Veteran naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough has released a new documentary series “Ocean” that paints a stark picture of the ocean’s decline. The film, which premiered on National Geographic this weekend, features never-before-seen footage of mass coral bleaching, dwindling fish stocks, and industrial-scale exploitation.
At 99 years old, Attenborough anchors the film with a deeply personal reflection, stating that “the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea.” The documentary series spans decades of ocean discovery and showcases breathtaking, revelatory footage of marine life in their natural habitats.
However, this is not the typical Attenborough film. With an urgent and unflinching tone, “Ocean” reveals the devastating impact of human activities on the ocean’s ecosystem. Bottom trawling, a practice where large nets drag across the seafloor, is exposed as a destructive practice that is often subsidized by governments.
The documentary highlights the staggering amount of marine life caught and discarded each year, with up to 10 million tons of unwanted catch being dumped back into the sea annually. Despite this, the film also offers a message of hope, showcasing areas where protection has led to the recovery of kelp forests, vibrant marine reserves, and thriving albatross colonies.
With World Oceans Day and the U.N. Ocean Conference in Nice serving as timely reminders of the need for ocean conservation, “Ocean” serves as a wake-up call for governments and individuals to take action. Attenborough argues that the laws of today are failing the seas and that banning destructive practices like bottom trawling is not just feasible but imperative.
The documentary series premieres on National Geographic in the U.S. and streams globally on Disney+ and Hulu, coinciding with a growing global push to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/ocean-film-attenborough-climate-848a65883fc1ec2601550d3cbfb0e36a