Seaspiracy (2021)
This new, shocking documentary is from the makers of Cowspiracy, though it stars a different filmmaker: Ali Tabrizi. It is evident from the huge reaction it has garnered that there is more of an audience for honest climate change documentaries today, plus the increased use of social media to spread awareness. Unsurprisingly, it has got a lot of people talking.
Like Cowspiracy, it brutally exposes the conflict of interest in many environmental organisations. It highlights the contribution that the fishing industry has to climate change through the scary amount of plastic currently being disposed of in the ocean, and explores whether it is possible to fish sustainably. The clear message drawn from this documentary is that the fishing industry is a danger to the oceans, and also to us.
There have been mixed reactions from organisations. Earth Warriors disagree with the conclusion that we should leave the oceans be. Their mission, as providers of environmental curriculum for children, is to “educate children about our planet’s environmental issues in a way that engages them from a young age”. They believe that this is the answer, rather than to stop fishing. The response from zero waste and plastic free delivery store Roots & Hoots is to emphasise the importance of a zero-waste lifestyle: “The less we contribute to the endless waste and sea-life harm, the better our future is”.
A lot of the documentary is a hard watch, and definitely shocking. But it’s worth learning the truth about the industry when this documentary exposes how many lies have been told about the fish you eat.
Available on Netflix
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