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Attenborough's new film shows both destruction and hope for the oceans of our planet

In a new documentary premiering on Tuesday, British naturalist David Attenborough said there was hope for the future health of our oceans. The film shows the extent of human-caused damage and the oceans’ capacity to recover.

Attenborough's latest work, "Ocean", charts the challenges that the seas have faced over the course of his career, from industrial fishing practices and coral bleaching to destructive industrial fishing.

In a trailer for the film, he says, "I now understand that the most important place on Earth, is not on land but at sea."

The release of the film in its entirety coincides with Attenborough’s 99th Birthday.

The premiere will take place in London on Tuesday, with a red carpet and celebrities walking the blue one.

Attenborough stated that despite depicting the current bleak state of ocean health, discoveries made during the filming provide hope.

He said, "The ocean is capable of recovering faster than we ever thought possible. It can bounce back to its life."

"If we can save the ocean, we will save our planet." "After a lifetime spent filming our planet, I'm certain that nothing is more vital."

The release of the film comes before the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France in June, where it is hoped that more countries will ratify an agreement for 2023 to protect ocean biodiversity.

Only 21 countries have signed the agreement, far short of the required 60. (Reporting by Susanna Twidale, Editing by Hugh Lawson).

(source: Reuters)