Behind every fish that reaches your plate, there is a long story of life and the eventual catch that brought about its end. Seaspiracy, a documentary that premiered March 24 on Netflix, examines the hidden secrets behind the fishing industry. 

Filmed, directed, and narrated by Ali Tabrizi, the film opens with Tabrizi discussing his journey and reason for filming.  What originally started out as an exploration of plastic’s effect on marine life soon developed into an exposition of the many, and somewhat unknown forces destroying ocean wildlife.  

Through high-quality, up close video footage, the viewer is transported through several countries and oceans, exposed to graphic footage of unknown horrors.  The hour and a half long feature strings the observer along, making it feel as if they too are going down the proverbial rabbit hole, right along with Tabrizi.  

The documentary was very well done, keeping the watcher’s interest by delving into topics thoroughly, yet not overwhelmingly.  The storyline was pushed along and made manageable by a constant shift between interviews with experts and scenes from Tabrizi’s journey.  Graphics are expertly used to show the scale of most numerical facts provided and transitions between settings and topics are made well known.  

While the production has garnered major attention from the public, it has also received major flack claiming falsities and dramatizations.  Interviewees have claimed their quotes were taken out of context and many in the industry have denounced the film saying it’s made “misleading claims.”  

The documentary is a must-watch.  Even though it may succeed in ruining fish consumption for the viewer, it shines an important light on an increasingly worsening problem.  Whether one decides to believe every aspect or not, the production is a recommended watch.