The Ocean Is Breaking: Why We Must Listen to ‘Earth's Last Wilderness'
Image: Supplied
Reading Ocean: Earth's Last Wilderness by Sir David Attenborough and Colin Butfield has been one of the most profoundly moving experiences of my life.
This is not simply a book about marine biology or environmental science; it is a reckoning, a call to awaken to the ocean's shimmering depths, to feel its pulse beneath your skin, and to understand the inextricable bond that ties us to this vast, mysterious, and fragile world.
Attenborough doesn't lecture. He invites us in with a seasoned friend's voice, marked by decades of witnessing extraordinary beauty and heartbreaking loss. Colin Butfield, co-author, complements this narrative with sharp insight into the ocean's role as the lifeblood of our planet and the urgency of safeguarding it. The Ocean as a Living, Breathing Force
From the first pages, the ocean is not an abstract concept. It is alive—waving, singing, and breathing beneath the surface. Attenborough's portrayal of the blue whale is breathtaking. I could almost feel the immense heartbeat of the whale echoing in the deep, sense the weight of its tongue heavier than an elephant's, and marvel at its graceful passage through the vast blue.
Yet that wonder quickly turns to sorrow. These gentle giants were hunted almost to extinction, and the scars of that brutal history still linger.
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As Attenborough writes, 'No one will protect what they don't care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced.' This statement hit me like a jolt. We have become distanced—oceans reduced to a backdrop, a vacation spot, or worse, a dumping ground. We forget that the ocean absorbs over 90 percent of the heat caused by greenhouse gases and takes in nearly a quarter of all carbon dioxide emissions, playing a crucial role in regulating the climate and sustaining life on Earth.
Colin Butfield's words echo this urgency: 'The ocean is the lifeblood of our planet, quietly sustaining every breath we take. Yet, it remains out of sight and out of mind for many—until we see it as the living system it truly is, we risk losing it forever.' This dual perspective, poetic and practical, reminded me that knowledge without care and action is meaningless. The Haunting Reality of Ecological Loss
The book immerses readers in the ocean's wonders, from playful otters darting through kelp forests to the delicate balance of coral reefs. It also journeys to the silent guardians of the coast—mangroves—those tangled, salt-tolerant forests that shelter juvenile fish, protect shorelines from storms, and lock away vast amounts of carbon in their roots and soil. Once dismissed as swamps to be drained, these ecosystems are now recognised as some of the most powerful natural defences against climate change. Yet they are disappearing three to five times faster than global forests, cleared for development or poisoned by pollution.
I often found myself closing my eyes to picture the ocean as it should be: kelp swaying like a forest beneath the waves, whale songs rippling through the water, shafts of sunlight dancing on fish scales. Then the scene shifts—ghostly reefs, sea turtles choking on plastic bags mistaken for jellyfish, beaches where microplastics outnumber plankton.
It is not just loss; it is spiritual devastation, a desecration of a mother who has cradled life on Earth for millennia. The ocean's health is deteriorating rapidly. Marine heatwaves are more frequent and intense, acidification disrupts the very building blocks of marine food chains, and entire ecosystems are unravelling. The book provides sobering facts and stories, not to paralyse, but to ignite urgency for change. The Ocean's Role in Climate and Global Systems
This book deepened my understanding of the ocean as the planet's great regulator. It absorbs the vast majority of excess heat from greenhouse gas emissions, slowing the pace of global warming. It draws down carbon dioxide, playing a vital role in the carbon cycle.
The Southern Ocean, encircling Antarctica, is one of Earth's most powerful carbon sinks, storing around 40% of the human-made CO₂ absorbed by the world's oceans. Its frigid currents drive nutrient upwellings that sustain marine life from krill to great whales. Yet warming waters and melting ice are disrupting these currents, threatening to unravel a food web on which countless species—and ultimately we—depend.
The ocean's decline impacts food security for billions who rely on fish, intensifies climate disasters like storms and floods, and threatens cultural and spiritual connections to the sea. The book underscores that the ocean's fate is our fate.
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IOL News
4 days ago
- IOL News
The Ocean Is Breaking: Why We Must Listen to ‘Earth's Last Wilderness'
Ocean is a sweeping chronicle of Earth's most mysterious habitat—revealing its power to shape climate, sustain life, and recover if we act in time Image: Supplied Reading Ocean: Earth's Last Wilderness by Sir David Attenborough and Colin Butfield has been one of the most profoundly moving experiences of my life. This is not simply a book about marine biology or environmental science; it is a reckoning, a call to awaken to the ocean's shimmering depths, to feel its pulse beneath your skin, and to understand the inextricable bond that ties us to this vast, mysterious, and fragile world. Attenborough doesn't lecture. He invites us in with a seasoned friend's voice, marked by decades of witnessing extraordinary beauty and heartbreaking loss. Colin Butfield, co-author, complements this narrative with sharp insight into the ocean's role as the lifeblood of our planet and the urgency of safeguarding it. The Ocean as a Living, Breathing Force From the first pages, the ocean is not an abstract concept. It is alive—waving, singing, and breathing beneath the surface. Attenborough's portrayal of the blue whale is breathtaking. I could almost feel the immense heartbeat of the whale echoing in the deep, sense the weight of its tongue heavier than an elephant's, and marvel at its graceful passage through the vast blue. Yet that wonder quickly turns to sorrow. These gentle giants were hunted almost to extinction, and the scars of that brutal history still linger. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading As Attenborough writes, 'No one will protect what they don't care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced.' This statement hit me like a jolt. We have become distanced—oceans reduced to a backdrop, a vacation spot, or worse, a dumping ground. We forget that the ocean absorbs over 90 percent of the heat caused by greenhouse gases and takes in nearly a quarter of all carbon dioxide emissions, playing a crucial role in regulating the climate and sustaining life on Earth. Colin Butfield's words echo this urgency: 'The ocean is the lifeblood of our planet, quietly sustaining every breath we take. Yet, it remains out of sight and out of mind for many—until we see it as the living system it truly is, we risk losing it forever.' This dual perspective, poetic and practical, reminded me that knowledge without care and action is meaningless. The Haunting Reality of Ecological Loss The book immerses readers in the ocean's wonders, from playful otters darting through kelp forests to the delicate balance of coral reefs. It also journeys to the silent guardians of the coast—mangroves—those tangled, salt-tolerant forests that shelter juvenile fish, protect shorelines from storms, and lock away vast amounts of carbon in their roots and soil. Once dismissed as swamps to be drained, these ecosystems are now recognised as some of the most powerful natural defences against climate change. Yet they are disappearing three to five times faster than global forests, cleared for development or poisoned by pollution. I often found myself closing my eyes to picture the ocean as it should be: kelp swaying like a forest beneath the waves, whale songs rippling through the water, shafts of sunlight dancing on fish scales. Then the scene shifts—ghostly reefs, sea turtles choking on plastic bags mistaken for jellyfish, beaches where microplastics outnumber plankton. It is not just loss; it is spiritual devastation, a desecration of a mother who has cradled life on Earth for millennia. The ocean's health is deteriorating rapidly. Marine heatwaves are more frequent and intense, acidification disrupts the very building blocks of marine food chains, and entire ecosystems are unravelling. The book provides sobering facts and stories, not to paralyse, but to ignite urgency for change. The Ocean's Role in Climate and Global Systems This book deepened my understanding of the ocean as the planet's great regulator. It absorbs the vast majority of excess heat from greenhouse gas emissions, slowing the pace of global warming. It draws down carbon dioxide, playing a vital role in the carbon cycle. The Southern Ocean, encircling Antarctica, is one of Earth's most powerful carbon sinks, storing around 40% of the human-made CO₂ absorbed by the world's oceans. Its frigid currents drive nutrient upwellings that sustain marine life from krill to great whales. Yet warming waters and melting ice are disrupting these currents, threatening to unravel a food web on which countless species—and ultimately we—depend. The ocean's decline impacts food security for billions who rely on fish, intensifies climate disasters like storms and floods, and threatens cultural and spiritual connections to the sea. The book underscores that the ocean's fate is our fate.
Daily Maverick
16-06-2025
- Daily Maverick
Through Attenborough's optimism about the ocean we may be lulled by an undercurrent of complacency
In his latest – and likely last – documentary, the renowned biologist and natural historian leaves a message of hope – but will the world listen? The recently released feature-length documentary Ocean with David Attenborough is a visual marvel that makes a compelling case for preserving the health of the ocean. It opens with the argument that what lies under the surface of the ocean has, until now, remained a complete mystery to humankind. It is only with the technological advances of the 20th and 21st centuries that we have been able to see what dwells beneath the waves, but only now have we begun to turn our attention away from the enchanting magic of the ocean towards the beasts senselessly destroying it. The documentary features devastatingly detailed and unforgiving footage of bottom trawling, a fishing technique that involves dragging large nets across the sea floor, capturing and destroying all in its path. So massive are the scars left behind that they are visible from space, Attenborough says. Released in the lead-up to the UN's Ocean Conference, which began on 9 June, Ocean with David Attenborough is a clear call to action. It aims to galvanise global support for banning bottom trawling and expanding marine protected areas. There is also growing pressure on nations to ratify the High Seas Treaty, a crucial agreement that will only come into force once 60 countries have ratified it. As of 9 June, just 32 had done so. In the UN's hands The scenes of the barren graveyard left behind by trawlers are quickly banished by Attenborough's declaration of hope. Marine life has a remarkable ability to recover – if only left alone, he says. Within just a few years life can bounce back. No matter how overfished and exploited the ocean is, if an area is protected for long enough, life stubbornly returns. In addition, healing is not limited to protected areas – life leaks out, carried by the currents. Only 3% of the world's oceans are fully protected from exploitation. Attenborough hints at the solution: protecting at least 30%. But, delivered as his 'greatest message of hope', the film risks lulling audiences into inaction. In a time of unprecedented urgency, could hope inadvertently breed complacency? The UK recently announced it would extend bans on bottom trawling from 18,000km² to 30,000km² of its offshore areas, affecting 41 of its 128 marine protected areas. France, co-host of the Ocean Conference with Costa Rica, boasts that it has surpassed the 30% protection target set for 2030. But environmental groups warn of a troubling discrepancy between promises and practice. In reality, despite the claims, only about 3% of French waters are protected from destructive activities. According to the advocacy group Oceana, more than 100 bottom-trawling vessels operated for more than 17,000 hours in 2024 in France's six marine nature parks in European waters. Attenborough also draws attention to a more insidious problem: enforcement. In international waters, where no single nation has jurisdiction, ensuring compliance is exceedingly difficult. Marine protection, he suggests, has often amounted to little more than optics. Out of sight, out of mind Ocean conservationist Luke McMillan said in a LinkedIn post: 'Perhaps [the documentary's] gentleness will be its strength. If not, then I fear we're lost. If Sir David can't move the needle, what hope is left for the rest of us trying to?' Renee Bonorchis, founder of The Ocean Advocate, points out that Attenborough focuses on bottom trawling, but the ocean faces far more adversity than this issue. One example is the acidification of water caused by increased carbon dioxide in the air, which causes the calcium carbonate that makes up sea creatures' shells to 'melt'. The documentary may cause some consternation for a few days, but once that feeling fades amid the bustle of daily life, will the state of the ocean once again be a case of out of sight, out of mind? Attenborough has declared this documentary to be his last as he approaches his centenary. But, having left the fate of the ocean in the hands of the UN, the documentary dangles the tempting comfort of complacency. If it's all up to them, what can we do anyway? The Ocean Conference has the mandate to formalise an ocean agreement. 'If these agreements are reached and stuck to, it will make a difference, but we've seen so many global agreements and treaties and very few of them are fully committed to by the member states, which is why it comes down to us, as individuals,' Bonorchis says. 'If you want to see the change, be the change.' Practical steps to make a difference in South Africa Download the Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (Sassi) mobile app: Get readily available information about sustainable seafood on your phone by downloading this useful app from Google Play or the App Store. Avoid single-use plastics: Use canvas bags for shopping and support stores that use sustainable, biodegradable packaging. Get actionable insights into adapting your context for sustainability: Download the Sustainable Seas Trust's Plastic-Free Seas: An Action-Focused Guide for Plastic Management in Africa to learn how the Global South can become the world's leader in sustainable waste management. Marine-friendly sunscreen: Many sunscreens contain harmful chemicals that damage coral reefs and other marine life. Ensure your sunscreen is marine friendly. Reduce your carbon footprint: Increased carbon in the air increases the acidity of the water, severely affecting marine life. Reduce your carbon footprint by working at home when you can, reducing international travel and using less electricity. Join protests: Show the powers that be that you care by joining protests. Extinction Rebellion, GreenPeace and Green Connection are some examples of active groups championing climate rights. Reduce your meat consumption: Consuming meat contributes significantly to the release of greenhouse gases. Changing to a majority vegetarian or vegan diet is a simple way to make a big impact. Vote for the climate: Keep the climate in mind when you are voting for political leaders. So far, none of the major political parties in South Africa has led with a climate agenda in its campaigning. DM This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.
IOL News
08-05-2025
- IOL News
Sir David Attenborough turns 99 and urges the world to save our oceans
His words frame a film that blends decades of experience with a fresh urgency, documenting both the devastation and the resilience of our marine ecosystems. "After almost 100 years on the planet, I now understand the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea," he says. For Attenborough, the message is clear: if humanity hopes to combat climate change and protect biodiversity, the battle must begin beneath the waves. The new cinema-length documentary 'Ocean' explores the critical role the seas play in sustaining life on Earth and highlights their current state of peril. As Sir David Attenborough celebrates his 99th birthday, the renowned naturalist marks the occasion not with reflection, but with action, launching what he considers one of the most important films of his long and influential career. Premiered at London's Royal Festival Hall with King Charles III in attendance, 'Ocean' brings into sharp focus the damage caused by industrial fishing, especially bottom trawling—a practice still permitted and, in many places, subsidised. Footage in the film reveals how heavy chains dragged along the seabed destroy habitats, release carbon dioxide, and discard up to 75% of unintended catch. Attenborough describes the method as "a wasteful way to catch fish", and warns that unless practices change, the oceans' ability to support life, including our own, will diminish rapidly. Yet 'Ocean' is not a tale of despair. The film also chronicles remarkable recoveries, offering a message of hope. The near-extinction and subsequent rebound of the world's whale populations stands as a key example. In the 20th century alone, nearly three million whales were killed. Species like the Blue Whale were reduced to just one percent of their population. Attenborough recalls believing they would never return. But public outcry led to a global ban on commercial whaling in 1986, and since then, whale numbers have steadily increased. Scientists now say this revival shows how the ocean can recover more quickly than previously imagined—if given the chance. This optimism threads through the film, and Attenborough's voice reminds viewers that the world's leaders have already committed to protecting a third of the oceans. With a UN conference on the horizon, he hopes 'Ocean' will galvanise action to honour that promise. Keith Scholey, one of the film's directors and a long-time collaborator of Attenborough's, reflects on his enduring drive and energy. Even at 99, Attenborough remains a force, both creatively and in his mission to awaken global awareness. The documentary's closing message is one of cautious optimism. A healthy ocean not only supports marine life but also helps lock away carbon dioxide, a critical factor in the fight against global warming. IOL News
