The oceans: magical, mysterious and vulnerable

Ocean opens with a series of stunning images from different parts of the ocean, and the countless different life forms it reveals. It becomes clear: life in the ocean is one vast system in which everything works together and depends on one another – from the smallest plankton to the largest whale. And more importantly: that doesn’t stop once we step onto land. Because even though it seems like a completely different world, the ocean has an enormous impact on life on land. From regulating weather and climate, to shaping coastlines and especially: the billions of people who rely on the ocean for their income and food every day. And that is what the film shows so beautifully.

But Attenborough doesn’t spare us either: he quickly hits the nail on the head by showing how poorly humanity treats that very same system that we and millions of (un)known sea creatures depend on so deeply.

From unique footage of bottom trawling destroying reefs and the seafloor, to sharks caught on longlines and ocean deserts where once a living coral reef thrived. As a viewer, you can’t escape it: we must treat the oceans differently, and we must do it now.

Adapting and protecting

For a moment it seems as if the film Ocean is building up to a plea to end fishing altogether. But on the contrary – the film advocates for preserving fisheries around the world and establishing protected areas that must be left completely untouched. Because fisheries are essential for the billions of people who depend on fishing for their survival. But – and it's a crucial but – we must radically change the way we fish. From bottom trawls that damage the seabed and large nets or longlines with high bycatch, to selective fisheries that operate within the limits of the ocean without harming the seafloor or catching large amounts of unintended species. And returning valuable coastal areas to local, small-scale fishers whose families rely on the daily catch.

Fish you can feel good about

The message is clear: if we want to preserve our oceans, we must fundamentally change the way we fish. That’s exactly why Bart van Olphen and Harm Jan van Dijk founded Sea Tales 11 years ago.

For over a decade, Sea Tales has deliberately chosen to work only with fisheries that respect both the ocean and the people who fish in it. That means we always select fisheries that are certified by an independent sustainability standard. On top of that, we apply strict criteria for fishing methods. We exclude certain techniques altogether, namely bottom trawling, dredging, and pelagic longlining. These are exactly the destructive practices exposed in Ocean.

Take our tuna, for example. It’s always caught one by one using pole-and-line fishing. This method doesn’t damage the seabed and results in minimal bycatch. For horse mackerel, sardines, and anchovies, we use purse seines. Fishers encircle a school of fish and close the net from below. Since these species typically swim in dense, single-species schools, bycatch is very low. And because they swim in the middle of the water column, the net never touches the ocean floor, so the seabed remains undisturbed.

The film shows massive industrial vessels, something that raises questions for many viewers. We sometimes work with large ships too, for example when fishing horse mackerel, and soon, herring. But large doesn’t automatically mean harmful, especially in fishing. As long as catch volumes are kept in check and the right methods are used, large vessels can actually be highly efficient and responsible. What truly matters is taking only what the ocean can replenish, keeping bycatch to a minimum, and avoiding seabed disruption.

On our website, each fishery has its own dedicated page. There, we explain exactly where and how each species is caught.

Krill: Foundation of the ecosystem

The film also highlights krill fishing in the Southern Ocean. Krill are tiny crustaceans, like miniature shrimp, that exist there in massive numbers. And that’s a good thing, because they are an essential food source for life in that region and across the entire ocean. You can see how krill fisheries operate close to schools of whales and penguin colonies. The krill is processed into fish oil, animal feed and especially feed for farmed fish. Krill contains many nutrients that farmed fish, like salmon, need to grow. Even the salmon we sell is fed with krill-based feed, which is MSC certified.

Krill fisheries are managed by a special commission. In addition, 75% of the fishery is MSC certified. There is a catch limit of 1% of the total biomass. This limit is intentionally set very low to ensure that plenty of krill remains in the ocean to support the ecosystem. Still, there are concerns about whether this fishery may have negative impacts on other marine life. Critics argue that more attention should be paid to where the fishery operates and during which months. Last year, for example, there was a vote to close off a certain area to fishing so that whales could feed there undisturbed. All countries voted in favor, except China.

We closely follow developments in the Southern Ocean around krill fishing so we stay informed about the latest research and any new regulations that may be introduced.

Ocean: A plea for Sea Tales What I appreciate most about Ocean is its balance. The film isn’t just alarming, it’s also hopeful. It shows that change is possible. That ecosystems can recover. That fish can return. That we, as humans, can change—if we choose to.

And that’s exactly what drives us every day at Sea Tales. We want people to keep enjoying fish. But the kind of fish you can feel good about. Fish that feels right. Fish you can proudly serve. So that not only we, but future generations too, can enjoy it.

- Irene

Impact & Fisheries Manager at Sea Tales