning course.
ONLINE COURSE
Media & Press
Access approved imagery, film stills, trailers, background information and promotional assets for media, screenings and partner communications.
White Rock Media Kit
FILM STILLS • PHOTOGRAPHY • TRAILER • PRESS INFORMATION • PROMOTIONAL ASSETS
Please ensure all imagery and footage is credited in accordance with the usage information provided.
The People and Partners Behind White Rock
Made possible by
Stefan Andrews
DIRECTOR
PRODUCER
Dr. Scott Bennett
NARRATOR
Damon Gameau
With thanks to the partners and supporters who helped bring White Rock from story to action.
SUPPORT THE IMPACT CAMPAIGN
Support the White Rock impact campaign and help extend the film’s reach, spark meaningful conversations and turn awareness into action for Australia’s kelp forests.
White Rock is a Documentary Australia Environmental Accelerator project.
Continue Exploring
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MARINE LIFE
Meet the species that live across Australia’s Great Southern Reef. Learn how fish, seaweeds, invertebrates, and marine mammals connect to healthy reef systems.
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VIDEOS
Check out our short films and clips about temperate reef life, research in action, community work and reef encounters across southern Australia.
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EAT AN URCHIN HUB
We’ve created a curated online hub connecting chefs, suppliers, and consumers to make enjoying urchin both accessible and inspiring.
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