PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • April 10, 2021
A Netflix original documentary about the environmental impact of fishing has drawn the ire of local and national seafood experts, who have criticized “Seaspiracy” for a portrayal of the commercial fishing industry that they say is dangerous and misleading. A group of industry professionals shared what they thought the 2021 documentary got wrong and what they wish it had done instead during a virtual panel hosted by the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association on Friday. The controversial movie encourages viewers to boycott the seafood industry as the most effective way to help save the oceans. It takes some actual truths, like the threat of plastics in the ocean, coral reef degradation, overfishing and habitat destruction issues, and sneaks in more dubious information. “I know so many people who are doing things the right way,” said Ben Martens, executive director of the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association. “There are people who are having a real impact. … I’ve seen some fantastic results to our science-based management.”