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Daily Maverick
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- 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.
Euronews
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
EU court upholds ban on deep-sea fishing in Atlantic
A ban on deep-sea fishing in parts of the Atlantic rich with marine life has been upheld by the EU's General Court. It means these areas will remain restricted to help preserve vulnerable species and ecosystems. The decision comes after the same court ruled last month in a German case that Marine Protected Areas must be protected from bottom trawling. Separate legal actions were filed by the Spanish government and fishermen from Galicia and Asturias who challenged a 2016 EU rule that banned fishing with nets and longlines in 87 areas of the Atlantic off the coasts of Spain, Ireland, Portugal and France. When the rules came into effect in 2022, Spain sued the European Commission, claiming that it failed to consider the economic damage to fishermen. It also questioned the scientific methods used to determine how banned fishing gear and protected areas were chosen. The rules were adopted by the EU to conserve fish stocks in the deep sea and to protect marine life from fishing gear being dragged along the sea floor. Among other things, these regulations outlaw the controversial fishing practice of bottom trawling below a depth of 800 metres in these parts of the north-east Atlantic. Species found at depth in the oceans, such as alfonsinos, black scabbardfish, roundnose grenadier, red seabream and some shark species, collapse quickly because they are vulnerable to fishing and slow to reproduce, according to the EU. The court stressed that the decision to protect these areas was in line with EU law. In its ruling, it said that the 87 areas were chosen because of the 'proven or provable presence of protected species'. Due to the vulnerability of these areas, it said that regulators were not required to assess whether some kinds of fishing gear were less damaging or the economic impact on fishermen. The ruling also allows the European Commission to continue using scientific input from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea in determining future conservation areas. Lawyers from environmental organisation ClientEarth say the ruling is likely to have a positive impact on other legal cases on bottom trawling happening across the EU. 'There is now too much evidence about the damage wrought by wide-scale, repeat bottom trawling to ignore,' says ClientEarth ocean lawyer Francesco Maletto. 'We are heartened to see the EU's General Court again uphold the principles of legal protection, keeping these areas of the ocean safe from harm, and ensuring healthy fish and marine wildlife populations.' ClientEarth and others have launched legal action against multiple national governments, as well as bringing complaints to the EU itself, over the failure to tackle harmful fishing taking place in Marine Protected Areas. At last count, no EU country had a definitive roadmap to ban bottom trawling in zones designated for official protection. After footage of bottom trawling from the film Ocean with David Attenborough shocked the world, calls for action have heightened. Some commitments to ban the practice have emerged from the UN Ocean Conference this week in Nice, with the UK and France making initial commitments to crack down on the practice.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Ocean' goes deep to look at highs, lows of deep blue seas
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The new National Geographic special 'Ocean with David Attenborough' offers a look at the deep blue seas through a style that almost mimics water movement. There are calm moments that discuss the beauty and wonder of the ocean world but that gives way to a tsunami of information as to the troubles facing the water world. Then it returns to another calming moment before another crash. Director Toby Nowlan explains that the structure of the production that is now available on the National Geographic Channel was to examine the overarching theme of hope and then show the juxtaposition with the damage being done to the seas. 'The theme is we are living in the age of the greatest ocean discovery, and it is David's story of ocean discovery in the last 100 years, his lifetime,' Nowlan says. 'Through that lens you are seeing this ocean of wonder where every year we are discovering things that are transforming our idea of how vital the ocean is. 'Then there is the importance of the discovery of what we are doing to the seas and how we are demolishing the seabed. Just the act of showing some of that footage for the first time, the images speak for themselves.' Pilot Peter Weber lands on NBC's 'Destination X' Nowlan points out the last big wave of the documentary looks at there is real reason to hope to protect the oceans. What the team found was that areas of the ocean that have been devastated will recover far quicker than the way dry land rebounds. The director comes to 'Ocean' having worked on a variety of projects dealing with nature. His credits include 'Our Planet,' 'Deadly Pole to Pole' and 'Wild Arabia.' In the feature-length special Attenborough draws on his lifetime of exploration and knowledge of the sea to take audiences on a journey through the planet's most spectacular undersea habitats. Attenborough investigates diverse marine ecosystems, from bustling giant kelp jungles and coral reefs to towering seamount outposts within the open ocean. These are all revealed to be intricately connected, vital to avoiding climate catastrophe, and in peril due to destructive forms of fishing. While Attenborough exposes the greatest threats to our oceans' health, he points to inspirational stories from around the world to reveal the most remarkable finding of all: If we take action now, the opportunity for marine life to recover on an unprecedented scale is well within our reach. Attenborough's more than 70 years filming the natural world has made him the world's preeminent natural historian. The English broadcaster, writer, and naturalist is best known for his award-winning BBC documentaries, including 'Life on Earth,' 'Frozen Planet,' and the 'Blue Planet' series. His work has brought the natural world into homes and classrooms, inspiring millions and motivating action towards preservation. Brandi Passante keeps looking for 'Storage Wars' treasures Nowlan stresses that the purpose of the film is to show that when it comes to the ocean, efforts to correct problems will be beneficial to every living creature or if ignored would spell total catastrophic disasters. The documentary is filled with undersea footage that is so stunning it rivals any CGI work done in feature films. Director Keith Scholey is quick to point out that there were no computer-generated images used in the film. He says the reason the movie has such a stunning look comes from the initial plans to open the documentary in theaters. 'We made a lot of feature films before and we know that is kind of a high bar,' Scholey says. 'The starting point is the cinematographer. Underwater we have the best in the world in Doug Anderson who is not only a superb diver and superb underwater naturalist, but he has an incredible sense of natural composition. 'I think one of the reasons the images look different is Doug and his eye.' Scholey knows the importance of cinematographers having worked on 'Guardians of the Galapagos,' 'Life on Our Planet' and 'Polar Bear.' 'Ballerina' dances its way to a bloody good time Both men agree that the most vital part of the production was Attenborough. Despite being one year shy of reaching 100 years old, Attenborough continues to bring energy to every project. Scholey – who has worked with Attenborough for 44 years – says, 'I met him when he was in his mid-50s, and he had it then, a huge energy and power. He has remained this person in his mid-50s because of his constant thirst for information, a constant interest in the world. 'I think it is that that keeps him modern all the time. The only way you can tell he has aged is that his accent has changed over time. Because that has happened because he has been modernizing himself.' 'Ocean with David Attenborough' debuted on the National Geographic Channel and is now available on the streaming services of Disney+ and Hulu. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The South African
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Prince William and Sir David Attenborough warn of ocean damage
Prince William and Sir David Attenborough have teamed up to sound a powerful alarm about the state of the world's oceans. Their message comes as Sir David's latest documentary, Ocean with David Attenborough , premieres just in time for World Oceans Day. The film exposes the hidden devastation wreaked beneath the waves, urging urgent action to protect this vital resource. The 99-year-old natural historian shared his shock at the damage inflicted on the deep ocean floor. 'The destruction we have caused is unspeakably awful,' Sir David said. 'If anything like this happened on land, there would be an uproar.' This damage is largely invisible to most people, hidden beneath the surface, which makes it all the more alarming, according to the BBC. Prince William, a long-time environmental advocate and founder of the Earthshot Prize, expressed his fascination with the ocean's unexplored depths. 'There are places in the ocean that no human has ever seen,' he told Sir David. The veteran broadcaster confirmed this, calling it 'wonderful' that modern technology allows us to explore these untouched realms. William sees this as a thrilling opportunity for future generations to become explorers and protectors of the planet's last frontiers. The documentary highlights destructive fishing methods like bottom trawling. Trawling ravages marine ecosystems and threaten the ocean's ability to absorb carbon, a key factor in combating climate change. Sir David hopes the film will raise public awareness and inspire action before it's too late. 'If this film does anything, if it just shifts public awareness, it will be very, very important,' he said. As the world prepares for the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, both men emphasise the need for global leaders to act decisively. The conference aims to secure commitments to protect 30% of the world's oceans, a goal that has seen slow progress. Prince William will speak at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum, urging leaders to 'think big' and act with urgency and optimism. Prince William's environmental docuseries Guardians , which highlights wildlife rangers' efforts worldwide, Sir David's words echo a global plea: 'We must act before we destroy this great treasure.' This is a timely reminder that the ocean's fate is intertwined with ours. The time to protect our blue planet is now. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Print
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Print
'Ocean' is David Attenborough's greatest, most personal account yet: team behind Nat Geo documentary
For directors Keith Scholey, Colin Butfield, and Toby Nowlan, and executive producer Enric Sala, one thing is clear — the documentary wouldn't exist without the 99-year-old legend. The National Geographic film, described by the team as Attenborough's most personal yet, explores the story of the ocean through the lens of a man whose life has paralleled the rise of marine science. New Delhi, Jun 7 (PTI) Veteran British broadcaster David Attenborough is the world's most trusted storyteller, bringing not only passion and truth but also a rare personal connection to everything he touches — something that is evident in his latest documentary, 'Ocean with David Attenborough', say the filmmakers behind the project. 'Without David, there's no film. There's no two ways about it. This is a challenging subject which has to happen. David has always told people the truth and he has universal trust. 'To have a person of his stature to be able to tell this story, it is so important to get it funded in the first place, and then get it on cinema screens, and then to the world,' Scholey told PTI in an interview. The documentary special, which explores diverse and vital marine ecosystems, highlighting their connection to preventing climate disaster and the threats posed by harmful fishing practices, will premiere on National Geographic and stream on JioHotstar at 7 pm on Sunday on World Oceans Day. As a broadcaster, Scholey said Attenborough possesses the quality of creating a passionate narration, and delivering it in an effective way that reaches the audience. 'Thank heavens we've got him, because otherwise, we couldn't make films like this, we just could not reach so many people, so he is a great gift,' said Scholey, who has been collaborating and working with the British legend consistently for the past 40 years. Butfield, who besides co-directing the documentary also wrote the book 'Ocean: Earth's Last Wilderness' with Attenborough, believes the British broadcaster's life closely mirrors the ocean's journey of exploration and discovery. 'He's (Attenborough) had such a long life, he's seen so much of the natural world… When he was a boy, we knew very little, and then as he started to dive and film and travel, we gradually uncovered more and more. 'Also the large-scale destruction of the ocean started to happen in his lifetime, and it's happening off the coast of the country he, Keith and I live in (the UK) as well as many other parts of the world. And then the recovery has happened during his lifetime in certain places. So he's got that phenomenal span of it,' he added. Nowlan, who has worked on BBC's 'A Perfect Planet', and Emmy-winning series 'Planet Earth II' and 'Our Planet', all with Attenborough, added that he brings not only authority but also unwavering enthusiasm to his work. 'Even at 99 years old, when he narrates something, when he lends himself to something, he says it with such presence and passion. It's as if someone's just seen it for the first time. When David says something, it's never about the David Attenborough show. It's all about the subject, and this subject is the ocean. It's his greatest message yet, the most important story he's ever told,' he said. And for Sala, a marine biologist and National Geographic explorer-in-residence, Attenborough is the 'opposite of fake news'. 'David was extremely passionate about this project and this idea that after 100 years, he's come to this big conclusion that there's nowhere more important on Earth than the ocean. And so that lent himself to being very personally involved in everything in the film. It's very unique and might be the most personal account from David on screen,' he added. According to the makers, 'Ocean with David Attenborough' features never-before-seen footage of bottom trawling, the act of dragging weighted fishing nets along the Ocean floor, exposing its severe impact on the ocean. While Attenborough highlights these urgent threats in the documentary, he also shares inspiring global stories, showing that if the world acts now, marine life can recover faster than expected. Scholey said climate change in the 1990s was widely dismissed by many. 'I just remember then, just talking about climate change, everyone sort of said, 'Oh, it's all made up.' And, of course, no one would dream of saying that now,' he said. Butfield said the film is timely as many countries worldwide are seriously considering how to protect their coastlines. 'You can really show it at a moment when the global political infrastructure is starting to think, 'Yeah, maybe there's a win-win here.' Maybe by protecting the ocean, we get more jobs, better livelihoods, food security, we also help tackle climate change. 'It's good for us, nature, climate, and it felt like it's the right optimistic story coming at the right moment,' he added. Sala believes ocean recovery is possible because many protected areas worldwide have already shown miraculous signs of healing and replenishing themselves. 'Many countries have done it. India is one of the countries that agreed to protect at least 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030, (it) still has a long way to go, but the commitment is there. So, we believe it's possible because it's already happening in many places around the world,' he said. Nowlan agreed and said the biggest takeaway from the documentary is its message of hope. 'This is not fake hope. This is real, tangible hope that if we protect big slices of ocean, a third of the ocean, then they fill up with life again very quickly and in the most spectacular way, more than anyone had realised was possible, and quicker than people had realised, and it fills the surrounding areas,' he added. 'Ocean with David Attenborough' is a Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios co-production. PTI BK RB RB This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
