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Press Release
Ocean with David Attenborough Shows Bottom Trawling as Never Before, Underscores Need for Ocean Protection
Co-produced by National Geographic Pristine Seas, the stunning documentary film debuts June 7 on National Geographic and streams globally on Disney+ and Hulu on World Ocean Day
Photo by Olly Scholey
Washington DC (June 7, 2025) — A full-length documentary film that has been making waves in theaters is now available worldwide and on Disney+ on June 8. Ocean with David Attenborough blends science with spectacular visuals, taking viewers on a journey through coral reefs, kelp forests, and the open ocean. The film serves as a reminder of just how vital the ocean is for the climate, biodiversity, and livelihoods around the globe.
Featuring the most detailed, cinematic footage of bottom trawling ever captured, the film has shocked audiences as they witness the industrial fishing technique ripping up the seafloor. Captured in visceral detail, the film reveals how the practice — which involves dragging weighted nets across the bottom of the ocean — leaves a trail of devastation and results in significant waste, as unintended catch (called bycatch) is killed and thrown overboard.
“Science tells us that bottom trawling — by churning the sediment on the seafloor — produces carbon dioxide emissions on the scale of global aviation every year,” said Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer in Residence and Executive Director of Pristine Seas. “The film shows the heart-wrenching side of the destructive practice — the heavy nets underwater, the fish fleeing for their lives, the desolate aftermath. It allows people to make up their own minds about whether bottom trawling is an acceptable form of hunting marine wildlife,” he continued. Sala served as an executive producer of the film as well as one of the film’s scientific advisors.
Despite its well-documented ecological impacts, bottom trawling remains permitted in many marine protected areas — ocean zones specifically designated to conserve biodiversity.
“The tragic scenes of bottom trawling in Ocean with David Attenborough, the first of their kind, are fit for a horror film. We hope the images of the devastation and waste become a wake up call that bottom trawling must stop in marine protected areas,” said Sala.
While Ocean with David Attenborough highlights the alarming decline in marine biodiversity observed over the past century, the film also reinforces that recovery is possible, showcasing examples where marine life can rebound when left alone, to recover. For example, footage collected by Pristine Seas in the Southern Line Islands and featured in the film shows the miraculous recovery of protected coral reefs that were decimated by a marine heatwave.
The film underscores the importance of establishing marine protected areas (MPAs) with high or full protection to allow marine life to bounce back. The establishment of MPAs is essential for the world to achieve globally-agreed targets to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. Currently only 8% of the world’s ocean is under some form of protection and less than 3% is under high/full protection.
With the global launch timed on the eve of World Ocean Day and just moments ahead of a crucial UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in France, the documentary spotlights many of the key issues set to dominate the summit’s agenda, including the discussion of scaling ocean protection and calls to end destructive fishing practices in marine protected areas (MPAs).
The film premiered in cinemas in May, coinciding with David Attenborough’s 99th birthday. Theaters in select countries around the globe are still showing the film, which has smashed records at the box office. In the UK and Ireland, Ocean with David Attenborough is the highest grossing documentary release of 2025 and the highest grossing nature documentary in cinemas this decade.
National Geographic is making the documentary film available to educators at schools, universities, museums, and libraries for non-commercial purposes. Visit this page to request a screening and check out this Discussion Guide, which encourages thoughtful reflection and conversation on the film.
Responding to the issues facing the ocean as featured in the film, one of the film’s partners, Dynamic Planet, has launched a new global initiative called Revive Our Ocean to turn inspiration into action. The initiative supports coastal communities worldwide to protect and restore their ocean backyards. Pristine Seas is a founding partner of Revive Our Ocean.
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About Ocean with David Attenborough:
Ocean with David Attenborough is a Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios co-production, in association with All3Media International, National Geographic, and Minderoo Pictures. The film is directed by Toby Nowlan, Keith Scholey and Colin Butfield and produced by Nowlan. The film is co-produced by Arksen & 10% for the Ocean, Don Quixote Foundation, National Geographic Society and Pristine Seas, Revive Our Ocean, and The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
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About National Geographic Pristine Seas
National Geographic Pristine Seas works with Indigenous and local communities, governments, and other partners to protect vital places in the ocean through research, policy, and filmmaking. Since 2008, Pristine Seas has helped establish 30 marine protected areas, spanning more than 6.9 million square kilometers of ocean.
Pristine Seas is part of the global non-profit, the National Geographic Society. Our mission is driven by science and filmmaking — we are fully independent from National Geographic publishing and its media arm.
Pristine Seas' work is made possible through the generous support of the Beagle Charitable Foundation, Allison Bennington, Bezos Earth Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Campbell Foundation, Disney Conservation Fund, Don Quixote Foundation, The Heinz Family Foundation, Anne K. Howson, Levy Foundation, LGT Venture Philanthropy, Lindblad Expeditions– National Geographic Fund, Look and See Foundation, Ann Luskey, Oracle, Philip Stephenson Foundation, Postcode Lottery Group, Rituals, Serventi Family Foundation, Tanka Foundation, Ted and Michele Waitt–TTMMC Fund, UBS Optimus Foundation, Walmart Foundation, an anonymous donor, and other individual donors.
About The National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in bold people and transformative ideas, providing more than 15,000 grants for work across all seven continents, reaching 3 million students each year through education offerings, and engaging audiences around the globe through signature experiences, stories and content.
To learn more, visit www.nationalgeographic.org or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
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