Stephen Fry and Theo James Join Forces to Fight Destructive Fishing Practices

London, England — British actors Stephen Fry and Theo James are starring in a satirical short film that highlights the dangers of bottom trawling, a controversial fishing method that devastates marine environments. The film, titled “The Bottom Line,” is produced by the Blue Marine Foundation and premieres on World Ocean Day.

The release of the film comes as environmental charities are urging the UK government to ban bottom trawling in marine-protected areas before the United Nations Ocean Conference. Blue Marine Foundation, along with Only One and Oceana UK, is advocating for immediate action to protect these sensitive ocean regions.

Directed by Ben Mallaby, the film entails a dramatic dining experience, where James, playing a diner, orders a sustainable fish dish only to be shocked when a massive net of bycatch and oil is dumped on him. Fry portrays a shadowy waiter who underscores the hidden horrors of the fishing practices used in UK marine reserves.

“This shockingly destructive practice continues even in the UK’s protected areas,” Fry stated. He expressed his disgust over witnessing the waste produced by bottom trawling, calling it morally corrupt to allow ecological reserves to be so heavily exploited.

James echoed Fry’s concern, detailing his love for the ocean and his horror at human impacts. “Having had a load of bycatch dumped on me, it really drove home just how grotesque and devastating the practice of bottom trawling is,” he remarked.

Despite the designation of marine protected areas, research shows that 74% of England’s inshore MPAs and an alarming 92% of Scotland’s MPAs still permit bottom trawling. The practice, which drags weighted nets along the seabed, indiscriminately catches and kills many marine species, including juveniles of important species.

Toby Perkins, chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, emphasized the need for the government to act promptly. He noted that the time for debates has passed, insisting that marine protected areas must live up to their promises of conservation.

The UN Ocean Conference, scheduled for next week, aims to tackle crucial issues like plastic pollution and high seas treaty ratifications, bringing further urgency to the fight against harmful fishing practices. The Blue Marine Foundation and its allies hope that their film and advocacy will spur real changes in policy.