A NETFLIX ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY SERIES

Introduction

• 50 years ago, the first moon landing, a view of our own planet.
• The population has doubled since then.
• Documentary celebrates natural wonders and shows what must be preserved.

Coastal Seas

• Make up less than a tenth of the oceans.
• 90% of all marine creatures live here.
• Shallow, so sunlight reaches the sea floor.

Everglades National Park (Florida)

• Seagrass fields cover the bottom.
• Home to many animals (e.g. stingrays, bottlenose dolphins).
• Bottlenose dolphins hunt using echolocation.
• Dolphins drive fish into panic, causing them to leap into the air.
• Hunting ground, commercial fishing is prohibited.
• Seagrass binds 35 times more CO2 than rainforests.
• Mangroves protect against hurricanes and bind CO2.
• Nurseries for fish that later live in coral reefs.

Coral Reefs

• Cover less than 1% of the sea floor.
• Home to a quarter of all marine species.
• Sharks are important for a healthy ecosystem.
• Shark populations have shrunk by 90% due to overfishing.
• French Polynesia: Sharks protected.
  • Grey reef sharks and whitetip reef sharks hunt cooperatively.
  • Sharks maintain the balance and health of the reefs.
• Climate change warms the seas, causing coral bleaching.
• Corals expel microscopic plants, losing food and color.
• Great Barrier Reef: many corals have died due to warming.
• Ocean acidity increases due to carbon dioxide.
• Half of all shallow-water coral reefs are already dead.

Colder Seas

• Stormy waters, rich in nutrients.
• California coasts: golden kelp forms underwater forests.
  • Important for oceans, provides food and shelter.
  • Sea otters and sheephead wrasses keep sea urchins in check.
• Alaska: Spring, huge herring schools for spawning.
  • Steller sea lions and bald eagles hunt herring.
  • Humpback whales hunt as a team.
  • Herring populations have greatly declined due to overfishing.
• Many global fish stocks are shrinking, a third completely gone.
• Jellyfish are taking over waters where fish once ruled.

Positive Example: Pacific Coast of South America

• Atacama Desert: previously overfished, now fish stocks are recovering.
• Three million guano cormorants are returning.
• Anchovies: basis for the largest fish catch worldwide.
• Protected areas help fish and bird populations to recover.

Raja Ampat (Southeast Asia)

• Heavily overfished, now protected since 2007.
• Shark populations have recovered, more turtles and manta rays.
• Biodiversity and fish stocks are increasing.
• Protected areas enable sustainable fishing.

Conclusion

• Protected areas are crucial for the recovery of marine ecosystems.
• A third of all coastal seas should be converted into true protected areas.
• Visit ourplanet.com for more information.