Netflix and The White Lotus favourite Theo James has teamed up with Stephen Fry for a grim short film which aims to highlight just how destructive bottom trawling is
Actor Theo James gets covered in rotting seafood and oil in a dark new video with Stephen Fry.
The White Lotus star has teamed up with the beloved television legend to give an important message on World Ocean Day. The short film, produced in collaboration with ocean conservation charity Blue Marine Foundation, aims to show the destructive nature of bottom trawling.
Bottom trawling involves dragging a heavy fishing net across the bottom of the ocean. Sadly, it kills everything that gets in its way.
In the new video, Theo plays a diner in a swanky restaurant who asks for plaice. He makes a point of saying the menu says the fish was caught “sustainably”.
Stephen, playing the snooty waiter, tells him it was “of course” caught sustainably. Theo replies: “You’ll appreciate that is incredibly important to me,” as Stephen tells him: “You’re a wonderful example to us all, sir.”
But then he asks if he would like the “extras”, which leaves Theo confused. He looks up to see a net hanging above him full of rotting fish and seafood.
It then gets dropped on his table, splattering him with blood and oil to shine a light on a devastating byproduct of fishing for seafood.
Shockingly, most marine protected areas still allow bottom trawling – even though it completely destroys habitats and catches and kills fish that fishermen are not even targeting. According to Blue Marine, 74% of England’s inshore marine protected areas and 92% in Scotland allow it.
The foundation, as well as Only One and Oceana UK are calling on the UK government to ban bottom trawling in all UK marine protected areas.
Stephen Fry said of the video: “This shockingly destructive practice continues even in the UK’s protected areas. I witnessed the waste firsthand and was absolutely appalled.
“It is morally corrupt to allow what should be thriving ecological wildernesses to be reduced to shells of destruction. Bottom trawling in marine protected areas must be banned now.”
Theo James added: “As a keen diver I’ve long been captivated by the ocean and been horrified by the impact humans are having on it. Having had a load of bycatch dumped on me, it really drove home just how grotesque and devastating the practice of bottom trawling is. It was deeply unsettling but I was glad to do it if it helps drive real change.”
Those wanting to support the campaign are urged to contact Environment Secretary Steve Reed MP to take action.
Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
