No More Fish: Hong Kong Grocery Influenced by ‘Seaspiracy’

Just a little over one week after its release on March 24, Seaspiracy, the new Netflix documentary about the fishing industry’s impact on the planet, sits on the streaming platform’s Top 10 list. For Slowood, a Hong Kong-based zero-waste grocery chain, Seaspiracy was an eye-opener. In a Facebook post, the store announced that it would no longer sell fish.

“Netflix new documentary @Seaspiracy has opened our eyes to the overwhelming and damaging effects the fishing industry has on our whole ecosystem. I bet you will stop eating fish after watching this movie,” the store wrote on Wednesday. It has three outlets in Kennedy Town, Sha Tin, and Discovery Bay.

“Slowood will take a step forward and STOP SELLING FISH. In the meantime while stock lasts, we will donate a portion of profits to @SeaShepherd,” it continued.

Sea Shepherd, short for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, is a non-profit marine conservation organization known for its direct action activism. Its actions were documented in the Discovery Communications series Whale Wars, which premiered in November 2008. As of this year, it has 12 ships in its international fleet, not including smaller boats. 

What Is ‘Seaspiracy’ About?

You won’t see tuna brand names like StarKist or Bumble Bee in Slowood’s seafood section. The zero-waste chain stocked products coming from smaller fisheries. Seaspiracy, the latest documentary from producer Kip Andersen (Cowspiracy, What the Health) explores the environmental impact of fishing.

“Passionate about ocean life, a filmmaker sets out to document the harm that humans do to marine species and uncovers alarming global corruption,” reads the Netflix description. So far, it has sparked a whirlpool of discussions about sustainability and seafood in the media, across social media, and maybe even in your COVID-19 bubble. 

There is some pushback among that hype, with several media outlets saying Seaspiracy has misrepresented the fishing industry. However, the fishing industry’s impact on the planet is no joke. Experts say it is a major source of ocean plastic pollution, for starters. And the ocean, which covers 70 percent of the planet’s surface, does a lot for all living things. It regulates temperature. And, it absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than the atmosphere, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Seaspiracy calls for an urgent need to change our relationship with the ocean.

“At Slowood, we believe every tiny step counts and hope to joins our community to make the world a better place. Stop crying over the planet, let’s take this step forward to ocean conservation together!” Slowood’s post concluded.