Changing Seas

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Changing Seas
Narrated by	Craig Sechler, Season 7-14 and Peter Thomas, Seasons 1-6
Opening theme	Composed by Steve Pfister from Pacific Mist Music
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	13
No. of episodes	52
Production
Running time	26.42 minutes
Production company	South Florida PBS/WPBT
Distributor	American Public Television[1]
Release
Original release	2009 (2009) ��� present

Changing Seas is a public television series produced by South Florida PBS/WPBT in Miami, Florida, and is narrated by announcers Craig Sechler and Peter Thomas. Changing Seas explores marine science topics along with marine experts from around the globe.^[2][3][4][5]

The series features topics related to marine life and scientific research missions. Episode topics include: marine life at the Blue Heron Bridge,^[6] manatee conservation in Crystal River, the secret sex lives of fish, stingrays at Stingray city, Grand Cayman,^[7] Atlantic goliath grouper, Aquarius Underwater Laboratory, whale shark congregations in Mexico, climate change in the Galápagos Islands, deep-water corals, aquaculture, research in Dry Tortugas National Park, the impact of legacy contaminants on bottlenose dolphins, seagrasses and mangroves, artificial reefs, the lionfish invasion, coral reef restoration, testing of sea sponges for medical use, the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, tracking tiger sharks, studying microorganisms living on corals, Nassau grouper spawning aggregations, and the coastal carnivores living in Everglades National Park.^[8][9]

Funding[]

Major funding for this program is provided by the Batchelor Foundation, encouraging people to preserve and protect America's underwater resources. Additional funding provided by: the Do Unto Others Trust; the Friends of Changing Seas; Divers Direct/Emocean Sports; in Memory of Harriet Fagan (season 8); The William J. & Isobel G. Clarke Clarke Foundation (season 9); Skip and Diane Day (season 9); and Lady Suzanna P. Tweed & Carleton Tweed Charitable Foundation (season 9).^[10]

Episodes[]

For more information on these episodes: Episode Guide

Season 1 (2009)[]

Ep #	Title
101 (1)	"Super Grouper"
At a time when large fish are rapidly disappearing from the world’s oceans, the giant Goliath Grouper is making a comeback in Florida.
102 (2)	"Mission to Inner Space"
Scientists spend ten days below the sea at the world’s only underwater laboratory “Aquarius,” to study the effects of ocean acidification on local reef ecosystems.
103 (3)	"Corals of the Deep"
In the deep waters off Florida’s Atlantic coast grow magnificent structures, capable of reaching 300 feet in height. These are the corals of the deep sea.
104 (4)	"Farming the Sea"
An ever-growing demand for fresh seafood has pushed wild stocks around the world to the brink. Aquaculture is one alternative to wild-caught fish.
References: [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

Season 2 (2010)[]

Ep #	Title
201 (5)	"No Fish Left Uncounted"
A team of research divers counts fish in Dry Tortugas National Park to evaluate if marine protected areas are helping the regional ecosystem rebound from years of overfishing and environmental change.
202 (6)	"Sentinels of the Seas"
Florida’s bottlenose dolphins are showing disturbing signs of immune system dysfunction and disease, which may be linked to containment exposure.
203 (7)	"Seagrasses and Mangroves"
Seagrasses and mangroves are in decline globally, threatening an ecosystem collapse from the bottom of the food chain all the way to the top.
204 (8)	"Sinking the Vandenberg"
Near Key West lies the world’s second largest intentionally sunk shipwreck, the USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg. This artificial reef is now attracting fish, fishermen and divers.
References: [11] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Season 3 (2011)[]

Ep #	Title
301 (9)	"Alien Invaders"
In the waters of the western Atlantic and Caribbean, a voracious alien predator has taken hold. Native to the Indo-Pacific, the invasive lionfish is a major threat to biodiversity.
302 (10)	"Reef Revival"
In the emerging science of coral reef restoration, experts are discovering naturally occurring mechanisms that promote coral growth and restore ecological balance in these gardens of the sea.
303 (11)	"Prescription: Oceans"
In Florida, scientists are testing sea sponges for their potential anti-cancer properties. These and other marine invertebrates may hold the key to unlocking the secrets of our own biology.
304 (12)	"After the Spill"
The impact of the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is far from over. Oceanographers continue to study the long-term effects this disaster might have on marine ecosystems.
References: [11] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25]

Season 4(2012)[]

Ep #	Title
401 (13)	"Tracking Tigers"
Tiger sharks are the ultimate apex predators. Scientists use satellite tags and DNA forensic tools to better understand the migrations of this magnificent species and to investigate the impacts of the world shark fin trade.
402 (14)	"Mysterious Microbes"
On coral reefs, microorganisms are copious creatures. Throughout Florida, scientists painstakingly work to identify key players within this microbial community and directly link a devastating coral disease to a human pathogen.
403 (15)	"Grouper Moon"
During winter full moons, Nassau Grouper gather in large numbers to spawn. Most of the known spawning sites have been fished out, but the Cayman Islands are home to the last great reproductive population of this endangered species.
404 (16)	"Coastal Carnivores"
Scientists studying the coastal Everglades have made some perplexing discoveries. Bull sharks are living upstream where alligators should thrive, and gators are swimming out to the ocean to feed. Co-production with Symbio Studios.
References: [5] [11] [26] [27] [28] [29]

Season 5 (2013)[]

Ep #	Title
501 (17)	"Coral Hybrids"
While Elkhorn and Staghorn corals have undergone a drastic decline in the Caribbean, their hybrid, “Fused Staghorn,” is increasing in numbers in parts of the region. Experts are studying the animals to see if the hybrid might be better equipped to deal with environmental stressors than its parents.
502 (18)	"Sunken Stories"
In the Florida Keys, divers from around the country learn how to map shipwrecks and apply their skills on a mysterious 19th century slave ship. When diving isn’t possible, professional explorers use high-tech tools to scan objects buried beneath the seafloor.
503 (19)	"Creatures of the Deep"
In the cold, deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, little-known animals spend their entire lives far removed from our human world. Until now, little research has been conducted on these creatures of the deep, keeping much of their lives a mystery.
504 (20)	"Reefs of Rangiroa"
Scientists with the Global Reef Expedition are on a mission to study remote coral reefs around the world. While in French Polynesia, experts conduct extensive habitat mapping and assess the health of reefs to compare and contrast the resilience of reef systems over a large geographical area. A co-production with Khaled bin Sultan Living Ocean Foundation.
References: [30] [31] [32] [33]

Season 6 (2014)[]

Ep #	Title
601 (21)	"Living Fossils"
In the deep, dark waters off the coast of Honduras, strange flowerlike animals flourish. These sea lilies and feather stars, known as crinoids, have been in various forms since before the age of dinosaurs. Now experts descend into the deep to study the animals from a submersible.
602 (22)	"Biggest Fish in the Sea"
Each summer, the world’s largest known aggregation of whale sharks occurs just off the coast of Cancun, Mexico. Hundreds of these gentle giants come to the area to feed on plankton, giving experts the opportunity to learn more about the largest fish in the sea.
603 (23)	"Galapagos: Windows into the Future"
The unique oceanic conditions of the Galápagos Islands serve as a perfect natural laboratory to study how climate change may impact corals in the future. Scientists spend a month in the archipelago to conduct research as part of the Global Reef Expedition. A co-production with Khaled bin Sultan Living Ocean Foundation.
604 (24)	"Saving Sawfish"
The strange, prehistoric-looking Smalltooth Sawfish were once coveted by anglers as popular trophy fish. But habitat loss and overfishing have greatly reduced the animals’ range and landed them on the endangered species list. Now, scientists are conducting research to save the species.
References: [34]

Season 7 (2015)[]

^[35]

Ep #	Title
701 (25)	"Sea Turtles: The Lost Years"
After sea turtle hatchlings emerge from their nests, they vanish into the sea. Until recently, their journey was largely shrouded in mystery. Now, as technology advances, researchers are beginning to understand where turtles go during their so-called “lost years.”
702 (26)	"Grand Cayman's Famous Stingrays"
Each year, thousands of tourists interact with the tame southern stingrays that congregate in the shallow waters of Grand Cayman’s North Sound. Famous marine artist and scientist Dr. Guy Harvey has assembled a research team to study what impact the ecotourism might have on the wild fish.
703 (27)	"Billfish: Battle on the Line?"
The unique oceanographic conditions of the eastern tropical Pacific make the area one of the best spots in the world for big game anglers to hook billfish. But intense pressures from commercial fishing operations have taken their toll on the numbers of sailfish and marlin in the region. Researchers are studying the animals to provide the data necessary to protect the fish populations from further decline.
704 (28)	"The Secret Sex Life of Fish"
Most people are familiar with the pretty tropical fish found in aquariums, but few realize that some of these animals are capable of changing sex. Discover the unique ways of how some fish species do this and why they likely evolved this way.

Season 8 (2016)[]

^[36]

Ep #	Title
801 (29)	"Sponges: Oldest Creatures in the Sea?"
Until recently there was scientific consensus that sponges were the first animals to branch off the “Animal Tree of Life,” a kind of family tree for all living and extinct animals on earth. But recent DNA research has cast doubt on that theory, with some scientists suggesting that ctenophores, also known as comb jellies, are an older lineage.
802 (30)	"Manatees: Conserving a Marine Mammal"
Every winter, hundreds of manatees aggregate at Crystal River, Florida, attracted by the warmer, spring-fed clear waters. This sanctuary is also a treasure for scientists, who take advantage of these manatee gatherings to study them. From decades of visual ID studies to the most cutting-edge DNA research, experts hope that science will help conserve this beloved marine mammal.
803 (31)	"Maug's Caldera: A Natural Laboratory"
In the remote Pacific, the islands of Maug rise out of the sea. Formed by an ancient volcano, shallow hydrothermal vents are found close to coral reefs inside the submerged caldera. These vents emit levels of CO2 that can be expected in the world’s oceans by the end of the century, making these waters a natural laboratory for scientists studying the impacts of ocean acidification on coral reefs. Co-produced with Open Boat Films.
804 (32)	"Beneath the Bridge"
The Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach, Florida, is known as one of the best shore dives in the United States. What appears as an unlikely dive site at first is home to a rich variety of marine life, ranging from tiny nudibranchs to manta rays. Underwater photographers are documenting what lives beneath the bridge, and a scientist is studying how two species of octopus co-exist there.

Season 9 (2017)[]

Ep #	Title
901 (33) [37]	"The Future of Seafood"
To feed a booming world population, more fish will need to be farmed in the future. One way to increase fish production in a sustainable way is to move aquaculture operations offshore – where there is plenty of space and strong currents avoid polluting sensitive ecosystems.
902 (34) [38]	"Toxic Algae: Complex Sources and Solutions"
Putrid mats of blue green algae are wreaking havoc on Florida’s shorelines. Scientists think water pollution is to blame, and if something isn’t done about it there could be irreparable damage to the environment, the local economy and people’s health.
903 (35) [39]	"The Fate of Carbon"
For millennia, the exchange of CO2 between the oceans and atmosphere has been in balance. Now, with more anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the oceans are taking up more CO2 as well. This additional CO2 is negatively impacting sensitive ecosystems, making scientists worry how these changes will affect the way carbon is cycled through the seas.
904 (36) [40]	"Majestic Mantas"
Mexico’s remote Revillagigedo Archipelago is a hotspot for oceanic mantas. Scientists use photo ID techniques and acoustic tags to study these mysterious fish. They are also researching if the filter-feeding rays are impacted negatively by microplastics – tiny pieces of toxic trash that float in the ocean.

Season 10 (2018)[]

Ep #	Title
1001 (37)	"Dolphins: Breaking the Code"
Dr. Denise Herzing has dedicated her career to studying wild Atlantic spotted dolphins in the Bahamas. She researches the animals’ social structure, behaviors and communication. Now modern technology is making it possible to correlate the dolphins’ sounds and behavior, bringing experts closer to decoding dolphin communication.
1002 (38)	"Cryptic Critters"
On a shipwreck near Key West lives a tiny potential new threat. Researchers want to know where this new species came from, and whether its sudden appearance spells disaster for the delicate coral reef ecosystem in the Florida Keys.
1003 (39)	"Lords of the Wetlands"
While American crocodiles are recovering in parts of their range, their future looks bleak in Jamaica. Habitat loss and poaching have led to a drastic decline in the population. Dedicated experts are working to save the species through research, education, and conservation initiatives.
1004 (40)	"Fishing the Flats for Science"
Flats fishing is popular with recreational anglers in the Caribbean and the Florida Keys. But until recently, little was known about tarpon, bonefish and permit – the species most coveted by sports fishermen. Now scientists are studying the fish to better understand their movements, habitat, and spawning behaviors.

Season 11 (2019)[]

Ep #	Title
1101 (41)	"The Cordell Bank: A National Treasure"
California’s north-central coast is famous for its natural splendor. Only fifty miles northwest of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge lies the Cordell Bank, a magical underwater island few people have ever heard of. Protected inside a National Marine Sanctuary, this oasis is an ecological hot spot for marine life - attracting birds, sea turtles and marine mammals from thousands of miles away.
1102 (42)	"Toxic Waters"
Harmful algal blooms come in many forms, from toxic outbreaks impacting the health of animals and humans, to non-toxic but expansive sargassum mats devastating local economies and tourism. Scientists are working to understand what causes these blooms, how they impact us, and how we can stop them.
1103 (43)	"Corals in Crisis"
Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease is devastating Florida’s fragile coral reef ecosystem. But all hope is not lost. Dedicated scientists are working hard to find the cause of the disease, treat the ill and restore these cities of the sea to their former glory.
1104 (44)	"Mystery of the Humpback Whale Song"
Each winter, a population of humpback whales migrates to its breeding grounds in the Hawaiian Islands. It is here that male humpbacks perform their elaborate and haunting song. Experts are studying the purpose of this song and what it might tell them about the animals’ overall fitness.

Season 12 (2020)[]

Ep #	Title
1201 (45)	"Florida's Blue Holes: Oases in the Sea"
Blue holes scattered throughout the Gulf of Mexico inspire a team of exploration scientists and divers who set out to uncover the mysteries of what makes them ecological oases.
1202 (46)	"A Decade After Deepwater"
Ten years after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster, scientists are still studying its devastating impacts on the Gulf of Mexico. Now they are using lessons learned to prepare for the next big spill.
1203 (47)	"Peru's Desert Penguins"
Along Peru’s barren coastline seabirds reign. Among them is the adorable Humboldt penguin, which builds its nests in the guano of other birds. Scientists monitor local penguin populations and study the animals’ interactions with fisheries.
1204 (48)	"American Samoa's Resilient Coral Reefs"
American Samoa is home to some of the largest corals on record. Reefs in this remote island paradise are thriving, while corals elsewhere are in serious decline. Scientists study what makes these corals more resilient than others in the wake of local and global stressors.

Season 13 (2021)[]

Ep #	Title
1301 (49)	"Recreational Shark Fishing: Collaborating for Conservation"
Shore-based, catch and release shark fishing is a popular past time in Florida. But is it having a negative impact on sensitive shark populations? Scientists have teamed up with anglers to study the survival rates of the fish and conduct outreach on best practices.
1302 (50)	"At the Waters Edge: The Salt Marsh"
Along scenic coastlines in the South, waves of mesmerizing green and golden grass stretch to the horizon. This is the salt marsh - a part liquid, part solid landscape that is teeming with life. How do scientists study the salt marsh? And how resilient is it to climate change?
1303 (51)	"Alvin: Pioneer of the Deep"
The deep-sea submersible Alvin has brought explorers to extraordinary places for more than 50 years. Now, as Alvin is poised to continue its revolutionary scientific work, a new set of upgrades will take it deeper than ever before. A co-production with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
1304 (52)	"Habitats: The Key to Florida's Fisheries"
Tarpon and snook are two of Florida’s most iconic game fish. Both species rely on mangrove creeks and ponds when they are juveniles. With half of the state’s mangroves lost to development, scientists employ creative solutions to restore and reconnect some of these important habitats to secure the future of the fisheries.

Awards[]

Year	Award/Festival	Category	Episode	Result	Notes
2017	NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards [41]	Environment	The Future of Seafood	Nominated
		Environment	Toxic Algae: Complex Sources and Solutions	Won
		Environment	Majestic Mantas	Nominated
		Health/Science	The Fate of Carbon	Won
	Reef Renaissance Film Festival [42]	Documentary Short	Beneath the Bridge	Won	Won Best-in-Show
		Documentary Short	Maug's Caldera: A Natural Laboratory		Co-produced with Open Boat Films
	International Ocean Film Festival in San Francisco		Maug's Caldera: A Natural Laboratory	Official Film Selection	Co-produced with Open Boat Films
2016	BLUE Ocean Film Festival [43]	Broadcast Series	Changing Seas	Finalist
		Marine Animal Behavior	Beneath the Bridge	Finalist
		Marine Animal Behavior	The Secret Sex Life of Fish	Finalist
		Marine Science	Maug’s Caldera: A Natural Laboratory	Honorable Mention
		Marine Science	Sea Turtles: The Lost Years	Won[44]
		Ocean Exploration and Adventure	Living Fossils	Finalist
	NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards [45]	Environment	Beneath the Bridge	Won[46]
		Environment	Manatees: Conserving a Marine Mammal	Nominated
		Environment	Maug’s Caldera: A Natural Laboratory	Won [46]	Co-produced with Open Boat Films
		Health/Science	Sponges: Oldest Creatures in the Sea?	Won[46]
	Reef Renaissance Film Festival [42]	Documentary Short	Grand Cayman’s Famous Stingrays	Won	Won Best-in-Show
	San Francisco International Ocean Film Festival [47]		Grand Cayman’s Famous Stingrays	Official Film Selection
			The Secret Sex Life of Fish	Official Film Selection
2015	NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards [48]	Health/Science/Environment	The Secret Sex Life of Fish	Won
	BLUE Ocean Film Festival	Broadcast TV Program	Galapagos: Windows into the Future	Finalist	a co-production with the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation
		Shorts	Galapagos: Windows into the Future	Honorable Mention	a co-production with the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation
	REEF Renaissance Film Festival	Black Coral Award	Biggest Fish in the Sea	Won	Won Best-in-Show
		Deep Blue Award	Saving Sawfish	Won
		Aquamarine Award	Living Fossils	Won
2014	NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards [49]	Health/Science/Environment	Living Fossils	Won [50]
		Health/Science/Environment	Biggest Fish in the Sea	Nominated
		Health/Science/Environment	Saving Sawfish	Nominated
	BLUE Ocean Film Festival [51]	Cultural Connections, People and the Sea	Sunken Stories	Finalist
		Marine Science	Tracking Tigers	Finalist
		Marine Science	Reefs of Rangiroa	Finalist	a co-production with the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation
		Marine Science	Creatures of the Deep	Honorable Mention
		Marine Science	Grouper Moon	Honorable Mention
		Marine Science	Coastal Carnivores	Honorable Mention	a co-production with Symbio Studios
	REEF Renaissance Film Festival [52]	Black Coral Award	Grouper Moon	Won	Won Best-in-Show
		Aquamarine Award	Sunken Stories	Won
2013	NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards	Health/Science/Environment	Creatures of the Deep	Won

In 2011, the Changing Seas "Sentinels of the Seas" episode won the National Academies Communication Award presented by the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine.^[53]

The series received Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards in 2010^[54][55] and 2011.^[56]

References[]

External links[]

• Changing Seas on Facebook
• Changing Seas TV on Youtube
• Blog
• Instagram