‘Ocean’ by David Attenborough serves as a call to action
“If we just let nature take its course, the sea will save itself,” a message filled with hope, sums up the essence of David Attenborough’s documentary, Ocean, a visually stunning narrative that explores the world beneath the waves.
Narrated by the famous broadcaster and biologist, known best for his pioneering work in nature documentaries, Ocean takes you on a global voyage—from coral reefs and kelp forests below the surface to Papahānaumokuākea (Hawaii), the Azores (Portugal), Geographe Bay (Australia), Raja Ampat (Indonesia), Dorset (United Kingdom), and Red Sea (Egypt). The documentary highlights the destructive impacts of industrial fishing, especially bottom trawling. Bottom trawling is a commercial fishing method subsidised by governments, which involves dragging heavily weighted iron nets across the ocean floor to catch large amounts of fish in a single stroke. This dragging causes significant damage to the sea floor, leaving ancient structures underwater destroyed.
The film combines breathtaking footage with scientific insight to present a real-life view of the beauty and fragility of our waters. A wake-up call to the reality of the ocean in modern times, it portrays graphic scenes of bottom trawling—cameras mounted on seabed chains showing heavy nets bulldozing seabeds and habitats, capturing huge amounts of bycatch, often discarded dead or dying. Attenborough brings out a stark comparison of the devastation left behind by the trawlers: from the “Garden of Eden”—lush, thriving seabed and communities—to a “nuclear winter”—barren wastelands, void of life. This destruction not only causes a shift in the cycle of living but also contributes to the warming of our planet.
Despite its heavy themes, all hope is not lost. What Attenborough describes as the “most remarkable discovery” is that the ocean can bounce back to life faster than ever thought possible. Time and again, life under the sea has shown recovery far beyond imagination, evident in the waters of Papahānaumokuākea, the Mediterranean, and around Scotland’s Isle of Arran. With the help of reserves or “no-take zones”—marine protected areas that prohibit fishing activities—we see balance restored underwater, with blossoming coral reefs and kelp forests, colonies flourishing and the revival of large predator fishes that had been pushed to the edge of extinction.
As a source of optimism, Attenborough highlights the revival of whales, once on the brink of extinction, brought back when given due time with the help of global activism and awareness.
The strength of Ocean lies in its emotional storytelling, compelling narration, and its call to collective responsibility. It delivers both a warning and a solution. Is Ocean worth a watch? Absolutely. With an immersive journey in a world that had once been only a mystery, it exposes the detrimental practices that harm not only the oceans but also human lives around the globe. At its core, it serves as a call to action. Viewers will leave not only informed but also encouraged to advocate for stronger protection of marine life and a healthier planet.