Review of Seaspiracy (2021) by Wheeelertron — 27 Mar 2021

Following the facts in this problematic horror-doc leads to the frighting conclusion that the only viable option left for anyone concerned about our collapsing ocean ecosystems is to stop eating seafood, everything, even farmed fish, seaweed is the only option...if this seems a bit dramatic well strap in, because it's looking like the shock horror of The Cove (the documented rounding-up of wild dolphins in Japan for sale into the captive dolphin entertainment industry) is only the beginning, it gets a lot worse, this is perspective-changing filmmaking on a global scale.

Yes there are significant problems with the film, familiar presentation issues that are pushing me away from Netflix productions and indeed the whole platform, a dishonest discovery-narrative, crude and manipulating expository animations and a vegan seafood advert wedged in at the end that will only enhance the calls of 'vegan propaganda', but this is clearly an important story, filmed by young and bold filmmakers, the cinematography is excellent and the interviews well-executed, and I don't want to let production problems and a few directional missteps get in the way, they got it made and released despite the challenges, it's a flawed but still-effective package and it will be difficult for critics to dispute the testimony of interviewees such as the marine biologist and esteemed life-long oceanographer Sylvia Earle.

Much as this story is an amalgamation of several agendas and narratives it also makes a clear accusation, that the global fishing and non-plant-based-aquaculture industry is committing a short-sighted economically driven ecocide, destroying the ocean ecosystems and destabilising the planet, endangering all our lives, and filling the ocean with plastic waste, and that even if you don't buy or eat fish you are supporting this activity as a taxpayer through generous government subsidies...