As I stepped onto the scene, the first thing that struck me was the celebratory atmosphere. The pulsating music, buoyant dancing, and singing felt more like a festival than a protest. The participants, or ‘protestor-dancers’, were handing out flyers, their shouts of “Save our oceans, reduce pollution!” resonating amidst the music.

‘A silent giant in the realm of greenhouse gas emissions’

The sequin filled flashmob, organized by Ecohustler – an independent online magazine committed to delivering unexpected, entertaining, and ecological content – highlighted the urgent need for the shipping sector to slash its climate-warming emissions by 50 percent by 2030, with a target of nearly zero emissions by 2040. This radical reduction is not just a pipe dream; it’s a real, tangible possibility, and it’s an outcome these activists hope to see from the pivotal IMO conference.

“Shipping is a silent giant in the realm of greenhouse gas emissions,” explained Matt Mellen, the founder, and editor of Ecohustler. “To achieve the 1.5-degree Paris target, it’s imperative that shipping halves its emissions by 2030. The decisions made at this vital conference have vast implications for everyone. The emissions from shipping alone can thrust us further into climate chaos or, if we get it right, herald a brighter future for all of us.”

The need for urgent change

The flashmob’s core message is crystal clear: we need urgent, sweeping changes to protect our planet, our health, and the myriad species that share this world with us. The IMO conference presents a historic opportunity for global shipping to switch off fossil fuels and eliminate its contribution to climate pollution.

The push for a more sustainable future doesn’t end there. A new study by CE Delft reveals that the shipping industry is technologically prepared to reduce its emissions by up to 47 percent, without impacting global trade costs. This reduction is equivalent to shutting down a staggering 121 coal power plants.

The importance of joy

As the world shifts towards a more equitable and sustainable future, it’s crucial to recognize the importance of joy and positivity in driving action. The flash mob was a reflection of this belief, embodying the spirit of the movement through dance and music. Samantha Moyo, who founded London’s legendary daytime-conscious rave Morning Gloryville and is a trustee of ocean charity City to Sea, commented, “We are delighted to come together at this crucial time to dance for and celebrate our one blue planet. I hope this dance supports the UN delegates standing for the ocean. It’s really for them we are showing up.”

Dr. Bronner’s, the biggest-selling organic soap company in the USA, also supported the event, which has championed environmental activism for over 75 years. Cliff Moss, Managing Director of Dr. Bronner’s in the UK, stated, “We’re a proud supporter of Ecohustler and help fund their work through our All-One UK Initiative. We believe clean and more sustainable shipping is possible and indeed essential to the modern economy.”

The dancing flashmob outside the IMO conference is a vibrant testament to how activism and joy can intersect, embodying a passionate plea for a healthier planet. With a demand for radical change in the shipping industry’s emission standards, this demonstration is a powerful reminder that a sustainable future is not just a dream but a necessity.

This article was written with the help of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Learn more about how we use ethical and responsible artificial intelligence at Plant Based News.

This article was written by Robbie Lockie on the PBN Website.

Four protesters used fire extinguishers to spray the building red, and dumped red paint inside the office. As part of the campaign, Animal Rebellion is urging the MSC to stop offering environmental certification to the fishing industry.

The MSC maintains that products donning its blue eco-label are sourced from a “sustainable fishery” that meets specific standards. The MSC zeroes in on three “core principles,” its website says, including Sustainable Fish Stocks, Minimizing Environmental Impact, and Effective Fisheries Management. 

Products and companies certified are subject to a yearly audit, and must be re-certified every five years.

But Animal Rebellion argues that there is no sustainable way to commercially fish, and that any such program is simply “certifying destruction.”

Animal Rebellion spokesperson and protester Orla Coghlan elaborated on the issue in a statement. 

“Evidence has shown that our oceans could be empty as soon as 2048 because of fishing. The MSC has a responsibility in their claims to be sustainable. They have a duty to revive the ocean when species are going extinct,” Coghlan said. 

“The solution to fishless seas and ocean acidification is obvious: the government and the Marine Stewardship Council need to fund a just transition from fishing to sustainable plant-based agriculture, such as seaweed and legumes. 

“The MSC are responsible for ensuring ‘sustainable’ fishing, however scientific evidence has shown that it is not possible to sustainably fish in our seas.”

MSC controversy

The public’s interest in sustainable consumption – especially relating to seafood and marine life – is on the rise. The hit documentary Seaspiracy – which quickly climbed into Netflix’s top ten most-watched films when it was released in 2021 – has been hailed as a driving force behind the change. 

Around the time the movie was released, Google searches for “sustainable fishing” shot up worldwide.

And the MSC did not escape criticism. Seaspiracy took a thinly veiled swipe at the non-profit, highlighting that the MSC is funded by the licensing fees paid by the fisheries and supermarkets which receive its certification.

In July 2021, The Guardian revealed the MSC’s labeled products were worth $12 billion (£9.5 billion) the year prior.

WWF, which co-founded the MSC in 1997, admitted in a 2016 report of its own that the certification scheme involves “troubling systemic flaws.” It has also called on the MSC to become “more rigorous” in its certification. 

Further, last year, WWF’s director of the WWF Mediterranean marine initiative, Giuseppe Di Carlo, told The Guardian that “I would not trust all of the fisheries [certified by MSC] to be sustainable.”

“WWF expects MSC to make reforms in the standard, and also in the assurance process, the implementation of standards.”

Animal Rebellion spokesperson Harley McDonald-Eckersall says a fishless food industry is key in boosting sustainable consumption.

“Despite increasing warnings of imminent climate catastrophe, these certifiers continue to promote these destructive industries,” they said.

“We’re here today to demand that they stop the hypocrisy and stop condoning an industry that is destroying the planet and killing the animals they claim to protect. A fully just, sustainable plant-based food system is the only way forward.”

This article was written by Jemima Webber on the PBN Website.

Filmmakers behind the Netflix sensation – Ali and Lucy Tabrizi – created an online petition after the film’s debut attracted global media coverage.

It calls for ‘no-catch zones’ to be installed in ‘at least’ 30 percent of waters around the UK and demands world leaders ‘protect more of our oceans’ from the fishing industry.

At the time of writing, the petition has garnered a staggering 732,395 signatures.

Seaspiracy campaign

Now, Seaspiracy says it wants to take things ‘one step further’ with a series of awareness-raising stunts.

The new ‘explosive’ campaign will see billboards pop-up ‘far and wide’ – starting with the UK.

Hard-hitting facts from the film, animations, and video messages from the public will also be projected onto world landmarks.

Crowdfunder

To fund the campaign, Seaspiracy has set up a Crowdfunder with an aim of raising more than £30,000.

“We know that when enough people understand the reality of what is happening to our oceans, change is inevitable,” Seaspiracy said.

“An incredible seachange of consumer behavior has already taken place after untold millions of people watched the groundbreaking Netflix Original Documentary, Seaspiracy. However, this campaign is taking the message one step further.

“This campaign is a demand to world leaders to do the right thing; a demand to become the stewards of the oceans they claim to be.

“This year, many governments have taken pledges to increase the number of MPA’s, yet the fine print of these promises reveal no mention of banning fishing operations from these areas of our seas. This is outrageous, and quite frankly, pathetic.”

Donate to the Crowdfunder here

This article was written by Liam Gilliver on the PBN Website.

The shocking statement comes from a 2006 journal entitled Impacts of Biodiversity Loss on Ocean Ecosystem Services by Boris Worn and Reg Watson.

Will the oceans be empty by 2048?

In an exclusive interview with Plant Based News, Seaspiracy directors Ali and Lucy Tabrizi respond to critics that argue the study has already been ‘debunked’. 

“The study estimates that with current fishing trends – if they continue – we could see empty oceans, or commercially virtually empty oceans, by 2048,” Ali said.

“And this is speculation. As with every [study] – there’s going to be a margin of error.

“In some places in our oceans, that year is going to be further. In some parts of our oceans, it’s already happened – where it’s no longer viable to catch fish. There’s just none left anymore.”

Ali continued: “The overall trend is what we need to look at. So who cares if it’s 2048, 2050, or 2051? The trajectory is showing that fish populations are declining overall. 

“Sure, you might get a few species that are rebounding a little bit, because we reduce fishing pressure – but the overall trend is going downwards.

“I believe the scientists put forward a statement saying that so long as we follow some sustainable measures – we’re not going to see empty oceans by 2048. 

“I believe that might have been used to justify continuing fishing. But the thing is, that would be dependent on doing those sustainable measures. There’s no real evidence globally that we’re doing that.”

‘Abstaining from consuming seafood’

Ocean conservation organization Oceana released an official statement on the film – which is drastically changing people’s perception of the fishing industry. 

It argued that abstaining from consuming seafood is ‘not a realistic choice’ for those facing ‘poverty, hunger, and malnutrition’. 

However, Lucy refuted this claim in her exclusive interview with Plant Based News.

She said: “I think we’ve got to be really careful not to weaponize poor and vulnerable people who are depending on fish, to justify our own eating habits. 

“[Especially] when we have the privilege to choose not to and to choose something else quite comfortably.

“I think the people that are watching this film on Netflix and are going to these NGOs websites looking for how to eat sustainably… They’re not the people that are relying on this for sustenance, for survival.”

Seaspiracy petition

Last week, the duo created an online petition to help protect 30 percent of the oceans by 2030.

In just three days, the campaign had garnered more than 100,000 signatures. At the time of writing, it is nearing a staggering 300,000.

Following on from Seaspiracy‘s spotlight on the detrimental effects created by industrial fishing, the petition is calling for the creation of more ‘no-catch’ zones.  If successful, they will be instated in ‘at least’ 30 percent of waters around the UK.

The petition reads: “Unless we act now we will live to see the death of the oceans. And, our children will never know the wonder and beauty of our once thriving blue planet.

“Seaspiracy has exposed the truth. But, we can’t fix this on our own. Now we need action, and that’s where you come in. Together we can change this.”

You can sign the Seaspiracy petition here

This article was written by Liam Gilliver on the PBN Website.

Last month, the ocean conservation organization released an official statement on the film – which is drastically changing people’s perception of the fishing industry. 

Oceana’s response to Seaspiracy

“We believe people have the right to choose what they eat, and we applaud those who make personal choices to improve the health of our planet,” Oceana wrote.  

“However, choosing to abstain from consuming seafood is not a realistic choice for the hundreds of millions of people around the world who depend on coastal fisheries. Many of whom are also facing poverty, hunger, and malnutrition.”

“Additionally, we strongly believe that we can be most effective by working together to win policy victories that help to save the oceans and feed the world. Rather than by influencing personal choice.”

Ali and Lucy Tabrizi

In an exclusive interview with Plant Based News, Seaspiracy directors Ali and Lucy Tabrizi respond to Oceana’s claims.

“Oceana, although they’re doing incredible work around the world, their core message is telling people that one of the best things they can do to protect the ocean is to eat sustainable fish,” Ali told PBN founder Klaus Mitchell.

“Their own spokesperson said that there’s no real definition for it, and it’s really hard for consumers to work that out on their end.

 “It just leaves you feeling like, well, there might be something lacking there.”

Ali continued: “They’re saying it’s not realistic for a global population to adopt a plant-based diet because there are people that depend on it. I think [they’re] missing the point.”

“There are hundreds of millions if not billions of people that can make the transition towards a more plant-based diet. 

“And, the people that rely on those fish, the best thing we can do to ensure that they can survive – and that there’s enough fish for them to eat is – for us people who have the privilege to avoid eating it.”

Lucy added: “I think we’ve got to be really careful not to sort of weaponize poor and vulnerable people who are depending on fish, to justify our own eating habits. [Especially] when we have the privilege to choose not to and to choose something else quite comfortably.

“I think the people that are watching this film on Netflix and are going to these NGOs websites looking for how to eat sustainably… They’re not the people that are relying on this for sustenance, for survival.”

Petition to protect the oceans

Last week, Ali and Lucy launched an online petition to help protect 30 percent of the oceans by 2030.

In just three days, the campaign had garnered more than 100,000 signatures. Now, it is over 200,000.

Following on from Seaspiracy‘s spotlight on the detrimental effects created by industrial fishing, the petition is calling for the creation of more ‘no-catch’ zones. 

If successful, they will be instated in ‘at least’ 30 percent of waters around the UK.

“Unless we act now we will live to see the death of the oceans. And, our children will never know the wonder and beauty of our once thriving blue planet,” the petition reads.

“Seaspiracy has exposed the truth, but we can’t fix this on our own. Now we need action, and that’s where you come in. Together we can change this.”

You can sign the Seaspiracy petition here

This article was written by Liam Gilliver on the PBN Website.

Now, we’re asking you to sign our petition to protect 30 percent of  the oceans by 2030. 

We’ve both loved the ocean for as long as we can remember. The sea has given us so much happiness and it was our dream to make a documentary about marine life.

But once we started filming, we realised the documentary would be different to what we imagined. We grew up with a romantic view of the ocean. But what we found was utterly devastating.

We saw horrific killings and corruption. And we revealed a deafening silence over industrial fishing’s role in emptying our seas.

We knew we had to expose how the global commercial fishing industries are killing our oceans.

How bad are things?

We don’t know what the hardest part has been: seeing dolphins trapped in killing nets in Taiji, our trip on a deep-sea trawler, or getting the big environmental groups to talk to us.

What we know is this: the global commercial fishing industries are killing our oceans.

According to the United Nations FAO around 87 percent of the world’s fish populations are ‘fully fished’ or ‘overfished’. Nearly a third of edible fish populations have declined by 90 percent.

That same study says this: “If biodiversity continues to decline, the marine environment will not be able to sustain our way of life. Indeed it may not be able to sustain our lives at all.”

Destroying our oceans

The global fishing industry has more than doubled in capacity since 1950. It’s now so huge it can’t help but destroy our oceans. What we discovered making Seaspiracy was this:

• Fishing has wiped out 90 percent of the world’s large fish.
• More than 300,000 dolphins, whales and porpoises are killed by fishing operations every year.
• More than $35 billion is paid in subsidies to industrial fishing every year.
• Fishing kills 30,000 sharks EVERY HOUR.

There was more. Global fish consumption is going up at an average of 3.1 percent a year, almost twice that of world population growth (1.6 percent). Consumption of fishes is also growing at a higher rate than other animal protein foods like meat and dairy.

Inefficient and cruel

Between 10-40 percent of all fish caught are by-catch. Biodiversity in our oceans is disappearing. Many species of aquatic life have been fished to the brink of extinction.

Our taste for fish is killing the oceans as fishing becomes mechanised, industrialised, and unstoppable. And we saw first-hand the two big killers out at sea.

Bottom trawling

Bottom trawling involves dragging heavy-weighted nets across the seafloor to capture fish. It’s a popular method for the fishing industry as it catches huge amounts of fish in one go—responsible for a quarter of all wild-caught fish.

But it turns our seas into wastelands. Dragging these weighted nets across the ocean beds captures everything and anything in the way. We also know it pumps out as much carbon dioxide as the entire aviation industry.

Longline fishing

Longline fishing involves trailing lines of nets miles and miles long through the oceans, with thousands of baited hooks attached. The average long line in U.S. waters is 28 miles (45 kilometres) long.

Around 50 million sharks are caught as by-catch. Every year, around 650,000 whales, dolphins, sea lions and turtles are killed this way, more than one every minute. All this for seafood – and profit. 

That’s why we made this film. That’s why we’re asking you to get involved. 

The solution

We know things can change. We can reverse this.

With Seaspiracy we were able to show the world the horrific problems of industrial fishing. But we were also able to share the solution.

We have three steps to pull our oceans back from the brink. We need to:

1. Support the 30×30 campaign and protect 30 percent of the global oceans with enforced no-catch marine reserves by 2030.
2. End the $35 billion annual subsidies for industrial fishing.
3. Support the growth of vegan seafood and the switch to plant-based diets.

Why is this important?

We need urgent management of our oceans that sets aside zones completely free from any human activity.

That’s why we’re calling for no-catch marine reserves that protect at least 30 percent of the oceans by 2030. Will you join us?

Not everyone can go and spend years making a film. But you can protect the oceans by being part of our campaign. 

There are more important reasons to join us:

• Protect the lungs of our planet: 50- 85 percent of the oxygen we breathe comes from marine phytoplankton, tiny ocean plants that photosynthesise and produce oxygen. When we protect the oceans, we protect the air we breathe.

• Protect our climate: Oceans play a major part in regulating the temperature and climate of the Earth. When we protect the oceans, we fight climate change.

• Protect our wildlife: Our oceans are the planet’s largest habitats, home to billions of individuals. When we protect the oceans, we are fighting for their lives.

The last generation to act?

But don’t just listen to us. Jane Lubchenco is a marine biologist from Oregon State University. She knows that ecosystems can recover if immediate action is taken.

“The first conclusion about the downward spiral [of biodiversity] suggests that the rate of implementation of those recovery tools needs to be sped up quite significantly,” says Lubchenco.

But she also says: “Just making recommendations doesn’t make things happen, unfortunately.”

The Seaspiracy petition

Unless we act now, we will live to see the death of the oceans and our children will never know the wonder and beauty of our once thriving blue planet.

Seaspiracy has exposed the truth, but we can’t fix this on our own. Now we need action, and that’s where you come in. Together we can change this. 

Join the campaign to save our oceans. Sign now, and become part of this historic movement.

This article was written by Ali and Lucy Tabrizi on the PBN Website.