David Attenborough, 99: My Most Important Message

At 99 years old, Sir David Attenborough delivers the most important film of his career. The hope is that ‘Ocean’ will play a decisive role in saving biodiversity and protecting the planet from climate change.

– After nearly 100 years on the planet, I now understand that the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea, Sir David Attenborough, who turns 99 on Thursday, told the BBC.

The film ‘Ocean with David Attenborough’ premiered at the Royal Festival Hall in London on Tuesday. Guests included King Charles, Prince William and celebrities such as singer Geri Halliwell-Horner, astronaut Chris Peake and model Cara Delevingne.

The film documents how the state of the world’s oceans has changed during Attenborough’s lifetime and is now at a crossroads. Among other things, it addresses the damage caused by bottom trawling to the seabed. According to Attenborough, this is a living example of how industrial fishing can drain life from the world’s oceans.

– It’s hard to imagine a more wasteful way of catching fish, he comments.

^{Cover photo: Alastair Grant/AP/TT Sir David Attenborough welcomes King Charles at the premiere of his new film “Ocean with David Attenborough”.}