End of the Line
Powerful film that reveals the impact of overfishing on our oceans. Scientists are predicting that if we continue to fish at the same rate our global fish stocks will be largely gone by 2048.
The film is based on the book, The End of the Line, written by investigative reporter Charles Clover. Filmed over a two year period, the cameras follow Clover as he confronts politicians and celebrity restaurateurs who show little regard for the depletition of fish in the world’s oceans.
One of Clover’s allies, former tuna farmer turned whistleblower Roberto Mieglo is on the trail of those destroying the world’s bluefin tuna population.
The film is exquisitely shot by director / cameraman Rupert Murray. It looks at the issues of overfishing all over the world, from the Straits of Gibraltar to the coasts of Senegal and Alaska to the Tokyo fish market.
What the End of the Line team do really successfully is to give the viewer some great ideas for how to campaign for change and how to ensure that the fish you buy is from a sustainable source. Be sure to check out their campaign in our Find out more section at the end of this post.
The End of the Line writes…
Scientists predict that if we continue fishing as we are now, we will see the end of most seafood by 2048.
The End of the Line chronicles how demand for cod off the coast of Newfoundland in the early 1990s led to the decimation of the most abundant cod population in the world, how hi-tech fishing vessels leave no escape routes for fish populations and how farmed fish as a solution is a myth.
The film lays the responsibility squarely on consumers who innocently buy endangered fish, politicians who ignore the advice and pleas of scientists, fishermen who break quotas and fish illegally, and the global fishing industry that is slow to react to an impending disaster.
The End of the Line points to solutions that are simple and doable, but political will and activism are crucial to solve this international problem.
We need to control fishing by reducing the number of fishing boats across the world, protect large areas of the ocean through a network of marine reserves off limits to fishing, and educate consumers that they have a choice by purchasing fish from independently certified sustainable fisheries.
Photo credit: Thanks to The End of the Line.
ABC Nightline report on The End of the line
The UK distribution of this film was sponsored by supermarket Waitrose – this is what the Waitrose MD has to say…
Find out more
Consumer power:
In the UK use this simple search tool from the Marine Conservation Society to find what fish is sustainable and therefore ’safe’ to eat
If you are in the US you can use this search tool from the Monteray Bay Aquarium
Watch:
You can watch the film here
Campaign:
Join the campaign for sustainable fishing
Read:
Charles Clover’s book, The End of the line
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[...] End of the Line – Powerful film that reveals the impact of overfishing on our oceans. Scientists are predicting [...]
[...] According to the End of the Line campaign, if you divide the surface of all the world’s oceans by the number of people on the planet – every person would have 2 hectares each. Now imagine if everyone protected their 2 hectares as if it were their own backyard. And that’s the idea behind this clever campaign – they’ve got many ideas to help you do this. And don’t forget to check out the End of the Line film on Debate Your Plate TV. [...]
This film is a must see film! Very informative.