Footsteps in the Sea: Growing Up in the Fisheries Crisis 1997
Distributed by Bullfrog Films, PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547; 800-543-FROG (3764)
Produced by National Audubon Society Living Oceans Program and Univ. of Tennessee
Director n/a
VHS, color, 21 min.
High School - Adult
Science, Environmental Studies
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Barbara Butler, University of Oregon Institute of Marine BiologyMany residents of Gloucester Massachusetts rely on the fishing industry for their income. But, making a living by fishing is becoming more difficult because fish stocks are declining and government restrictions are increasing. Footsteps in the Sea: Growing Up in the Fisheries Crisis is a documentary by high schoolers Aaron, Jessica and Sara which attempts to answer the question: "Where are all the fish"?
Fishermen interviewed for Footsteps in the Sea describe the hardships they face and the economic impact of government restrictions. For example, current regulations restrict the numbers of days they can fish and the locations in which they can fish as well. The bottom line for fishermen, is that despite larger nets and electronic equipment which allows them to detect schools of fish, harvests are decreasing and many fishermen must ultimately look to other livelihoods and sell their boats.
Andy Rosenberg is interviewed on behalf of fisheries governing agencies and he describes his responsibility: manage the fish in a way to sustain the fishing industry. Despite the fact that government agencies are trying to salvage the fishing industry, people like Andy Rosenberg are not always well liked or accepted by fishermen. Steve Murawski, a scientist from Woods Hole, defends fishing restrictions because they will allow depleted fish stocks an opportunity to recover. Despite their economic concerns, most of the fishermen ultimately agree with the biologists that fish populations have declined and need a chance to rebound.
This film is remarkably well scripted for a high-school student documentary. The film footage is better than one might expect to see in such a project and the narrative flows nicely. It is a balanced account of the problems facing the fishing industry and will be well received by junior-high and high school audiences. Recommended for school libraries. A teacher's guide for this video is available at the Bullfrog Film web site (http://www.bullfrogfilms.com) and this video could easily be incorporated into lesson plans on conservation biology.