Sir David Attenborough’s latest stunning documentary, Ocean, has sparked widespread discussion about global fishing and in particular bottom trawling – one of the most common forms of fishing targeting demersal species such as cod, haddock, hake, and sole. While the film highlights important environmental concerns, it overlooks key aspects of the discussion – particularly the efforts and commitments of those within the UK fishing industry.
Fishermen understand the necessity of sustainable fishing; their livelihoods depend on it after all. They therefore share a common goal with conservationists in ensuring abundant fish stocks for future generations. In many cases, sustainable practices are not imposed on them – they are driven by the fishermen themselves. Industry professionals actively participate in conservation efforts, refining gear to reduce bycatch, supporting stock assessments, and implementing voluntary restrictions to safeguard marine ecosystems for the long term.
SWFPO supports a highly productive catching sector with a collective interest in the sustainable management of fish and shellfish stocks around the UK. Sustainably harvested seafood is key to the future success of our members and the commercial fishing industry at large here in the UK. That’s why SWFPO has focused its attention on a range of sustainability initiatives, including improving gear selectivity, stock assessments and associated scientific research, impacts of bottom trawling on seabed carbon stores, as well as reducing discarded and unwanted catch.
Ocean calls for stronger regulation. However, fisheries management in the UK is already highly data-driven, carefully balancing environmental protection, food security, and economic sustainability. It is a complex and nuanced field. We strongly advocate for evidence-based management decisions rather than blanket bans on specific gear types. Rather than prohibiting bottom trawling, the key should be to strengthen management systems, ensuring that poorly regulated or unmanaged fisheries evolve into sustainable, well-governed operations. In marine protected areas (MPAs), where vulnerable bottom-dwelling habitats require safeguarding, regulations must be informed by scientific research and industry expertise to strike a sustainable balance.
What Ocean fails to acknowledge is the proactive role the UK fishing industry has played, and continues to play, in minimising its environmental footprint. Industry-led innovations, such as selective dredges and escape panels, have been developed to reduce ecological impacts while maintaining efficiency and livelihoods. These developments deserve greater recognition in any serious discussion around marine sustainability.
As Professor Michel Kaiser, who specialises in fisheries conservation at Heriot-Watt University, notes:
“It would be nice if for once people actually talked with those of us who have worked at the interface between fishing and conservation for several decades. Those of us working at the frontline know what massive strides in sustainability have been and are being made in a food production area that is entirely controllable through regulation and management.”
A truly balanced discussion must also acknowledge that fishing is just one of several sectors operating on the seabed. Offshore construction, aggregate dredging, subsea cable and pipeline installation, and offshore energy development all contribute to seabed disturbance. Marine management should address the cumulative impact of all these industries — not single out fishing in isolation.
Furthermore, the Ocean documentary relies heavily on dramatic visuals and emotive storytelling at the expense of acknowledging the complex, science-led systems already guiding UK fisheries. Constructive dialogue, not polarised narratives, is key to delivering the shared goal of healthy seas and sustainable livelihoods.
Effective ocean stewardship cannot succeed without considering the communities that rely upon the sea. While the catching sector’s direct contribution to GDP may seem small, its influence extends far beyond the boats – supporting coastal communities, supply chains, and multiple businesses ashore. Disruptions within the industry ripple outward, affecting jobs, economies, and local infrastructures – an often-overlooked reality in media narratives.
A truly balanced discussion on marine conservation must acknowledge not only the challenges, but also the practical solutions already being pioneered by those who depend on the ocean most – the fishermen themselves, and the communities they support.
