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Sea of Cortez, The (1/8)

This is also part of this series: Oceans (8)

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Subjects: Adaptations, Animal Behaviour, Animals, Anthropology, Archaeology, Biology, Climate Change, Coral Reefs, Earth Science, Endangered Species, Fish, Fisheries, History, Invading Species, Ocean, Science

Grade Level: JrH-Adult
Producer: BBC
Closed Captioned: No

Running Time: 50 mins
Country of Origin: Great Britain
Study Guide: No

Copyright Date: 2008
Available in French: No

Once described as the ‘oceans’ aquarium’ by Jacques Cousteau in the 1960’s, the Sea of Cortez is rich with life. One third of Earth’s marine mammal species are found here, alongside more than 800 species of fish. But these waters are in a state of flux. As commercial fishing has increased alongside tourism and industry, this fertile sea is now classified as endangered.

Explorer Paul Rose, environmentalist Philippe Cousteau Jr, maritime archaeologist Dr Lucy Blue and marine biologist and Oceanographer Tooni Mahto examine the impact of humans in the Sea of Cortez and see how it is changing.

Diving in search of one of its apex predators, the Hammerhead Shark, the team discovers one of the winners in the war of change – the Humboldt Squid. Fifty years ago it did not exist in this sea, now there are over 200 million of them. During a treacherous night dive with these aggressive creatures, the team tries to discover what has made them so successful.

Five million years ago the Sea of Cortez was formed when massive tectonic movements created a gulf that flooded with Pacific water. Tooni and Lucy dive in search of a rare shallow hydrothermal vent (usually hydrothermal vents are inaccessible at much deeper depths) and learn that the very forces that created this sea will also destroy it.

Finally, they examine the health of the Sperm Whale population (which is an indication of the health of the sea). Using pioneering research techniques and a miniature helicopter, a sample of a whale’s breath is captured as it exhales at the surface. And Tooni and Philippe swim with a group of the whales, witnessing rare behaviour of the social structure of these magnificent animals.

Links: www.bbc.co.uk/oceans/

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