Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:43,160 --> 00:00:45,594
In the course of making Blue Planet II,
2
00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:49,389
we've explored every corner
of the underwater world.
3
00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:54,598
We've encountered extraordinary animals,
4
00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:06,154
and discovered new insights into
how life is lived beneath the waves.
5
00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:16,398
For years we thought that
the oceans were so vast
6
00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:19,790
and the inhabitants
so infinitely numerous
7
00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:23,395
that nothing we could do
could have an effect upon them.
8
00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:25,550
But now we know that was wrong.
9
00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:31,793
The oceans are under threat now
as never before in human history.
10
00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:35,316
In this final episode,
11
00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:40,520
we will meet the pioneers who are
striving to turn things around.
12
00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:50,149
People who are helping to save the
ocean's most vulnerable inhabitants
13
00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:56,752
and dedicating their lives
to protecting the seas.
14
00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:01,835
But is time running out?
15
00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:08,391
Many people believe that our
oceans have reached a crisis point.
16
00:02:08,920 --> 00:02:12,708
So just how fragile is our blue planet?
17
00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:31,318
Winter in the Arctic Circle.
18
00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,990
Every year, the waters
of Norway are the setting
19
00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:40,550
for one of the greatest
wildlife spectacles in the ocean.
20
00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:46,317
Over a billion herring
pour into these fields.
21
00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,312
The Blue Planet II
team spent three years
22
00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:53,914
documenting this astonishing event.
23
00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:01,750
Such a wealth of prey attracts predators
24
00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:03,876
in extraordinary numbers.
25
00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:08,593
Orcas
26
00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:15,511
and humpback whales.
27
00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:40,511
But this migration hasn't
always been so bountiful.
28
00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:45,399
leif Notastad is a Norwegian
fisheries scientist.
29
00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:48,993
It's been one of the
most important fisheries
30
00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:52,795
that we had for centuries
along the whole coast of Norway.
31
00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:54,871
But in the late 19605
32
00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:58,748
the herrings that we see around us
here was on the brink of collapse.
33
00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:06,552
50 years ago, fishing was so intensive
34
00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:09,313
that the herring had
all but disappeared.
35
00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:13,910
Orcas were seen as rivals
36
00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:16,116
and hundreds of them were killed
37
00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:27,397
It was only after the Norwegian
government imposed severe restrictions
38
00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:29,675
that the herring began to recover.
39
00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:40,955
Today, this is once again an
immensely productive fishery,
40
00:04:41,840 --> 00:04:45,230
closely monitored by
teams of scientists.
41
00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:51,269
Marine biologist Eve jourdain
42
00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:54,352
is one of the resident orca experts.
43
00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:57,912
From 1982, orcas got protected in Norway
44
00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:02,630
and we have clearly one of the largest
orca population in the world out here.
45
00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:07,873
There are now over a
thousand orcas here.
46
00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:11,550
But with so many mouths
to feed including ours,
47
00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:14,234
can the mistakes of the past be avoided?
48
00:05:16,520 --> 00:05:18,715
To answer this vital question,
49
00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:22,839
Eve and her team are using
multi sensor camera tags.
50
00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:30,712
With the tags we try to see how
the orcas interact with their prey.
51
00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:34,315
How they hunt and all about
the underwater behaviour
52
00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:36,675
that we are not able
to see from the boat.
53
00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:41,155
A tag has to be attached
54
00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:43,470
to the orca in exactly
the right position.
55
00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:48,715
Here it goes. Here it comes.
56
00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:54,832
Oh, that's a good shot.
57
00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:02,118
It is the least invasive
method. It is suction cups.
58
00:06:02,280 --> 00:06:04,714
So it is not a scratch
on the whale afterwards
59
00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:06,518
which is something we really like.
60
00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:11,711
While studying the orcas,
61
00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:15,315
Eve noticed a worrying
change in their behaviour.
62
00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:19,437
They had worked out the
easiest way to get a meal.
63
00:06:20,840 --> 00:06:23,070
We have seen that the orcas are waiting
64
00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:25,628
for those fishing boats to drop the net.
65
00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:28,957
It acts like a dinner bell
66
00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,873
and then all the orcas
of the area gather.
67
00:06:32,840 --> 00:06:34,592
Quite a lot of herring slip from the net
68
00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:37,319
and this is exactly what
the orcas are looking for.
69
00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:44,992
But this new tactic is
dangerous, as Eve has witnessed.
70
00:06:46,280 --> 00:06:49,272
We were there to monitor
the behaviour of the orcas
71
00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:51,510
scavenging around the nets.
72
00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,592
And we realised that
one large adult male
73
00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:56,716
was actually trapped inside the net.
74
00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,075
When the fishermen
started to retrieve the net
75
00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,754
the orca was obviously starting to panic
76
00:07:02,840 --> 00:07:05,991
and trying to pull as much as he could.
77
00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:08,514
This orca was really
fighting for his life.
78
00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:12,989
Stringent rules require fishermen
79
00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:15,833
to get permission before
they open their nets.
80
00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:19,193
But that took time.
81
00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:25,991
It was such a long process.
82
00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:30,838
We thought that the whale was
going to die of exhaustion.
83
00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:37,393
Thankfully, the fishermen
finally got the clearance
84
00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:40,950
to release their net
freeing the exhausted orca.
85
00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:56,956
It was a huge relief to see that
this orca made it until the end
86
00:07:57,040 --> 00:07:59,600
and finally got back to his family.
87
00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:06,588
With marine mammals and
humans competing so directly
88
00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:08,910
accidents are inevitable.
89
00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:15,788
Two days after tagging an orca,
90
00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:18,713
it's released and Eve collects it.
91
00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:24,270
This tag is full of secrets, you know,
92
00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:26,555
because it has been on
the whale for several days
93
00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,791
and willjust reveal exactly
what the whales have been doing.
94
00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:34,752
Pictures from the tag re veal
the hunting technique in detail.
95
00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:44,152
They dive below the ball of fish
96
00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:48,797
and then back flip.
97
00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:56,033
The tail slap stuns the herring.
98
00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:02,593
Eve can even work out how
many fish the orcas are taking.
99
00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:07,359
They can kill up to 30 herring
with just one tail slap.
100
00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:09,317
And then what is pretty amazing is
101
00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:12,437
all the individuals of the
group share the dead herring.
102
00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:16,753
And it's not just the
orcas feeding here...
103
00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:22,435
Humpback whales are
also drawn to the feast.
104
00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:38,314
They too are being tagged and monitored
105
00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:40,356
giving fi�shery scientist leif
106
00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:43,876
a complete picture of how
much herring is being eaten.
107
00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:48,674
The whales, they take
probably less than 1%.
108
00:09:49,680 --> 00:09:52,911
The fishermen take less than 10%.
109
00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:57,428
So the balance there is that
there is enough for everybody.
110
00:09:57,520 --> 00:10:00,398
Given that we manage
to stock in sustainable
111
00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:02,311
and a long term sustainable way.
112
00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:15,951
But it's estimated that almost
a third of ocean fisheries
113
00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:18,156
are being over exploited.
114
00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:25,233
The remarkable recovery
of the herring here
115
00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:29,154
demonstrates what can happen if
a fishery is carefully managed.
116
00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:50,197
Our maltreatment of the
seas has many effects.
117
00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:53,638
Some are predictable,
118
00:10:54,680 --> 00:10:58,355
but there are others that
are rather more surprising.
119
00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:08,712
Southeast Asia.
120
00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:14,953
The coral reefs here are among
the richest on the planet.
121
00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:27,673
Marine biologist Steve Simpson,
122
00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:30,672
is discovering how important sound is
123
00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:34,196
to the animals that live in
these bustling coral cities.
124
00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:38,388
We're only nowjust realising
by listening underwater
125
00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:40,436
that the fish are
making all these sounds.
126
00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:43,359
They use sound to attract a mate.
127
00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:45,590
To try and scare away a predator.
128
00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:50,554
You hear pops and grunts
and gurgles and snaps.
129
00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:54,957
There's a whole language underwater
130
00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:57,429
that we're onlyjust
starting to get a handle on.
131
00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:20,873
Using an advanced multi
directional h ydrophone,
132
00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:24,794
Steve is trying to make sense
of this extraordinary chorus
133
00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:28,589
by working out who
is making which noise.
134
00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:34,478
One fish is especially talkative.
135
00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:40,432
It's perhaps the reef's
most famous resident.
136
00:12:41,560 --> 00:12:43,039
The clownfish.
137
00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:47,517
While filming for the series,
138
00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:51,832
we followed this particular
family of saddleback clo wnfish
139
00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:55,151
as they search for a suitable
place to lay their eggs.
140
00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:00,995
It's a noisy affair.
141
00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:18,030
For clownfish sound
really is everything.
142
00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:20,588
They spend all day
talking to each other.
143
00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:23,157
You've got dominance and submission.
144
00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:25,390
You've got all the others
calling to each other.
145
00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:30,078
It seems that they also use sound
146
00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:35,995
in protecting themselves from the many
predators that hunt around the reef.
147
00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:44,514
Including coral trout.
148
00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:02,069
Will this model trout
fool the clownfish?
149
00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,040
They react almost immediately.
150
00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:15,079
By mimicking a predator,
151
00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:20,188
Steve manages to record their alarm
calls without putting them at risk.
152
00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:24,470
You can really hear the deeper
pulsing sound of the female
153
00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:26,994
as she tries to scare
the coral trout away.
154
00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:31,115
And all the little ones are
just popping... Pop, pop, pop.
155
00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:33,475
As if to say, "I'm still
okay. I'm still alive."
156
00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:38,517
So they've got this real language
of sounds that they're using
157
00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:41,751
just to try and defend the
colony against this coral trout.
158
00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:48,749
But that disco very has
led to a serious worry.
159
00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:55,031
The fish were really
popping away at the predator.
160
00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:58,715
But as soon as the boat came over
they looked completely distracted.
161
00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:01,792
With all that noise it completely
changed how the fish were behaving.
162
00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:06,677
Unable to make themselves
heard above the noise of boats,
163
00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:09,399
the family can't warn
each other of danger.
164
00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:12,313
And so they are now
vulnerable to attack.
165
00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:15,591
You think about how many
boats are driving around.
166
00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:18,558
All of the ships, all
of the offshore drilling.
167
00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:20,392
All the noise that
we're making in the ocean
168
00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:22,391
you realisejust how
much we're drowning out
169
00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:24,391
this natural biological noise,
170
00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:28,439
robbing animals of their ability
to be able to talk to each other.
171
00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:36,836
A ll this noise may ha ve serious
consequences for many reef fish
172
00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:41,072
because their babies, as soon as
they hatch are swept out to sea.
173
00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:48,754
There they feed and grow until
strong enough to swim back.
174
00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:54,633
And to find the reef they use sound.
175
00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:58,678
They listen in. They eavesdrop
to the noises that they can hear
176
00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:01,957
and they use that to choose which
reef they want to make their home.
177
00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:04,720
But obviously because we're
adding all this noise to the ocean
178
00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:07,189
it's a wonder whether they
can even hear the reef at all.
179
00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:15,995
Man-made noise is now
everywhere in the ocean.
180
00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:19,749
And it has an effect on
marine creatures of all kinds.
181
00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:23,836
From tiny fish
182
00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:27,835
to gigantic whales.
183
00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:34,157
But Steve believes there are solutions.
184
00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:37,360
Noise in the ocean is a real problem.
185
00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:39,556
But, it's something that we can control.
186
00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:41,153
We can choose where we make the noise.
187
00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:43,151
We can choose when we make the noise.
188
00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:46,596
We can directly reduce the
amount of noise that we make
189
00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:48,477
and we can start doing that today.
190
00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:58,710
We're only now beginning to realise
191
00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:02,873
what an impact our noise is having
on the inhabitants of the ocean.
192
00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:09,031
Other forms of pollution
are only too familiar.
193
00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:18,713
Since its invention
some hundred years ago,
194
00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:22,679
plastic has become an integral
part of our daily lives.
195
00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:26,389
But every year, some
eight million tons of it
196
00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:28,357
ends up in the ocean.
197
00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:30,670
And there, it could be lethal.
198
00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:38,235
While filming Blue Planet II,
199
00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:41,710
the crews found plastic in every ocean.
200
00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:46,397
Even in the most remote locations.
201
00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:52,353
South Georgia.
202
00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:56,874
.900 miles north of Antarctica,
203
00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:00,157
this isolated wilderness
is the breeding place
204
00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:03,835
for vast numbers of
penguins and elephant seals.
205
00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:16,520
It's also a favourite nesting site
206
00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:18,670
for the largest bird in the sky.
207
00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:22,631
A wandering albatross.
208
00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:28,640
Here we learn of the
extraordinary lengths
209
00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:33,316
ancient parents go to give their
chicks the best chance of survival.
210
00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:40,790
Each de voted parent travels thousands
of miles searching for fish and squid
211
00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:42,791
to feed their hungry chick.
212
00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:48,191
But despite all their efforts,
213
00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:51,272
the albatross colony here is in trouble.
214
00:18:53,120 --> 00:18:57,398
lucy Ouinn is part of the
British Antarctic Survey team
215
00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:00,950
studying the birds here
for the last 40 years.
216
00:19:02,120 --> 00:19:04,236
Its only through looking
at long terms studies
217
00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:06,754
that you get a sense of these creatures.
218
00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:11,960
And the albatrosses here have, over
the past 10 years, been in decline.
219
00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:16,477
There are a number of possible reasons.
220
00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:18,312
While foraging at sea,
221
00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:22,359
albatross can get entangled
and drowned by fishing gear.
222
00:19:24,120 --> 00:19:26,839
But lucy is particularly alarmed
223
00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:29,957
by what the parents are
bringing back for their chick.
224
00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:32,834
Albatrosses have the ability to cough up
225
00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:35,229
bits of food that they can't digest.
226
00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:38,153
And from that we can tell
what they've been eating.
227
00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:43,232
A healthy albatross chick in its diet
should really have things like squid.
228
00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:47,074
So we can find the squid beaks
that come out of the pellet.
229
00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:50,709
And also things like fish so
we can find fish bones as well.
230
00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:57,511
But these chicks are being
fed something very different.
231
00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:03,348
We have some plastic that this
poor chick has had to bring up.
232
00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:05,953
Plastic bag.
233
00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:12,157
Here we have some food
packaging. Looks like rice.
234
00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:17,158
Luckily for this chick, he has
managed to get this out of his stomach.
235
00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:20,357
So, fingers crossed he doesn't
have any more plastic left in there
236
00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:21,634
before he fledges.
237
00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:28,715
For other chicks, plastic can be fatal.
238
00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:33,359
Unfortunately, there
is a plastic toothpick
239
00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:35,556
that have actually gone
through the stomach.
240
00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:39,997
Something just as small as that has
actually has managed to kill the bird.
241
00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:41,672
It's really sad to see.
242
00:20:44,120 --> 00:20:49,194
lucy collects and records what
plastic she finds around the nests.
243
00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:57,274
These are items that were
regurgitated just from last season.
244
00:20:57,360 --> 00:21:00,318
And that's gonna be
a vast underestimation
245
00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,233
because that'sjust ones
that we happen to find.
246
00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:06,995
There'll be many more that we
never see being brought back.
247
00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:13,072
To find out where all this
rubbish is coming from,
248
00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:18,632
lucy and her team have attached
GPS trackers to adult birds.
249
00:21:24,120 --> 00:21:26,793
It's showing where they're
going to find food for themselves
250
00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:29,440
and to find food to bring
back for their chicks.
251
00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:33,233
It really shows us that they
could be picking up plastic
252
00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:35,709
from thousands of miles away.
253
00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:39,278
Plastics coming from
either being dumped at sea
254
00:21:39,360 --> 00:21:41,954
or also from people's homes.
255
00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:45,749
Plastic gets into the rivers and
then the rivers flow into the sea.
256
00:21:46,360 --> 00:21:49,909
So this isn'tjust a problem
around these remote parts.
257
00:21:50,000 --> 00:21:51,991
This is happening worldwide.
258
00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:54,753
And it's our rubbish that's
going into the oceans.
259
00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:57,308
It's our problem that we need to solve.
260
00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:03,917
In some parts of the ocean,
261
00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:09,074
it's estimated that there are now
over one million pieces of plastic
262
00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:10,832
for e very square mile.
263
00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:13,912
And we're only beginning to discover
264
00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:17,436
just how seriously that
affects marine life.
265
00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:27,793
On the east coast of the United States,
266
00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:32,954
researchers are investigating the
mysterious deaths of young dolphins.
267
00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:45,470
The team is led by Dr leslie Hart.
268
00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:48,830
It looks to be a young animal.
269
00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:50,672
Maybe a little bit over a year.
270
00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:54,070
So we're gonna try to find out more
information on why this dolphin died.
271
00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:04,829
Looking at young dolphins...
272
00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:07,639
The very young dolphins,
it's always heart�breaking.
273
00:23:15,360 --> 00:23:18,079
leslie takes tissue samples.
274
00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:22,355
Their chemical analysis could
pro vide crucial evidence.
275
00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:27,518
We are often shocked by
the high levels of toxins
276
00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:29,397
that we detect in these animals.
277
00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:34,196
These young calves are dying
for a number of reasons.
278
00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:38,273
But we suspect man-made toxins
are playing a large role.
279
00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:55,278
Once in the ocean,
280
00:23:55,360 --> 00:23:58,432
plastic breaks down into tiny fragments.
281
00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:01,151
Micro plastics.
282
00:24:04,400 --> 00:24:08,439
Along with all the industrial chemicals
that have drained into the ocean
283
00:24:08,520 --> 00:24:11,592
these form a potentially toxic soup.
284
00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:19,751
The really small organisms
285
00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:23,230
can mistake these tiny,
tiny plastics as food.
286
00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:25,993
Then the larger organisms
eat the plankton.
287
00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:28,640
Then the larger fish
eat the smaller fish,
288
00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:30,153
and so on and so forth.
289
00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:35,397
Dolphins are at the
top of this food chain
290
00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:39,029
and it's now thought that pollutants
may be building up in their tissues
291
00:24:39,120 --> 00:24:44,752
to such a degree that a mother's
contaminated milk could kill her calf
292
00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:07,197
Industrial pollution and the
discarding of plastic waste
293
00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:11,592
must be tackled for the sake
of all life in the ocean.
294
00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:31,115
Around the world, people
are now devoting their lives
295
00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:34,397
to saving some of the most
threatened sea creatures.
296
00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:39,074
As here in the Caribbean.
297
00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:45,638
Every year on just a few islands,
298
00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:48,359
a remarkable event takes place.
299
00:25:58,120 --> 00:26:00,680
As the sun sets,
300
00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:03,752
giant reptiles begin to emerge.
301
00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:21,635
This magnificent creature preparing...
302
00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:23,676
Whoops.
303
00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:26,194
Preparing to lay her eggs
304
00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:29,158
is the largest of all turtles.
305
00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:30,593
A leatherback.
306
00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:35,308
They can grow up to
half a ton in weight.
307
00:26:35,400 --> 00:26:39,234
And they have an ancestry that
goes back a hundred million years
308
00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:41,311
to the age of the dinosaur.
309
00:26:42,560 --> 00:26:47,680
But in recent times their numbers
have fallen catastrophically.
310
00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:52,832
Here, however, in the
Caribbean there is hope.
311
00:26:57,480 --> 00:26:59,869
leatherback turtles leave the sea
312
00:26:59,960 --> 00:27:03,111
in order to lay their
eggs in the dry sand.
313
00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:10,469
But out of water, these huge
creatures are easy targets for hunters.
314
00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:16,998
In a small fishing village in Trinidad,
315
00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:20,914
len Peters has experienced
this first hand.
316
00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:26,591
I grew up in a household where the
presence of turtle meat was normal.
317
00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:28,477
The fridge was always full of it.
318
00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:31,597
Everybody... Everybody harvested
turtles, including my parents.
319
00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:35,028
It's only when I
became exposed to things
320
00:27:35,120 --> 00:27:36,917
that were being published
about leatherbacks
321
00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:38,433
who were on the verge of extinction.
322
00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:40,078
And nobody cares.
323
00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:41,639
That piqued my interest.
324
00:27:42,680 --> 00:27:46,719
len took the leatherback's
future into his own hands.
325
00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:52,434
He began patrolling the beach
at night to protect the turtles.
326
00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:54,638
A brave thing to do.
327
00:27:58,360 --> 00:28:01,158
We were met with tremendous resistance.
328
00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:02,992
People would pelt us at night.
329
00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:05,230
I have had persons insult me.
330
00:28:05,320 --> 00:28:06,878
I've had persons curse me.
331
00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:11,670
I've had persons physically try
to wrestle me with a machete.
332
00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:14,399
So it was really a
hostile time back then.
333
00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:17,199
If len was going to save these turtles
334
00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:20,033
he needed to win over
the whole community.
335
00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:26,472
We had to find a way to
get the villagers to benefit
336
00:28:26,560 --> 00:28:28,596
from the presence of these animals.
337
00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:35,429
He began to encourage
tourists to visit the beach
338
00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:38,432
and trained some villagers
to be their guides.
339
00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:45,120
To help secure the turtle's future,
340
00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:48,272
he took the message
to the next generation.
341
00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:52,833
Now what's... What's the largest
size a leatherback can grow to?
342
00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:55,270
Uh, Shanie.
343
00:28:55,560 --> 00:28:57,437
-2,000 pounds.
- That's correct.
344
00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:01,274
Leatherbacks can grow to 2,000 pounds.
345
00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:02,918
Well, that's a big turtle.
346
00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:05,596
[en's hard work paid off.
347
00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:07,989
And now, attitudes have changed.
348
00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:15,275
It took us a while to
reach out to the villagers.
349
00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:17,794
But gradually we got
them involved as well.
350
00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:20,838
We got some of the poachers who
would be hunting the animals to
351
00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:22,792
be part of the conservation programme.
352
00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:27,908
As well as protecting the adult turtles,
353
00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:32,278
the team also collect any eggs
that might be flooded at high tide.
354
00:29:35,320 --> 00:29:38,153
If the eggs are laid
too close to the sea,
355
00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:40,834
we relocate the eggs and rebury them.
356
00:29:42,200 --> 00:29:44,794
Thanks to the efforts of this community,
357
00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:48,395
these turtles have had an
extraordinary change in fortune.
358
00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:53,114
This is now thought to
be one of the densest
359
00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:55,998
leatherback nesting
beaches in the world.
360
00:29:59,880 --> 00:30:03,395
When we started at the
height of the nesting season,
361
00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:07,155
the numbers will be
30-40 turtles a night.
362
00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:08,958
Now, it's over 500.
363
00:30:09,080 --> 00:30:12,356
So, we have seen an
increase from 40 turtles
364
00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:15,398
to 500 turtles a night
in just around 20 years.
365
00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:22,794
Precious new hatchlings are
also given a helping hand.
366
00:30:26,360 --> 00:30:29,432
Any that emerge during
the day are collected
367
00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:34,230
to be released safely back to
the sea, away from hungry birds.
368
00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:46,030
This little leatherback will
have to face a thousand hazards
369
00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:50,477
before it returns as an adult
to this beach where it hatched.
370
00:30:51,360 --> 00:30:54,557
And those dangers will
be greatly increased
371
00:30:54,640 --> 00:30:57,837
because of damage that
we have done to the ocean.
372
00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:01,193
Good luck, little leatherback.
373
00:31:32,680 --> 00:31:35,035
Protecting breeding sites on beaches
374
00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:39,557
may improve the fortune
of some marine animals,
375
00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:43,792
but safeguarding them while they roam
the high seas is much more diffi�cult.
376
00:31:48,800 --> 00:31:51,712
Out here, there is little protection.
377
00:32:00,560 --> 00:32:06,590
Every night, thousands of miles of
fishing lines laden with hooks are set.
378
00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:12,270
There's enough, it's said, to
wrap twice around the world.
379
00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:23,831
trap hundreds of tons of fish at a time.
380
00:32:26,520 --> 00:32:30,991
long distance travellers such as
sharks are particularly at risk.
381
00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:41,558
It's estimated that tens of
millions are killed every year,
382
00:32:41,640 --> 00:32:46,430
including the biggest fish
in the sea, the whale shark.
383
00:32:58,480 --> 00:33:02,155
Shark biologist jonathan
Green is concerned
384
00:33:02,240 --> 00:33:05,630
that time is running out for
these extraordinary creatures.
385
00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:09,559
We know that they're being
fished possibly at a massive rate.
386
00:33:10,040 --> 00:33:13,476
They may be taken by the thousands,
possibly tens of thousands a year.
387
00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:15,878
If that is indeed true,
388
00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:19,430
we don't know how long they can
withstand that kind of fishing pressure.
389
00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:24,152
To save them, jonathan
is trying to solve
390
00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:26,879
the mystery of where they give birth.
391
00:33:32,960 --> 00:33:37,317
And for the first time, he has
a clue as to where this might be.
392
00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:48,673
Pregnant whale sharks are thought to be
travelling from across the Pacific Ocean
393
00:33:48,760 --> 00:33:51,479
to Darwin Island in the Galapagos.
394
00:34:00,160 --> 00:34:02,355
jonathan is going to try and attach
395
00:34:02,440 --> 00:34:05,910
a multi-sensor camera
tag to a pregnant female.
396
00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:08,279
Okay. We're good to go.
397
00:34:16,840 --> 00:34:19,991
These sharks only stay in
the area for a few days.
398
00:34:20,960 --> 00:34:22,871
This may be his only chance.
399
00:34:35,160 --> 00:34:40,518
jonathan has to attach the tag before
the shark dives to dangerous depths.
400
00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:02,990
The tag will remain on the
giant's fin for two days
401
00:35:03,080 --> 00:35:05,150
before it's automatically released.
402
00:35:07,840 --> 00:35:11,753
Once retrieved it reveals
some unusual behaviour.
403
00:35:14,440 --> 00:35:15,919
Oh, beautiful, beautiful.
404
00:35:18,480 --> 00:35:22,837
There's a silky rubbing at the
in front. Next to her right.
405
00:35:23,240 --> 00:35:26,949
The silky sharks are brushing
up against her rough skin,
406
00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:29,315
perhaps to scrape off parasites.
407
00:35:31,160 --> 00:35:35,915
These predatory sharks make the
surface waters very unsafe places
408
00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:38,195
for young fish of any kind.
409
00:35:41,080 --> 00:35:43,275
There is a surprise in store.
410
00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:47,992
The tag's depth sensor
reveals that she dived
411
00:35:48,080 --> 00:35:50,719
to a depth of 600 metres.
412
00:35:52,880 --> 00:35:56,316
But down there, it's
too dark for the camera.
413
00:36:02,560 --> 00:36:05,791
The only way jonathan can
prove if the y're giving birth
414
00:36:06,680 --> 00:36:08,477
is to go down and look.
415
00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:35,788
Out of the gloom, a shape materialises.
416
00:36:38,360 --> 00:36:40,430
Another massive whale shark.
417
00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:45,471
Oh, look at her. She's having a look
at us. She's looking right at us.
418
00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:52,636
She is huge.
419
00:36:52,760 --> 00:36:55,149
And look at the belly.
Absolutely massive.
420
00:36:56,440 --> 00:36:58,192
That's a large pregnant female.
421
00:36:59,160 --> 00:37:01,116
She's turning around.
She's turning around.
422
00:37:13,840 --> 00:37:16,877
She leads them down into the darkness.
423
00:37:19,720 --> 00:37:23,713
Rover control. Passing
700 metres, descending.
424
00:37:26,200 --> 00:37:29,795
Heading down. I think
she's accelerated slightly.
425
00:37:33,520 --> 00:37:35,317
She's too fast.
426
00:37:36,360 --> 00:37:40,319
And with the strong current running
against them, the sub can't keep up.
427
00:37:45,040 --> 00:37:48,669
But, for the first time,
jonathan can see for himself
428
00:37:48,760 --> 00:37:50,591
exactly where she's headed.
429
00:37:53,240 --> 00:37:55,310
What specifically Darwin could provide
430
00:37:55,400 --> 00:38:00,155
is a safe refuge for those new-born
pups where predators can't access.
431
00:38:01,920 --> 00:38:04,559
Perfect conditions
for the formative years
432
00:38:04,640 --> 00:38:06,471
of these ocean-travelling giants.
433
00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:15,952
That was unbelievable.
434
00:38:17,600 --> 00:38:19,352
Dream of a lifetime.
435
00:38:22,080 --> 00:38:24,230
His disco very that
pregnant whale sharks
436
00:38:24,320 --> 00:38:27,278
are visiting this very
deep patch of the sea floor
437
00:38:27,360 --> 00:38:31,512
is strong evidence that this is indeed
where the giants produce their young.
438
00:38:34,280 --> 00:38:37,670
If I can actually prove that they
are giving birth in this area,
439
00:38:37,760 --> 00:38:39,830
then we'll have the
information necessary
440
00:38:39,920 --> 00:38:41,911
to go to governments and actually say,
441
00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:45,197
"You must preserve those routes
that they're migrating through."
442
00:38:45,280 --> 00:38:48,636
And then, and only then, can we
really truly afford protection
443
00:38:48,720 --> 00:38:50,790
for this beautiful ocean traveller.
444
00:38:58,680 --> 00:39:00,830
Today, less than one percent
445
00:39:00,920 --> 00:39:03,593
of our international
waters are protected.
446
00:39:06,480 --> 00:39:09,870
And the creation of
marine reserves is vital
447
00:39:09,960 --> 00:39:13,919
if we're to safeguard the
future of many ocean creatures.
448
00:39:19,800 --> 00:39:22,439
It will require
international cooperation.
449
00:39:23,880 --> 00:39:25,791
But here, too, there is hope.
450
00:39:28,120 --> 00:39:30,270
We can turn things around.
451
00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:32,956
We've done so once before.
452
00:39:33,880 --> 00:39:37,634
For centuries, the sea-going
nations of the world
453
00:39:37,720 --> 00:39:40,678
hunted the great whales until
they were close to extinction.
454
00:39:41,560 --> 00:39:45,838
And then, in 1986, those
nations got together
455
00:39:45,920 --> 00:39:49,799
and agreed to put a stop
to commercial whaling.
456
00:39:53,560 --> 00:39:57,314
Today, although a few nations
continue to hunt whales,
457
00:39:57,400 --> 00:40:00,153
some of the great whales
are making a recovery.
458
00:40:08,520 --> 00:40:11,273
In the tropical seas
surrounding Sri lanka,
459
00:40:11,360 --> 00:40:14,830
there are stories of
vast gatherings of whales.
460
00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:22,470
When the civil war ended in 200.9,
461
00:40:22,560 --> 00:40:26,439
locals here were able once
again to fish these waters.
462
00:40:29,200 --> 00:40:32,715
There were soon reports of
assemblies of sperm whales,
463
00:40:32,800 --> 00:40:35,951
the likes of which had not
been seen for centuries.
464
00:40:38,160 --> 00:40:42,119
Marine guide Daya was
determined to get to the truth
465
00:40:42,200 --> 00:40:44,509
behind these fishermen's tales.
466
00:40:45,480 --> 00:40:47,710
The fishermen told me that
there are lots of whales
467
00:40:47,800 --> 00:40:48,994
a little bit north from here.
468
00:40:49,920 --> 00:40:52,309
They didn't actually tell me a number,
469
00:40:52,400 --> 00:40:55,756
but in big numbers, not one or twos.
470
00:40:55,840 --> 00:40:57,796
Er, many.
471
00:41:02,280 --> 00:41:04,589
It took him three years,
472
00:41:04,680 --> 00:41:09,231
but eventually, he found
evidence to support these rumours.
473
00:41:55,720 --> 00:41:58,996
We saw about 15 sperm whales go past us.
474
00:42:08,760 --> 00:42:10,796
Then, another four came past us.
475
00:42:14,160 --> 00:42:17,596
After about 40 then passed
me, I started counting.
476
00:42:22,640 --> 00:42:25,074
Still, they kept
coming, so I lost count.
477
00:42:27,440 --> 00:42:30,477
I estimated that we saw
about 300 sperm whales.
478
00:42:38,000 --> 00:42:41,959
Sperm whales were once
killed in vast numbers
479
00:42:42,080 --> 00:42:44,878
and it's thought that if
the slaughter had continued,
480
00:42:44,960 --> 00:42:48,350
the species would be in
danger of extermination.
481
00:42:51,640 --> 00:42:56,350
But now, here at least, they
are being seen in huge numbers.
482
00:42:57,840 --> 00:43:01,674
I believe they come here to
feed, mate, and raise their young.
483
00:43:01,800 --> 00:43:04,314
So, this must be a holiday
spot for them, you know.
484
00:43:04,640 --> 00:43:07,950
At the moment, I don't know
of any other place in the world
485
00:43:08,040 --> 00:43:10,759
that, er, sperm whales gather like this.
486
00:43:14,160 --> 00:43:17,789
Although some whale populations
are still in decline,
487
00:43:17,880 --> 00:43:22,590
scenes like this prove that when
sea-going nations come together,
488
00:43:22,680 --> 00:43:25,717
they can achieve astonishing results.
489
00:43:33,600 --> 00:43:39,072
But today, the oceans face
threats on a truly global scale.
490
00:43:44,840 --> 00:43:46,796
The Great Barrier Reef
491
00:43:49,240 --> 00:43:52,676
The largest coral reef
system in the world.
492
00:43:55,360 --> 00:44:00,639
Here, we filmed stories which re
veal just how smart fish can be.
493
00:44:06,320 --> 00:44:09,073
This ingenious tuskfish, for example,
494
00:44:09,160 --> 00:44:13,551
used a favourite coral anvil
to smash open shellfish.
495
00:44:15,840 --> 00:44:19,310
This astonishing behaviour
has been closely studied
496
00:44:19,400 --> 00:44:21,834
by local scientist Alex I/ail.
497
00:44:23,600 --> 00:44:26,068
We're calling Percy
"Percy the Persistent"
498
00:44:27,400 --> 00:44:30,597
because he took, like, an
hour to open the first shell.
499
00:44:36,040 --> 00:44:38,429
He must have hit it well over 50 times,
500
00:44:38,520 --> 00:44:41,398
but he just kept on going
and finally got it open.
501
00:44:50,840 --> 00:44:53,877
Alex grew up on the Great Barrier Reef
502
00:44:53,960 --> 00:44:56,758
on one of its more
remote islands, lizard.
503
00:44:59,120 --> 00:45:01,395
He knows the reef intimately.
504
00:45:06,720 --> 00:45:10,474
But, in 2076, while he was
filming for Blue Planet II,
505
00:45:10,560 --> 00:45:13,074
Alex witnessed a catastrophe.
506
00:45:15,040 --> 00:45:17,918
When we started filming,
everything was pretty much fine.
507
00:45:18,000 --> 00:45:20,070
All of the corals
were basically healthy.
508
00:45:22,200 --> 00:45:25,476
But in the last few
weeks, everything changed.
509
00:45:26,520 --> 00:45:29,239
I have never seen
anything like this before.
510
00:45:32,440 --> 00:45:34,590
A combination of a warming ocean
511
00:45:34,680 --> 00:45:38,275
and an unpredictable weather
event called El Nifi�o
512
00:45:38,360 --> 00:45:40,999
raised sea temperatures
to record levels.
513
00:45:46,000 --> 00:45:49,276
And this had a disastrous
effect on the corals.
514
00:45:50,800 --> 00:45:55,032
The heat causes reef-building corals
to lose their nourishing algae,
515
00:45:56,040 --> 00:45:58,554
exposing their white skeletons.
516
00:46:03,440 --> 00:46:07,558
When temperatures remain
high, bleached corals die off.
517
00:46:10,440 --> 00:46:13,398
The bleaching this year has
been the worst in history
518
00:46:13,480 --> 00:46:14,913
for the Great Barrier Reef.
519
00:46:15,000 --> 00:46:17,434
About 90 percent of the branching corals
520
00:46:17,520 --> 00:46:19,875
on the reef out here at
Lizard Island are dead.
521
00:46:22,840 --> 00:46:25,513
It also has disastrous consequences
522
00:46:25,600 --> 00:46:27,750
for the other creatures that live here.
523
00:46:31,320 --> 00:46:33,993
Percy swimming around out there.
524
00:46:34,120 --> 00:46:37,078
The really sad thing is that
his castle's starting to bleach.
525
00:46:38,360 --> 00:46:41,591
If we lose our coral, there's a chance
we're going to lose our tuskfish.
526
00:46:43,560 --> 00:46:47,155
It's incredibly sad to see
areas that you've dived on
527
00:46:47,240 --> 00:46:50,437
since you were a little
kid just turn to rubble.
528
00:46:53,600 --> 00:46:55,716
I cried in my mask, when I saw,
529
00:46:55,800 --> 00:46:57,916
you know, some of the
devastation from this bleaching.
530
00:47:05,840 --> 00:47:07,717
In the last three years,
531
00:47:07,800 --> 00:47:10,712
over two-thirds of
the world's coral reefs
532
00:47:10,840 --> 00:47:14,515
are thought to have suffered
from rises in ocean temperatures.
533
00:47:27,320 --> 00:47:29,675
This is not the only
challenge they face.
534
00:47:32,360 --> 00:47:34,794
Research is revealing
how the fundamental
535
00:47:34,880 --> 00:47:37,155
chemistry of the ocean is changing.
536
00:47:40,680 --> 00:47:43,877
Professor Chris langdon
shows me what this might mean
537
00:47:43,960 --> 00:47:48,829
for the future of our seas by
pouring dilute acid over shells.
538
00:47:53,840 --> 00:47:57,469
And how much more acidic is
this than the present ocean?
539
00:47:58,120 --> 00:48:01,590
This is more concentrated
than the pH of the ocean
540
00:48:02,200 --> 00:48:05,476
but it accelerates the process
so we can see something visually.
541
00:48:06,000 --> 00:48:09,276
So, what's happening is, these shells,
they're made out of calcium carbonate,
542
00:48:10,000 --> 00:48:11,558
and the acid is dissolving them.
543
00:48:12,160 --> 00:48:15,914
And coral reefs are made out of the
same material as these shells here.
544
00:48:16,840 --> 00:48:20,833
But surely this is not happening
in the ocean now. Right now?
545
00:48:20,920 --> 00:48:24,390
What we're seeing here is more dramatic
than what's happening in the ocean.
546
00:48:24,480 --> 00:48:29,156
But the shells and the reefs
are really truly dissolving.
547
00:48:29,240 --> 00:48:32,357
Coral reefs could be gone
by the end of this century.
548
00:48:35,560 --> 00:48:39,030
And the cause of this? Carbon dioxide.
549
00:48:40,800 --> 00:48:44,270
Dissolved in the sea water,
it forms carbonic acid.
550
00:48:45,200 --> 00:48:47,714
The more carbon dioxide
in the atmosphere,
551
00:48:47,800 --> 00:48:50,109
the more acidic the ocean becomes.
552
00:48:52,320 --> 00:48:55,118
Evidence points to the
burning of fossil fuels
553
00:48:55,240 --> 00:48:59,791
as the primary cause for these
increasing levels of carbon dioxide.
554
00:49:01,640 --> 00:49:04,200
And this is man-made beyond question.
555
00:49:04,280 --> 00:49:05,474
Beyond question.
556
00:49:09,600 --> 00:49:12,672
But Chris believes all is not lost.
557
00:49:14,200 --> 00:49:18,159
All we have to do, and I say
all, is reduce our CO2 emissions.
558
00:49:18,240 --> 00:49:22,358
We can switch to renewable
fuels, wind and solar,
559
00:49:22,440 --> 00:49:24,396
instead of natural fossil fuels.
560
00:49:24,480 --> 00:49:26,152
And so, none of this has to
561
00:49:27,080 --> 00:49:29,469
- develop to the worst case.
- And that could fix it?
562
00:49:29,560 --> 00:49:34,156
Yeah, absolutely. So, this future does
not have to play out. It's up to us.
563
00:49:45,080 --> 00:49:48,675
As the climate changes, the seas warm.
564
00:49:48,800 --> 00:49:51,678
Our oceans are being seriously affected.
565
00:49:54,240 --> 00:49:58,552
And this is nowhere more
apparent than at the poles.
566
00:50:07,520 --> 00:50:09,112
Antarctica.
567
00:50:13,040 --> 00:50:17,556
For the Blue Planet II team, this
was their most ambitious expedition.
568
00:50:20,240 --> 00:50:24,119
For the first time in
history, a manned submersible
569
00:50:24,200 --> 00:50:27,670
will try to dive to a
depth of 7, 000 metres
570
00:50:27,760 --> 00:50:30,149
and reach the Antarctic seabed.
571
00:50:31,560 --> 00:50:34,358
A true journey into the unknown.
572
00:50:39,800 --> 00:50:42,030
(RADIO CHATTER
573
00:50:50,960 --> 00:50:54,236
Control rover. Passing 40 metres. Over.
574
00:51:00,280 --> 00:51:03,238
leading the team on this historic dive
575
00:51:03,320 --> 00:51:05,550
is deep sea scientist john Copley.
576
00:51:13,360 --> 00:51:16,909
We get our first glimpse
of this landscape.
577
00:51:19,640 --> 00:51:23,269
And the carpet of life
around us is astounding.
578
00:51:24,040 --> 00:51:25,314
It's beautiful.
579
00:51:34,280 --> 00:51:38,990
Diving in a submersible gives
john an entirely new understanding
580
00:51:39,080 --> 00:51:41,753
of how this rich ecosystem works.
581
00:51:43,480 --> 00:51:46,552
But it also offers him
a unique opportunity
582
00:51:46,640 --> 00:51:49,552
to investigate how the
ocean here is changing.
583
00:51:50,840 --> 00:51:52,796
While we're observing the
marine life down there,
584
00:51:52,880 --> 00:51:55,189
the subs are also recording
what the environment is like,
585
00:51:55,280 --> 00:51:57,635
so we're getting measurements
of temperature, of salinity.
586
00:51:57,720 --> 00:51:59,995
It's hopefully gonna enable
us to understand the changes
587
00:52:00,080 --> 00:52:02,230
that are happening in this
vital part of our planet.
588
00:52:05,280 --> 00:52:07,874
To get a fuller
picture, john also lowers
589
00:52:07,960 --> 00:52:10,190
a deep sea temperature probe.
590
00:52:15,520 --> 00:52:19,195
His data is contributing
to an international attempt
591
00:52:19,280 --> 00:52:22,909
to chart the rise in both
sea and air temperatures.
592
00:52:26,080 --> 00:52:28,230
What shocks me about
what all the data show
593
00:52:28,360 --> 00:52:30,874
is how fast things are changing here.
594
00:52:33,520 --> 00:52:36,318
We're headed into uncharted territory.
595
00:52:43,520 --> 00:52:45,556
To truly comprehend
596
00:52:45,640 --> 00:52:47,835
the effect of the
temperature increases here,
597
00:52:47,920 --> 00:52:50,036
john takes to the skies.
598
00:52:51,200 --> 00:52:54,510
From here, he can record
the number and size
599
00:52:54,600 --> 00:52:59,071
of the icebergs being produced as
the ice shelfs melt and break apart.
600
00:53:01,640 --> 00:53:05,076
The bergs we're seeing all
around us give you some idea
601
00:53:05,160 --> 00:53:09,517
of how huge this process is that's
taking place on the Antarctic.
602
00:53:10,840 --> 00:53:14,549
As the floating shelves
break up, they allow water,
603
00:53:14,640 --> 00:53:18,110
which has been locked up on land
as ice for thousands of years,
604
00:53:18,200 --> 00:53:19,997
to empty into the sea.
605
00:53:21,840 --> 00:53:25,071
And this is predicted
to push up sea levels.
606
00:53:29,560 --> 00:53:32,757
If the ice shelves break up,
then that opens the flood gates.
607
00:53:33,600 --> 00:53:35,716
Ice on land flows faster into the sea
608
00:53:35,800 --> 00:53:37,438
and that's what pushes
up the sea levels.
609
00:53:39,360 --> 00:53:43,114
So, what's happening here
right now affects all of us.
610
00:53:57,520 --> 00:54:01,513
Already, cities like Miami
here are under threat.
611
00:54:02,400 --> 00:54:05,551
Scientists predict that
by the end of the century,
612
00:54:05,640 --> 00:54:09,428
the sea levels could have
risen by a metre or even two.
613
00:54:10,080 --> 00:54:14,631
Were that to happen, parts of this
city would certainly be submerged.
614
00:54:19,360 --> 00:54:23,911
Around the world, hundreds of
millions of people live near the coast,
615
00:54:24,000 --> 00:54:28,516
and as sea levels rise, their
lives will be seriously affected.
616
00:54:41,760 --> 00:54:45,799
It's now clear that our actions
are having a significant impact
617
00:54:45,880 --> 00:54:47,632
on the world's oceans.
618
00:54:52,320 --> 00:54:55,756
During the four years it
took to make this series,
619
00:54:55,840 --> 00:54:58,912
we've witnessed many of
these changes first-hand.
620
00:55:07,800 --> 00:55:10,872
But we've also worked
alongside men and women
621
00:55:10,960 --> 00:55:14,714
dedicating their lives to
safeguarding the ocean's future.
622
00:55:22,200 --> 00:55:25,431
The oceans provide us with oxygen,
623
00:55:25,520 --> 00:55:27,476
they regulate temperature,
624
00:55:27,560 --> 00:55:30,597
they provide us with
food and energy supplies.
625
00:55:31,240 --> 00:55:36,075
And it's unthinkable to have a
world without a healthy ocean.
626
00:55:39,960 --> 00:55:42,713
I still think we have the capability
627
00:55:42,800 --> 00:55:45,872
to change the manner in
which we're wasting resources,
628
00:55:45,960 --> 00:55:47,916
in which we're poisoning our oceans,
629
00:55:48,040 --> 00:55:51,589
and we can look to a
future with healthy oceans.
630
00:55:54,120 --> 00:55:58,591
When I look forward, I believe
that if what we are doing
631
00:55:58,680 --> 00:56:01,114
can be duplicated just a little bit.
632
00:56:01,240 --> 00:56:04,073
These animals will have
a chance of surviving.
633
00:56:05,640 --> 00:56:10,031
jOHN: It comes down, I think,
to us each taking responsibility
634
00:56:10,160 --> 00:56:12,754
for the personal choices that
we make in our everyday lives.
635
00:56:12,840 --> 00:56:15,673
That's all any of us
can be expected to do.
636
00:56:15,760 --> 00:56:18,320
And it is those everyday
choices that add up.
637
00:56:33,760 --> 00:56:36,672
We are at a unique stage in our history.
638
00:56:37,600 --> 00:56:41,513
Never before have we
had such an awareness
639
00:56:41,600 --> 00:56:43,556
of what we are doing to the planet.
640
00:56:44,600 --> 00:56:49,628
And never before have we had the
power to do something about that.
641
00:56:51,720 --> 00:56:55,554
Surely, we have a responsibility
to care for our blue planet.
642
00:56:56,680 --> 00:56:59,478
The future of humanity,
643
00:56:59,560 --> 00:57:02,791
and indeed all life on Earth,
644
00:57:02,880 --> 00:57:05,155
now depends on us.
54639
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.