You might have seen Seaspiracy – the hard-hitting Netflix documentary that’s made waves across the world since it premiered on March 24th. It’s already climbed to the No.1 spot in the UK, Ireland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Croatia, Estonia, Switzerland and Malta and features in the Top 10 list in over 40 countries.
The documentary follows filmmaker Ali Tabrizi on his journey to highlight the grim reality of commercial fishing. It takes a deep dive into ocean plastic pollution, shark finning, industrial fishing and human rights violations at sea.
The premise is simple: industrial fishing is driving many wildlife populations and ecosystems around the world towards collapse. It’s not only the greatest cause of death and decline to marine animals; it can also be cruel to humans, with rampant slavery and gross exploitations of labour. The film is a scathing condemnation of the multibillion-dollar seafood industry and the governments, groups and companies complicit with the ocean’s destruction.
The film is shocking, and deliberately so. It claims that fishing takes 2.7 trillion fish from the ocean every year. If this trend continues, our oceans will be empty – and soon. It also claims discarded plastic fishing gear as the largest source of ocean debris, and reveals the reality of ‘sustainable seafood’; often, nothing of the kind.
Tabrizi said that the film’s ultimate goal was to ‘create a global discussion around the topic of food choice and sustainability, that effects change on a personal, industrial and governmental level’. It calls for a collective shift away from eating seafood and promotes plant-based alternatives.
And it seems to have had the intended result – with audiences around the world pledging to stop eating fish with immediate effect. Seaspiracy is a thought-provoking documentary, and it’s designed to be. It’s important to be aware of how our food comes to land on our plates – we can no longer ignore the impact that the industry has on our planet. Whether or not it can shock people into not eating fish, it has vast potential to drive the conversation around our impact on the oceans.
If you’re looking to cut out fish altogether, or just to consciously cut back your consumption, here are some of our favourite alternatives!
Our favourite seafood alternatives:
- Bonsan Kofish Fish Free fillet
- Quorn Fishless fingers
- M&S Fish-free fishcakes
- Vbites ‘Fsh’ steaks
Feeling ambitious? Why not try a recipe for Chickpea ‘Tuna’ or Banana Blossom ‘Fish’ and Chips!
Our favourite meat alternatives:
- THIS UK Chicken pieces
- Quorn nuggets
- Vivera Veggie Bacon Pieces
- Squeaky Bean Chinese-Style Ribs
- Squeaky Bean Pastrami-Style Slices
- Quorn Vegan Pepperoni
- M&S Plant Kitchen No-Chicken Kiev
There are several organisations providing advice and insight for those making the shift to a plant-based diet. Why not check out Viva! For more information.