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Red Sea, The (3/8)

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

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Subjects: Adaptations, Animal Behaviour, Animals, Biology, Coral Reefs, Earth Science, Endangered Species, Fish, Fisheries, Global Issues, 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

The Southern Red Sea is a world away from the tourist diving Mecca of the north. A 30-year war devastated parts of the south, and limited access to its waters and this political unrest means that the sea here is still pristine and unexplored. Travelling over 600 miles through the waters of Djibouti, Eritrea and Sudan, this expedition to the Southern Red Sea is a voyage through remote and untouched areas. It is a rare chance for the team to explore places where only a handful of scientists have been, and some places that have never been filmed before.

The Red Sea can help answer critical questions about our own past and the future of the oceans. It is one of only two places on the planet where the birth of a new ocean can be dived to discover how all oceans are formed. Archaeological sites along these shores are amongst the oldest on Earth, and the team searches for evidence of one of early modern human’s first encounters with the sea.

The Red Sea is one of the warmest seas in the world, yet coral reefs flourish here. In the face of global warming, Oceans sets out to discover whether these waters hold the key to the future health of coral and our world’s oceans.

It is also a rich and productive environment that has escaped intensive commercial fishing pressures; 17% of fish here are not found anywhere else in world, so it’s a rare chance to explore marine life. This life can offer clues to what the world’s oceans used to look like before they were exploited.

For Philippe Cousteau Jr, this expedition is also a more personal mission. This is his first visit to the remains of an ambitious underwater village established by his grandfather, Jacques Cousteau, to discover whether humans could ever live underwater.

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

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