David Attenborough’s ‘Ocean’ – Take Action

A group of us from Friends of the Earth recently went to the cinema to see David Attenborough’s latest film ‘Ocean’ released on his 99^th birthday in May, and comes onto streaming services on World Oceans Day, June 8^th. Attenborough says that the ocean “Seems dark and distant, but the ocean is the lifeblood of our home”.  He says now he has nearly reached 100 years on our planet; he’s realised the ocean is the most fundamental part of it that requires protection.

The film shows some – and the only way to describe it is – shocking footage from inside a bottom-trawling net an industrial fishing vessel that drags a gigantic net across the sea floor, destroying everything in its path in order to catch a few fish for us to eat!  If you see the film, you can’t help but be shocked that this procedure is allowed to happen in the name of food production. The devastation left behind the nets is unbelievable and after watching the film you can’t help but want to take action.  As Attenborough puts it “If we save the sea, we save the planet” and the film showed how the sea can bounce back and the ocean floor can recover if left alone and the dredging stops.

On the 9^th June, 2025 the UN are holding an Ocean Conference which is the result of two decades of campaigning leading to two years ago world governments agreeing to the Global Ocean Treaty to put at least a third of the world’s oceans off limits to harmful human activity by 2030. For this to come into force and become law 60 countries have to sign the Treaty in their countries. Governments are aiming to put the Global Ocean Treaty in place at the Conference this June. Disappointingly, the UK government has not yet signed it even though they claim commitment to climate and nature. 

If you have watched the film – and if you haven’t hopefully you will soon - and I’m sure you will agree that we should sign the treaty and stop this barbaric practice as soon as possible.  If you would like to add your voice now you can click on the link and demand that David Lammy signs the Global Ocean Treaty into UK law before the conference begins on 9^th June.

Thank-you for helping to save the oceans. 😊

Melanie Wakley