This is a film by Jemima Stubbs, which documents the protest that was held by the local fishermen, activist group ‘Reclaim Our Sea’, and local businesses in Whitby on 23rd February 2023. The reason for the protest comes from the fishing industry in the North East and Yorkshire coast which had been badly affected by the reduced catches in the area, seemingly due to the dredging in the Tees. The film shows the chants, marches and protest banners that were used in Whitby as part of the event to...

This is a film by Jemima Stubbs, which documents the protest that was held by the local fishermen, activist group ‘Reclaim Our Sea’, and local businesses in Whitby on 23rd February 2023. The reason for the protest comes from the fishing industry in the North East and Yorkshire coast which had been badly affected by the reduced catches in the area, seemingly due to the dredging in the Tees. The film shows the chants, marches and protest banners that were used in Whitby as part of the event to draw attention to their cause. A birds-eye view of Whitby is shown. ‘Reclaim Our Sea’ protesters walk through Whitby holding protest signs such as ‘Toxic Teesside coming to a beach NEAR YOU!!” and “My home not your toilet”, whilst chanting. More birds-eye views of Whitby are shown, including Whitby pier with the words ‘Teesside Ecocide Coming to Whitby, 22000 people demand pause the dredge’ written in the sand on the beach below. Protesters are shown walking down the pier with banners. One banner tied to the railings reads ‘NEIFCA REPORT = ZERO SUPPORT ALL LIES!” The ‘Reclaim Our Sea’ activists are shown lined up by the railings of the pier, and they perform a ‘Mexican wave’ with their arms and protest signs. The activists are shown gathered on the pier with banners, chanting and banging drums. They all applaud. A fisherman gives a speech about the deaths of the sea life. A banner shows a drawing of a dead crab with the acronym ‘RIP’. The fishermen and protestors are shown walking down a street in Whitby with a banner that reads ‘TOXIC TEES HAS KILLED OUR SEAS.” A protester is shown walking towards the railings through the crowd wearing a wetsuit which has ‘Novel Pathogen My Arse’ handwritten on the back. More activists with protest banners are shown walking through Whitby - through the streets and on the pier, including one man dressed as a crab. The activist in the wetsuit shouts enthusiastically into a megaphone, also addressing the other protesters. Activists smile and hug each other. A final shot of the sea is shown. The ‘Reclaim Our Sea’ logo, Facebook and Twitter pages appear.