Films / Movies / Films About Diet and Food / FIsh, Fishing, Seafood

The End of The Line – A Film That Will Change the Way You Think About Seafood

by Jennie Richards · Published February 15, 2016 · Updated July 26, 2021

If we continue fishing as we are now, most seafood will be gone by 2048

This is not just a film—it’s a campaign and wakeup call for the sustainable consumption of fish and for a new ethic of responsible fishing and eating. This film marks the world’s first major documentary about the devastating effect of overfishing and the rapid depletion of our oceans.

Based on the highly acclaimed book by Charles Clover, THE END OF THE LINE navigates the destructive ecological impact of overfishing by illuminating the alarming truth that is happening to our oceans today: the dramatic decline of global fish populations around the world, outstripping fish harvests by industrialized fishing, and the world’s increasing appetite for fish and sushi—all threatening hundreds of species of fish to crash beyond their ability to reproduce and hundreds more to become extinct or be close to extinction. As a result, our oceans are filling up with smaller fish species as the larger species disappear forever.

Fish stocks cannot keep up with increasingly sophisticated fishing technology used today to harvest unbelievable numbers of fish daily for the growing demand worldwide. The rise of hungry consumers around the globe eating more and more fish, means greater numbers of fisherman and fishing fleets harvesting an unsustainable number of fish, and with it other forms of marine life and by-catch. Environmentalists and oceanographers believe that the current demand for fish and the methods used to fulfill it are taking an irreparable and possibly irreversible toll on the world’s oceans and marine life, with some speculating that our oceans could be literally fished-out and empty by 2048 if current trends do not radically change. In the film, scientists explain how this depletion has managed to be evaded and ignored by government officials, restaurants, grocery stores—and consumers. But scientists are also warning us that a catastrophic future awaits us—an ocean devoid of fish in 30 years, if we don’t change our fishing and consumption practices.

This film is a call to action for all that sell, buy and consume fish—and for every single person to take responsibility by not contributing to the further depletion of our oceans. Our seas are dying and need your help. The End of The Line outlines the solutions, motivating supermarkets, restaurants and individuals to take the necessary steps to save our oceans today. Here’s how you can help!

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Download the FREE Good Fish Guide Mobile App
Download and print the pocket-sized Good Fish Guide
Download the Seafood Selector, from Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)
Stop buying and consuming fish altogether – adopt a plant-based animal-free diet
*Don’t order, buy or eat these fish ever: Atlantic Halibut (wild), Bluefin Tuna, Deepwater Fish (ALL), Eel, Prawns (wild or farm raised), Marlin, Orange Roughy, Sea bass, Shark, Skate, Spurdog (Spiny Dogfish), Sturgeon Caviar (wild), Swordfish, and Whitebait. *These fish are disappearing and being depleted beyond reproduction and replacement.
*Avoid these fish: Pollock, Anchovy from Portugal, Flounder, Haddock, Hake, Halibut (Atlantic, farmed, open net), Herring, Mackerel, Monkfish, Pangasius, Pollack, Red Mullet, Atlantic Salmon (wild), Scampi or Lobsters (wild), Sea bass, Skate and Rays, Shark & Dogfish, Sole, Trout (only farmed), Tuna (all sources). *All are being overfished.
If you buy fish, ONLY purchase these fish (mostly farmed): Arctic Char (farmed), bass (farmed, US), catfish, clams, oysters, cod (Pacific only), crab (Alaska), freshwater Prawn (US & Canada), Rockfish (Pacific Coast), Black Cod (AK & Canada), Salmon (AK only), Sand dabs (Pacific Coast), Sardines (Pacific Coast), Scallops (farmed), Shrimp (farmed only) Tilapia (Canada & US), and Trout (US farmed only).
Look at the labels: The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) seafood ecolabel recognizes and rewards sustainable fishing and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certifies responsibly farmed seafood. The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) recognizes MSC and ASC certified as a better environmental choice for many seafood products. Get the Good Fish Guide or download the Good Fish Guide Mobile App.
Shop at the most responsible supermarkets: Buy your seafood from supermarkets that do not buy non-sustainable fish (see above list), and only sell sustainable and farmed fish.
Go green: Choose fish caught using methods with lower environmental impact, such as hand lined or pot caught.
Choose organic when buying farmed seafood: Organic farms tend to have lower stocking densities, higher environmental standards and use feed sourced sustainably, so look for the organic label.
Avoid eating sharks and all deepwater fish: Slow growing, long-lived species such as Redfish and Orange Roughy, breed slowly and are therefore vulnerable to over-exploitation. Fishing for deep-sea fish can harm other sensitive species like cold water coral that may never recover.

Watch ABC’s Nightline Program with Cynthia McFadden, about The End of the Line
https://youtu.be/skETTdiKUx4

Film Length: 1 Hour, 30 Minutes

Initial Release: June 12, 2009 (UK)

Awards:

British Independent Film Award for Best British Documentary
PUMA Creative Impact Award
One World Media Award
Wildscreen Festival – Theatrical Award
Reel Earth Film Festival – Global Award for Best Environmental Sustainability Film
The International Wildlife Film Festival – Marine Conservation Award
Blue Ocean Film Festival – Ocean Issues & Conservation Award
13th CinemAnbiente International Environmental Film Festival – Special Mention given by the Green Cross Jury