The End of the Line

There's no disputing this documentary's dire warning: namely, if we don't stop overfishing, within less than 40 years there'll be no fish left to eat. Based on a book by Charles Clover, director Rupert Murray's The End of the Line, narrated by Ted Danson, travels around the globe to illustrate the severity of the problem. In Newfoundland, the cod once believed to be infinitely abundant were virtually “fished out of existence” by the early 1990s; a subsequent moratorium hasn't brought them back. In the Straits of Gibraltar, bluefin tuna catches have declined by 80 percent in 10 years, meaning their extinction is nigh—not surprising when you consider that some fishing boats use nets big enough to accommodate more than a dozen 747 jumbo jets. And in the Chesapeake Bay, the cow-nosed ray has become a plague (causing commercial losses to clam and oyster harvests) in direct proportion to the drop in the shark population, just one example of the ecological imbalance that overfishing can cause. Meanwhile, politicians disregard scientific warnings and set quotas much higher than they should be, which fishermen disregard nonetheless, with no government interference. The good news is that marine reserves are helping restore the fish population, restaurants are being held accountable for the seafood they serve, and consumers are becoming more vigilant. But fishing technology is far ahead of the environment, and only humans—the most implacable predators—can reverse the course. DVD extras include an interview with Danson, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and an “Ocean-Friendly Seafood Guide.” Recommended. [Note: The End of the Line is also available with public performance rights for $295 from Bullfrog Films at www.bullfrogfilms.com.] Aud: C, P. (S. Graham)