Eye opening lessons from Seaspiracy (Netflix)

Summary

The Netflix documentary 'Seaspiracy' uncovers alarming truths about the fishing industry, including the massive waste of bycatch, with 40% of the global catch being unused or unaccounted for. It reveals that 50 million sharks and thousands of dolphins are caught annually as bycatch, often not surviving. The documentary challenges the eco-friendliness of farmed fish, pointing out that they are often fed wild-caught fish and are subject to diseases. It also highlights the significant contribution of fishing nets to ocean plastic pollution,占据46%的太平洋垃圾带。Furthermore, it exposes the use of slave labor in the shrimp industry and the staggering number of fish caught annually, urging viewers to reconsider their seafood consumption for ethical and environmental reasons.

Takeaways

• 🐟 Bycatch is a major issue in the fishing industry, with unintended marine species often being caught and discarded.
• 🌐 Up to 40% of the global fishing catch is unused, wasted, or unaccounted for, contributing to significant marine resource waste.
• 🦈 Shocking statistics reveal that 50 million sharks are caught as bycatch annually, highlighting the scale of unintentional capture.
• 🐬 As many as 10,000 dolphins are caught as bycatch off the Atlantic coast of France each year, indicating the impact on marine mammals.
• 🏷 Labels like 'dolphin-safe' and 'Marine Stewardship Council' do not guarantee that all fish products are sustainably caught.
• 🐠 Farmed fish are not always more eco-friendly, with some being fed wild-caught fish and even dyed to appear more appealing.
• 🍽 The demand for farmed salmon contributes to the death of millions of fish due to diseases like anemia and heart diseases.
• 🌊 Fishing nets and equipment are significant contributors to ocean plastic pollution, including a large portion of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
• 👨‍🔬 Reports of slave labor in the seafood industry, particularly in shrimp and prawn fishing, raise serious ethical concerns.
• 🌍 With less than 1% of global oceans protected from commercial fishing, the sustainability of seafood consumption is under question.

Q & A

What is the main issue highlighted by the documentary regarding the fishing industry?

The documentary highlights bycatch as a major issue, where fish and other marine species are unintentionally caught when trying to catch another type of fish.

How much of the global fishing catch is unused, wasted, or not accounted for according to the documentary?

The documentary states that 40% of the global fishing catch is unused, wasted, or not accounted for.

What happens to bycatch that is thrown back into the sea?

Bycatch thrown back into the sea is unlikely to survive due to lack of oxygen or trauma.

How many sharks are caught annually as bycatch according to the film's statistics?

The film suggests that 50 million sharks are caught annually as bycatch.

What is the annual bycatch of dolphins off the Atlantic coast of France as mentioned in the documentary?

Up to 10,000 dolphins are caught as bycatch off the Atlantic coast of France every year.

Can labels like 'dolphin safe' and 'Marine Stewardship Council' be fully trusted according to the documentary?

The documentary implies that labels like 'dolphin safe' and 'Marine Stewardship Council' might not provide the assurance customers are looking for, as there is no guarantee that every can of fish labeled as such is actually dolphin safe.

What is the environmental impact of farmed fish as compared to wild fishing?

Farmed fish are often considered more eco-friendly than wild fishing as they are not being taken from the wild population, but some species of farmed fish are fed wild caught fish, and farmed salmon require a chemical to maintain their pink color.

What health issues do salmon face on farms as stated in the documentary?

Millions of salmon die on farms every year from diseases such as anemia and heart diseases.

How much of the plastic pollution in the oceans is attributed to fishing nets and equipment?

Fishing nets and equipment make up a significant amount of plastic pollution in the oceans, including 46% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

What labor practices were revealed in the documentary regarding shrimp and prawn fishing in Thailand?

The documentary reveals horrifying reports of slave labor being used in Thailand to catch shrimp and prawns, with accounts of abuse and violence.

How many fish are caught annually worldwide, and what does this mean for consumption?

The documentary estimates that up to 2.7 trillion fish are caught annually, which is equivalent to 5 million fish every minute, indicating that we need to seriously consider our consumption of fish and other seafood.

What percentage of global oceans are protected from commercial fishing, as mentioned in the documentary?

Less than one percent of global oceans are protected from commercial fishing.