“End of the Line”

By Britt Perkins

Labeled “too controversial” by some, this film explores the state of global fishing.

Most of the film’s message is clear and supported: though it’s been established that our oceans are being overfished, quotas and other legislation has not been successful in changing the industry.

The film discusses the practice of developed countries renting rights to international waters. They bring in commercial boats that dominate the oceans and preventing locals from sustaining themselves.

The waste involved in commercial fishing and farm fishing is immense.

Technology also poses grave risks to the ecosystem, which doesn’t have the resources to defend or rebuild itself.

I’m here to say I don’t agree with the demonizing of fishing in general. Certain scenes with dark music and clips of fish slaughter make the simple fact of the food chain seem wrong. We are predators, plain and simple.

However, we have also evolved to a point where we can manage our actions logically.

I spoke to Casey Fitzgerald, assistant director of the Department of Water Resources for the St. Johns River Water Management District. I asked him what happens to the fishermen during this shift.

He said after a public move to ban net fishing and trolling along Florida’s coasts, a program was set up to help fisherman transition. Many were retrained in the field of aquaculture and are making more money doing that than fishing, he said.

So there are solutions for all parties involved.

As consumers, we need to make smart choices and shift our demand.

Here is a short list for the conscious consumer. For the full list visit www.seafoodwatch.org.

Best Choices:
Tilapia
Tuna: Albacore (pole-caught)
Crab: Dungeness, Snow (Canada), Stone

Avoid:
Cod: Atlantic
Groupers
Halibut: Atlantic
Tuna: Bluefin

For more information on films visit, www.gefaf.org. Find the Fine Print’s complete coverage of the festival here.