End of the line at famed film festival

Audiences at the famous Sundance film festival are being treated to the world premiere of a new movie highlighting the parlous state of the world’s oceans. The End of the Line, a feature length documentary made with the support of WWF, has its first showing in the World Cinema Documentary competition today (Monday 19th Jan).

The film – based on the book of the same name by UK environment journalist Charles Clover – calls for networks of marine protected areas, well-managed fishing and sustainable seafood as key solutions to restoring our oceans’ health and bounty. Along with several other NGOs, WWF contributed to the film both financially and with expert advice.

The End of the Line points the finger at over-fishing as one of the main reasons behind the current state of our marine environment. WWF International’s Director of Marine Programme, Miguel Jorge, agrees. “Overfishing is the single biggest immediate threat to our oceans, and the film highlights some of the most conspicuous examples of excessive exploitation of marine resources, such as the decimation of bluefin tuna stocks in the Mediterranean.”

"It is important to note that there are many within the fishing and seafood sectors working hard to fish responsibly and supply consumers with healthy seafood that is good for the oceans and WWF is committed to working openly with these proactive, progressive players.”

WWF works with seafood industry leaders - from farmers and fishermen to buyers - and governments to improve the management of the world’s fisheries, secure seafood from sustainable sources, create standards for certifying seafood products, and responsibly meet the increasing consumer demand for sustainable seafood.

After it’s Sundance premiere, the film’s producers are hoping for a global cinema distribution deal.