Context:

David Attenborough's latest film, 'Ocean,' released on his 99th birthday, emphasizes the critical importance of the ocean in combating climate change while highlighting the severe threats it faces from industrial fishing and climate-induced marine heatwaves. The film showcases the ocean's wonders, such as coral reefs and kelp forests, while also portraying the devastating impact of destructive fishing practices that threaten marine ecosystems and coastal communities. Despite these challenges, Attenborough remains hopeful due to the ocean's resilience, exemplified by recovering whale populations following a whaling ban and revitalized marine reserves. The film advocates for increasing marine protected areas from the current 3% to ensure the ocean's recovery, aligning with global commitments to protect 30% of oceans. Attenborough calls for urgent action ahead of the United Nations Ocean Conference, urging nations to implement agreed-upon protections and restore ocean health.

Dive Deeper:

• David Attenborough's film 'Ocean' explores the underwater world, highlighting the ocean's role as Earth's largest carbon sink, vital for defending against climate catastrophe, and showcases its beauty with scenes from coral reefs, kelp forests, and seamounts.

• The documentary reveals the severe threats to ocean health, such as mass coral bleaching from marine heatwaves and the destruction caused by industrial fishing practices like bottom trawling, which releases carbon and devastates marine ecosystems.

• Graphic footage in the film captures the vast destruction of marine habitats by industrial fishing, likened to 'modern day colonialism,' as it hoovers up marine life indiscriminately, impacting both marine biodiversity and coastal community livelihoods.

• Attenborough illustrates the ocean's resilience with examples such as the recovery of whale populations after the whaling ban and the rejuvenation of coral reefs and marine reserves where fishing is banned, demonstrating the ocean's ability to bounce back.

• Enric Sala, a scientific advisor to the film, identifies global warming, plastic pollution, and overfishing as major threats, emphasizing the ease of addressing overfishing by establishing no-take zones to protect priority areas.

• Attenborough's film calls for increasing fully protected marine areas from less than 3% to a significant 30%, aligning with international commitments and stressing the urgency for nations to implement protections to ensure ocean recovery.

• The film's release ahead of the United Nations Ocean Conference aims to influence government action, with Attenborough urging that this could be a pivotal moment for change, emphasizing the need for swift implementation of ocean protection agreements.