Last night, at Kalk Bay Harbour, I watched Out of the Blue, a documentary that lays bare the fragile and increasingly perilous state of our oceans through the story of the Cape fur seals that call this coastline home.
It felt entirely fitting that the film was screened at the harbour itself. Much of the documentary unfolds here, among the boats, the working fishermen, the traders, and the ever-present seals weaving through it all. This was not just a screening — it was a homecoming. The audience reflected that reality: fish dealers, cleaners, fishermen who live on their vessels, locals who know the rhythms of the harbour intimately. When familiar faces appeared on screen, the crowd responded warmly — bursts of applause, laughter, recognition. It gave the evening a deeply personal, almost communal energy.
At its heart, Out of the Blue explores a troubling mystery: the sudden illness, erratic behaviour, and mass deaths of Cape fur seals in recent years. The film traces one of the key scientific suspects — domoic acid, a powerful neurotoxin produced by certain algae during harmful algal blooms, often referred to as “red tides.”
The mechanism is chilling. Fish such as sardines and anchovies ingest the toxin, and seals in turn consume the contaminated fish. The result is neurological damage — seizures, disorientation, and in some cases, startling aggression. This helps explain reports of seals behaving in ways entirely at odds with their usual shy and curious nature, even attacking surfers and beachgoers.
Layered onto this is the spectre of rabies — a disease not typically associated with marine mammals, yet now part of the unfolding story. The documentary does not claim to have all the answers, and rightly so. Instead, it presents a complex web of possibilities, science, and speculation.
Even among the audience, theories circulated. A fisherman sitting beside me suggested that rabies may have been introduced from the Namibian coastline — perhaps through an infected jackal interacting with seals in remote areas. It is one of many hypotheses, and while unproven, it captures the uncertainty surrounding the issue. The truth is, there are many unanswered questions, and the situation remains deeply unsettling.
What the film does exceptionally well is broaden the lens. This is not just a story about seals. It is about the ocean itself — an ecosystem under immense pressure. Pollution, toxins, plastic waste, overfishing — we catch glimpses of these realities in passing, through news snippets and articles. But Out of the Blue reminds us that the scale of what is happening beneath the surface is far greater than most of us comprehend.
Equally compelling is the human dimension. The documentary weaves together a range of voices: veterinary professionals, marine scientists, artists, divers, conservationists, and the ordinary people whose lives are intertwined with the sea. There are poignant moments — such as the story of Lucky, a local harbour regular who feeds the seals out of simple affection — that highlight the deep emotional connection many feel toward these animals.
The film does not shy away from the consequences. A diver who lost his livelihood. Communities affected by changing marine conditions. Cold-water swimmers at nearby beaches adapting to new uncertainties. The ocean is not an abstract idea here — it is a living presence that shapes lives, economies, and identities.
Yet for all the answers it provides, the documentary leaves us with pressing questions. What is the current state of the seal population? How are scientists tracking and managing toxins like domoic acid? What is being done to contain and understand the spread of rabies? And perhaps most concerning — could such diseases spread to more remote ecosystems, even as far as Antarctica? The implications would be devastating.
In this sense, Out of the Blue is less a conclusion than a snapshot in time — a careful documentation of a crisis still unfolding.
For those who live close to the ocean, the film resonates deeply. For those who do not, it may serve as a powerful awakening. It reminds us that what happens in the sea is neither distant nor disconnected from our lives.
Credit must be given to the Kingdom of the Netherlands for supporting the project, making this public screening possible. And congratulations are due to director Floris Tils and his team for bringing both clarity and humanity to a complex and urgent issue. It is a thoughtful, well-crafted documentary that deserves to be seen — and reflected upon.
Out Of The Blue — Screening Information
A ONE O SEVEN MEDIA HOUSE PRODUCTION
Narrated by: Theko Boshomane
Directed by: Floris Tils
Out Of The Blue
Unraveling the Mystery of the Cape Fur Seals
Free Public Screening
Supported by: The Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Africa
Date: Friday, 20th of February
Location: Kalk Bay Harbour
Time: 20:00
Awards & Selections:
• Official Selection — Wildlife Conservation Film Festival 2025
• Honorable Mention (Best Feature Film) — Wildlife Conservation Film Festival 2025
• Official Selection — Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam 2025
• Winner (Newcomer Award 2025) — Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam
• Nominee — Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam 2025
