Saturday, May 8, 2010

The end of the line : imagine a world without fish



The End of the Line, is the world's first major feature documentary about the devastating impact overfishing has had and is having on our oceans. The film provides a dramatic expose of those in power who are taking advantage of the seas with catastrophic consequences on the world's fish supplies.

We see firsthand the effects of our global love affair with fish as food. The film examines the imminent extinction of bluefin tuna, brought on by increasing western demand for sushi; the impact on marine life resulting in huge overpopulation of jellyfish; and the profound implications of a future world with no fish, which would bring certain mass starvation and unemployment.

Filmed over two years, The End of the Line follows the investigative reporter Charles Clover as he confronts politicians and celebrity restaurateurs, who exhibit little regard for the damage they are doing to the oceans.

One of his allies is the former tuna farmer turned whistleblower Roberto Mielgo – on the trail of those destroying the world's magnificent bluefin tuna population.

Filmed across the world – from the Straits of Gibraltar to the coasts of Senegal and Alaska to the Tokyo fish market – featuring top scientists, indigenous fishermen and fisheries enforcement officials, The End of the Line is a wake-up call to the world.
With many species on the brink of extinction and mind-blowing evidence that the world may very soon face a future with very few fish, there has never been a more pressing need to bring this issue to the fore. The end of the line shows that we can all enjoy fish, but encourages viewers to think more carefully about where their fish is coming from.

Links :
  • BBC News : the bitter battle over bluefin tuna
  • ScienceDaily : fishing fleet working 17 times harder than in 1880s to make same catch
  • Mauritania on Saturday (May 1st) launched a two-month ban on industrial fishing, FIS reported. The interruption will reportedly allow endangered fish to reproduce. The biological shutdown affects some 300 vessels operating in Mauritanian waters.

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