"Seaspiracy" - a controversial but must-watch documentary for every Maldivian too

If you have not watched British filmmaker Ali Tabrizi's 2021 documentary "Seaspiracy", which is available on Netflix (see trailer), about human impact on marine life, especially how the global fisheries industry is creating havoc on sea based ecosystems, you must definitely check it out.

Some of my friends are wary about watching this one-and-half hour documentary because Tabrizi is accused of presenting information and interviews in the wrong context, and also misrepresenting facts and figures. For instance, you can read from this link Earth Island Institute's response to Tabrizi's "conspiracy" allegations and the role the institution plays to protect the earth's environment and its flora and fauna.

However, I found his presentation of data and statistics quite straightforward although I have to admit that Tabrizi's approach is somewhat similar to Michael Moore's tactics but Tabrizi does present information that would be shocking for an archipelago nation like Maldives where many people's life and livelihood are directly and/or indirectly dependent on fishing.

As for those who are now unhappy with the final edit of the documentary, Tabrizi made it clear that he had provided every opportunity for institutions to tell the side of their whole story and he incorporates footage of interviewees who awkwardly declined to be interviewed sometimes at the beginning and sometimes in the middle of the interview, demonstrating their discomfort with been interviewed.

My personal problem with the documentary is deciding how to comply with Tabrizi's wishes and suggested solutions towards ending my own fish consumption although I have already quit eating all sorts of reef organisms such as every type of octopus ("boava"), lobster ("ihi"), parrotfish ("landaa"), grouper ("faana") etc. I am now open to eating only open water tuna species because they have the opportunity to renew their stocks more easily and fast, with reaching maturity between 2 to 5 years. I am strictly against the use of nets because they indiscriminately catch other unsuspecting marine life such as dolphins, sharks, and turtles, etc.

One thing I noticed about "Seaspiracy" is that Tabrizi first said that humans should altogether give up eating fish but then later stated that consuming fish should be only temporarily halted until depleting fish stocks can be recovered and renewed to their previous stock levels given time for their natural breeding. Indeed, going vegan would not be an easy lifestyle to adopt for fishing communities whose diet is based mainly on fish.

Ultimately, I have mixed feelings about this documentary because I am not clear and possibly have no means to determine who is telling the truth and who isn't. So I hope this review is fair and tells both sides of the story and my private conclusion is that not only Maldivians but anybody who is concerned about our sea food and the marine environment must not miss watching this documentary because whatever the controversy, "Seaspiracy" does make an admirable attempt on enlightening people about the plight of marine life.