3 SHORT LESSONS FROM SEASPIRACY - and why you should care
Seaspiracy is a recent Netflix documentary, directed by Ali Tabrizi, on the exploitative and cruel nature of the fishing industry and the misconceptions that people have. Here are 3 key takeaways from the documentary:
1. THE FISHING INDUSTRY IN SOME AREAS ARE LINKED TO POWERFUL GOVERNANCE OR POTENTIAL MAFIA GROUPS
Whilst Tabrizi was filming the documentary, he was stopped and questioned by the police multiple times. This was particularly true when he visited Taiji, Japan and Thailand, whereby in Thailand he was chased down by police officers. Many merchants had also rejected him filming leading him to film out of their sight or by using spy cameras.
This suggests that the governments obviously does not want anybody to expose of its brutalities.
2. THE FISHING INDUSTRY IS TRULY TRULY BRUTAL AND MOST ENVIRONMENTALIST GROUPS HAVE THE WRONG GOAL
The pollution and plastic at sea is more than just about plastic straws. It was the fishing nets that were the largest cause of marine deaths. Yet, environmentalist groups such as the Earth Island Institute and The Marine Stewardship Council did not raise awareness to such matter.
Moreover, the documentary exposed the reality of the fishing industry. In Taiji, Tabrizi documented fisherman leading dolphins to shallow water and killing them brutally, as dolphins were the main predator of smaller fishes, fishes that humans want to eat.
3. SUSTAINABLE FISHING DOES NOT EXIST - THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT THE OCEAN’S ECOSYSTEM IS BY REDUCING OR ELIMINATING CONSUMPTION OF MARINE LIFE
Tabrizi interviewed environmental groups and organisations and realised that those who gave out “sustainable stickers” had no evidence that the product was sourced sustainably. Moreover when asked what “sustainable fishing” was, many struggled to give a straight answer.
Tabrizi concluded that the best way to protect the our marine ecosystem is by reducing or eliminating the consumption of marine life. Scientific research suggest that allowing the ocean to “recover” for an extended period of time can be effective in restoring the marine ecosystem.
A collective effort is needed from all of us.
