Films For Action - Seaspiracy

On March 21st, Sustainable Hackney is hosted a special Film for Action event, featuring the powerful documentary Seaspiracy. Directed by British filmmaker Ali Tabrizi, this film takes viewers on an eye-opening journey into the destruction of our oceans, a topic that’s more urgent than ever.

The film begins with widely-known issues that often capture global media attention; the Taiji dolphin drive hunt. A heart-wrenching example of humans killing creatures of our oceans. However, Tabrizi’s investigation soon reveals a far deeper and more complex problem: the effects of exploitative fishing practices, which threaten not only marine life but entire ecosystems.

Tabrizi’s journey uncovers the truth behind the ocean’s collapse. While sensational stories like the slaughter of dolphins may capture our attention, they don’t paint the full picture. Conflicts of interest, oversimplifications, and commercial influences often undermine the complexity of these environmental issues. Through his lens, we see how the fishing industry is killing far more creatures through bycatch than any hunting event. It's not just ocean creatures, but humans are affected to as fishing has entangled itself with modern-day slavery aboard its ships, where human rights abuses run rampant.

Additionally, the film delves into the shocking spectre of mounds of plastic in the sea, some of which is swallowed by marine life and either fills their stomachs and/or poisons them. We learn that despite so much media attention on plastic straws, the primary source of plastic pollution is plastic fishing gear thoughtlessly discarded into the ocean which entangles and drowns creatures such as dolphins, sea turtles and whales, as well as ending up in noxious heaps on beaches.

Seaspiracy takes a hard, unflinching look at how exploitation, overfishing, and pollution continue to decimate our oceans.

While Seaspiracy was undeniably bleak, it’s crucial to remember that there is hope.

We were joined by an expert panel who shed some positive light on progress; Fazilette Khan, founder of the GreenSeas Trust, James Morris, Project Manager for Blue Marine Foundation; and Rachel Dingley deckhand at Sea Shepherd.

They assured us that the ocean is incredibly resilient and, if properly regulated, has the potential to bounce back. Progress is happening (albeit slowly). For example, James Morris said that the percentage of protected ocean areas is increasing, with 8% now protected, and 3% highly protected. Although these numbers may seem small, they mark a significant step in the right direction.

The panel also brought to light issues such as the campaign against bottom trawling in the UK. While this destructive fishing method continues to cause havoc on marine habitats, political priority remains low. In fact, some politicians, like Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment and Rural Affairs, believe that the public simply doesn’t care enough to demand action.

But that’s where you come in!

While the scale of the issues presented in the film can feel overwhelming, focusing on actionable steps and supporting meaningful campaigns - such as pushing for more protected marine areas or avoiding sustainably harmful products - can make a big difference.

Here are 4 actions we can all take:

1. Call on Secretary of State, Steve Reed MP to ban supertrawlers and bottom-towed fishing gear in ALL marine protected areas (MPAs).

   • Add your voice here

   • More details here

   
   

2. Write to your MP and tell them you care about protecting our oceans. Politicians need to hear it directly.

   
   

3. Support Sea Shepherd in their campaign to protect krill — a vital species at the base of the ocean food chain.

   
   

4. Ask the UK government to bring forward the deposit return scheme for plastic bottles and cans — we need this before 2027.

Join us at the next Films for Action, where we use films and discussions to delve into important topics across the breadth of sustainability.