{"id":16384,"date":"2025-06-06T11:27:57","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T10:27:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/?p=16384"},"modified":"2025-06-10T10:22:26","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T09:22:26","slug":"ocean-with-david-attenborough-a-wake-up-call-for-our-planet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2025\/06\/ocean-with-david-attenborough-a-wake-up-call-for-our-planet\/","title":{"rendered":"Ocean with David Attenborough: A Wake-Up Call for Our Planet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-light curved-bottom\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#2a414b\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-2176\" alt=\"Turtle banner\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/photo-1518467166778-b88f373ffec7.jpeg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/photo-1518467166778-b88f373ffec7.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/photo-1518467166778-b88f373ffec7-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/photo-1518467166778-b88f373ffec7-768x432.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\"><h1 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-post-title\">Ocean with David Attenborough: A Wake-Up Call for Our Planet<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-06-06T11:27:57+01:00\">6 June 2025<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"lead\"><strong>Despite covering 70% of the Earth\u2019s surface, less than 3% of the world\u2019s oceans are protected, leaving vast areas <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/marine-conservation.org\/on-the-tide\/why-attenborough-claims-3pct-ocean-protected\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>vulnerable to exploitation<\/strong><\/a><strong>. This reality is highlighted in <em>Ocean with David Attenborough<\/em>, released on 8 June for World Oceans Day. Few have had a more remarkable career than Population Matters patron Sir David Attenborough, who for over 70 years has guided us through the wonders of the natural world \u2013 and revealed how we are driving its destruction. David Attenborough&#8217;s new work shows us, undeniably, that one of the most important ecosystems is under critical threat \u2013 from us.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWe are at a crossroads, with humanity draining the life from the ocean.\u201d<\/p>\n<cite>Sir David Attenborough, Ocean<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>We all owe a debt to Sir David Attenborough for his tireless work to defend our planet. His new work makes clear that protecting the world\u2019s oceans is more critical than ever. We must tackle the uncomfortable truths of the cause and effect of human population growth and our consumption of resources, if we are to live sustainably and fairly with nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To explore these challenges further, we spoke to Daniel C\u00e1ceres Bartra, a Peruvian marine biologist and Latin America Representative for the Sustainable Ocean Alliance. Daniel is attending the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Daniel, the rapid expansion of ocean industries such as industrial fishing, global shipping and the emerging threat of deep-sea mining is unfolding in plain sight. He noted that this expansion continues despite a widespread lack of public awareness or political urgency: \u201cIt\u2019s happening right in front of us, but it\u2019s not always visible or talked about. There is a denial and an invisibility of the threat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Lifetime of Change: Population Growth and Nature\u2019s Decline<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When Sir David was born in 1926, the global population stood at 2 billion. In the intervening 99 years, it has more than quadrupled to over 8 billion people today. <a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/10\/natures-decline-deepens-insights-from-the-living-planet-report-2024\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Since 1970<\/a>, wildlife species have declined by 73%, principally because wildlife habitat has been broken up by urbanisation and the intensification of agriculture. This has put thousands of species on the brink of extinction. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1753\" height=\"1140\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/David-Attenborough-on-Easter-Island_NPL_George-Chan_printwebsitesocial_small.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4307\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/David-Attenborough-on-Easter-Island_NPL_George-Chan_printwebsitesocial_small.jpg 1753w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/David-Attenborough-on-Easter-Island_NPL_George-Chan_printwebsitesocial_small-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/David-Attenborough-on-Easter-Island_NPL_George-Chan_printwebsitesocial_small-1024x666.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/David-Attenborough-on-Easter-Island_NPL_George-Chan_printwebsitesocial_small-768x499.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/David-Attenborough-on-Easter-Island_NPL_George-Chan_printwebsitesocial_small-1536x999.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1753px) 100vw, 1753px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sir David Attenborough on Easter Island<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Daniel is clear that the relationship between population growth and ocean degradation is direct, \u201cMore people, means more consumption, each human requires a basic protein and nutritional demand. That translates into more ships, more coastal cities and more demand for seafood. All of it puts heavy pressure on marine ecosystems.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve already seen wildlife species disappear on land; this could be mirrored in the oceans if demand driven by our growing population continues. Overfishing, mineral extraction and international shipping pose existential threats to marine ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Hidden Cost of Overfishing<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Ocean with David Attenborough<\/em> places a spotlight on the destruction caused by mega-trawlers bulldozing the seabed.&nbsp;Many viewers are likely to be deeply concerned by the loss of fish, corals and kelp forests&nbsp;destroyed by these mega-trawlers. But before placing the blame solely on the fishing industry, they should also recognise that these wasteful practices arise from the demands of feeding the growing global population. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fao.org\/newsroom\/detail\/fao-report-global-fisheries-and-aquaculture-production-reaches-a-new-record-high\/en#:~:text=Aquatic%20foods%20provide%20high-quality%20proteins%20%E2%80%93%2015%20percent,nutrients%20including%20omega-3%20fatty%20acids%2C%20minerals%2C%20and%20vitamins.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations<\/a>, aquatic foods currently provide 15% of all animal proteins consumed. If the global population exceeds 10 billion by the 2080s, fish demand will rise dramatically, the UN predicts. The fishing industry must change to stop exploiting oceans and harming marine life and communities in lower-income countries. We must reduce demand for fish by keeping population and consumption within sustainable limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Oceans Under Pressure<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As Sir David\u2019s film makes clear, we have only just begun to understand the diversity of life that exists in our oceans. But the impacts of humanity both on land and at sea due to our overconsumption of resources, particularly in high-income countries, are plundering and poisoning our oceans and the marine species that oceans are home to. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scientists warn that current calls for deep-sea mining to meet future resource needs would be catastrophic for marine ecosystems. On this subject, Daniel didn\u2019t mince words. He likened the practice to &#8220;bulldozing an ancient forest&#8230; but underwater.&#8221; He went further, explaining: \u201cUnique habitats that took thousands of years to form are destroyed, and we might lose species or microbes that could hold keys to climate solutions or even medicine.\u201d &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1719\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/athanasios-papazacharias-5hERihjM-38-unsplash-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16386\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/athanasios-papazacharias-5hERihjM-38-unsplash-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/athanasios-papazacharias-5hERihjM-38-unsplash-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/athanasios-papazacharias-5hERihjM-38-unsplash-1024x688.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/athanasios-papazacharias-5hERihjM-38-unsplash-768x516.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/athanasios-papazacharias-5hERihjM-38-unsplash-1536x1031.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/athanasios-papazacharias-5hERihjM-38-unsplash-2048x1375.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Marine shipping routes are making oceans noisier and more polluted. A rise in whale strandings shows how shipping and military sonar disrupt their sonar navigation. In the same way it\u2019s hard for two humans to hear one another next to a busy road; noise generated by ships can mask sounds that marine mammals use to communicate, navigate, find mates and hunt for food. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This has led to marine species, such as the endangered southern resident orca, struggling to hunt for the few fish left for them. Daniel calls for: &#8220;clear regulations, better noise-reducing technology and more public education to make this invisible threat visible.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Rubbish Island and Microplastics: Humanity\u2019s unwanted footprint<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Great Pacific Garbage Patch shows our collective impact &#8211; a plastic island estimated to be three times France\u2019s size. This rubbish island keeps growing, with over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unep.org\/news-and-stories\/story\/world-leaders-set-sights-plastic-pollution\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">11 million tonnes of plastic<\/a> entering the ocean every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1414\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/X-Alternate-sea-pollution.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16387\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/X-Alternate-sea-pollution.png 2000w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/X-Alternate-sea-pollution-300x212.png 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/X-Alternate-sea-pollution-1024x724.png 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/X-Alternate-sea-pollution-768x543.png 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/X-Alternate-sea-pollution-1536x1086.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We now know the inert properties of plastic mean it doesn\u2019t degrade, but breaks up into smaller and smaller pieces. Microplastics now contaminate our water and soil, and scientists find them in the stomachs of birds, fish and humans. Sir David&#8217;s Blue Planet II exposed plastic pollution to the world and inspired stronger, more coordinated action on single-use plastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Protecting the oceans starts with us<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We hope <em>Ocean with David Attenborough<\/em> can spark a conversation about the human population\u2019s impact on the world\u2019s oceans. The film shows the ocean can recover faster than we expect &#8211; but only with urgent, coordinated global action. We must reduce both population and consumption to bring human impact within sustainable limits and protect marine ecosystems. Life began in the ocean. We must act now to preserve its rich biodiversity before it&#8217;s too late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cThe ocean needs space, time, and less pressure. Where strong protections exist, marine life has bounced back powerfully.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<cite>Daniel C\u00e1ceres Bartra<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ll continue to follow Daniel\u2019s work at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice. He kindly agreed to write a follow-up blog exploring whether attendees are meaningfully addressing population growth. Stay tuned for his reflections and insight from inside the negotiations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If Ocean moved you like it moved us, take action today. Support our <a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/nature-cant-wait\/\">Nature Can\u2019t Wait<\/a> appeal, and right now, your donation will go twice as far. Thanks to match funding, every pound you give will be doubled at no extra cost to you. Together, we can take action to protect the natural world before it\u2019s too late.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-share\"><a class=\"fb-share\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2Fnews%2F2025%2F06%2Focean-with-david-attenborough-a-wake-up-call-for-our-planet%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 32H48A48 48 0 0 0 0 80v352a48 48 0 0 0 48 48h137.25V327.69h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.27c-30.81 0-40.42 19.12-40.42 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V480H400a48 48 0 0 0 48-48V80a48 48 0 0 0-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg> Share<\/div><\/a><a class=\"tw-share\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2Fnews%2F2025%2F06%2Focean-with-david-attenborough-a-wake-up-call-for-our-planet%2F&amp;text=Ocean%20with%20David%20Attenborough%3A%20A%20Wake-Up%20Call%20for%20Our%20Planet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M459.37 151.716c.325 4.548.325 9.097.325 13.645 0 138.72-105.583 298.558-298.558 298.558-59.452 0-114.68-17.219-161.137-47.106 8.447.974 16.568 1.299 25.34 1.299 49.055 0 94.213-16.568 130.274-44.832-46.132-.975-84.792-31.188-98.112-72.772 6.498.974 12.995 1.624 19.818 1.624 9.421 0 18.843-1.3 27.614-3.573-48.081-9.747-84.143-51.98-84.143-102.985v-1.299c13.969 7.797 30.214 12.67 47.431 13.319-28.264-18.843-46.781-51.005-46.781-87.391 0-19.492 5.197-37.36 14.294-52.954 51.655 63.675 129.3 105.258 216.365 109.807-1.624-7.797-2.599-15.918-2.599-24.04 0-57.828 46.782-104.934 104.934-104.934 30.213 0 57.502 12.67 76.67 33.137 23.715-4.548 46.456-13.32 66.599-25.34-7.798 24.366-24.366 44.833-46.132 57.827 21.117-2.273 41.584-8.122 60.426-16.243-14.292 20.791-32.161 39.308-52.628 54.253z\"><\/path><\/svg> Tweet<\/div><\/a><a class=\"li-share\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2Fnews%2F2025%2F06%2Focean-with-david-attenborough-a-wake-up-call-for-our-planet%2F&amp;text=Ocean%20with%20David%20Attenborough%3A%20A%20Wake-Up%20Call%20for%20Our%20Planet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg> Post<\/div><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-light-blue-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related content<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-grid grid grid-3\">\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-post-teaser\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/nature-cant-wait\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3>Act Now: nature can&#8217;t wait!<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"298\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6-11-768x298.png\" class=\"wp-image-16054\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6-11-768x298.png 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6-11-300x116.png 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6-11.png 774w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/img>\n\t\t\t\t<p>With Earth\u2019s population now exceeding 8 billion people, the pressure on our planet is greater than ever. Humans outcompete all other species to our shared detriment &#8211; all populations matter&#8230;.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-post-teaser\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2024\/07\/whale-beachings-are-on-the-rise\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3>Drowned Out: Why Whale Beachings Are On The Rise<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"514\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/noaa-ldoOaF4c-w-unsplash-768x514.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-14203\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/noaa-ldoOaF4c-w-unsplash-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/noaa-ldoOaF4c-w-unsplash-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/noaa-ldoOaF4c-w-unsplash-1024x685.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/noaa-ldoOaF4c-w-unsplash-1536x1028.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/noaa-ldoOaF4c-w-unsplash-2048x1371.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/img>\n\t\t\t\t<p>Following the tragic mass beaching of 77 pilot whales on World Population Day, we assess how human activity is damaging the world\u2019s oceans and having catastrophic effects for the survival of the world\u2019s marine species.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Despite covering 70% of the Earth\u2019s surface, less than 3% of the world\u2019s oceans are protected, leaving vast areas vulnerable to exploitation. This reality is highlighted in Ocean with David Attenborough, released on 8 June for World Oceans Day.","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":2176,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,24],"tags":[10,14,22],"class_list":["post-16384","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-news-story","tag-biodiversity","tag-environment","tag-world_population"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Ocean with David Attenborough: A Wake-Up Call for Our Planet - Population Matters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ocean with David Attenborough exposes the threats facing our seas \u2013 from overfishing to deep-sea mining \u2013 and calls for urgent action.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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