Changing Seas
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Changing Seas is a public television series produced by South Florida PBS (WPBT2-WXEL) in Miami, Florida, and narrated by announcers Craig Sechler and Peter Thomas.
The series accompanies oceanographers and other experts as they seek out new information about the oceans of the world and allows viewers to experience first-hand how they study earth’s last frontier, shedding light on how human activities are threatening ocean resources.
Season 1 (2009)
Changing Seas is a public television series produced by South Florida PBS in Miami, Florida. Since 2009, when its first season was released, the series has taken viewers on an exciting adventure to the heart of our liquid planet. In 2025, the show has released its 17th Season.
Changing Seas gives viewers a fish-eye view of life in the deep blue.
The first season of the documentary series Changing Seas from 2009 follows scientists and explorers as they study the ocean and uncover new information that could lead to scientific breakthroughs. The season includes episodes about:
- The Goliath Grouper: The comeback of the giant Goliath Grouper in Florida, despite the rapid disappearance of large fish from the world's oceans
- Aquarius: Scientists spend ten days living and working at the world's only underwater laboratory, Aquarius, to study the effects of ocean acidification on local reef ecosystems
- Deep sea corals: The magnificent deep sea corals that grow off Florida's Atlantic coast, reaching heights of up to 300 feet
- Aquaculture: The growing demand for fresh seafood has pushed wild stocks to the brink, and aquaculture is one alternative to wild-caught fish
- Salt marshes: Researchers study one of America's iconic landscapes
- Deep-sea submersible Alvin: Upgrades to the Alvin allow it to go deeper than ever before
- Juvenile tarpon and snook: Scientists study and restore their habitat in Florida
- Mangroves and seagrasses: Experts work to restore Florida's important mangroves and seagrasses
| No. overall | No. in season | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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. | ||
| 2 | 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. | ||
| 3 | 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. | ||
| 4 | 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. |
Season 2 (2010)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 | "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. | ||
| 6 | 2 | "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. | ||
| 7 | 3 | "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. | ||
| 8 | 4 | "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. |
Season 3 (2011)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1 | "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. | ||
| 10 | 2 | "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. | ||
| 11 | 3 | "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. | ||
| 12 | 4 | "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. |
Season 4 (2012)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | 1 | "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. | ||
| 14 | 2 | "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. | ||
| 15 | 3 | "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. | ||
| 16 | 5 | "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 . |
Season 5 (2013)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | 1 | "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. | ||
| 18 | 2 | "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. | ||
| 19 | 3 | "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. | ||
| 20 | 4 | "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 . |
Season 6 (2014)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | 1 | "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. | ||
| 22 | 2 | "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. | ||
| 23 | 3 | "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 . | ||
| 24 | 4 | "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. |
Season 7 (2015)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 1 | "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.” | ||
| 26 | 2 | "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. | ||
| 27 | 3 | "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. | ||
| 28 | 4 | "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)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | 1 | "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. | ||
| 30 | 2 | "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. | ||
| 31 | 3 | "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 . | ||
| 32 | 4 | "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)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | 1 | "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. | ||
| 34 | 2 | "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. | ||
| 35 | 3 | "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. | ||
| 36 | 4 | "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)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | 1 | "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. | ||
| 38 | 2 | "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. | ||
| 39 | 3 | "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. | ||
| 40 | 4 | "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)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 41 | 1 | "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. | ||
| 42 | 2 | "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. | ||
| 43 | 3 | "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. | ||
| 44 | 4 | "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)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | 1 | "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. | ||
| 46 | 2 | "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. | ||
| 47 | 3 | "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. | ||
| 48 | 4 | "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)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | 1 | "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. | ||
| 50 | 2 | "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? | ||
| 51 | 3 | "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. | ||
| 52 | 4 | "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. |
Season 14 (2022)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 53 | 1 | "Vanishing Whales" |
| The humpback whale population that migrates between Hawaiʻi and Alaska is considered a conservation success story. When sightings of the animals suddenly dropped, people became concerned. Scientists in both locations are trying to understand what happened to the whales and why. | ||
| 54 | 2 | "Humpback Health" |
| How does the body size and overall health of humpback whales change across their migratory cycle? A team of researchers studying the animals, which spend part of the year feeding in Alaska and a few months fasting while in their Hawaiian breeding grounds, is making remarkable discoveries. | ||
| 55 | 3 | "Kelp: Hidden Treasure of the Salish Sea" |
| The kelp forests of the Puget Sound have long played an essential role in the local ecosystem as a habitat and food source. Today, this foundational species is in decline, but resource managers, scientists, tribal citizens, and advocates are working together to solve the mysteries of conserving and restoring kelp forests. | ||
| 56 | 4 | "Saving Florida's Starving Manatees" |
| Florida’s iconic sea cows are dying in record numbers. Years of declining seagrass beds have eliminated one of the gentle giants’ primary food sources. Now wildlife managers have taken the unprecedented step of feeding the animals, while scientists are in a race against time to restore the lost seagrass. |
Season 15 (2023)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 57 | 1 | "Mollusks: More than a Shell" |
| Seashells, with their beautiful shapes and colors, have inspired humans since the dawn of time. Equally fascinating are the animals which make them, and their unique place in the web of life. | ||
| 58 | 2 | "Sharks in Belize: Jaguars of the Sea" |
| Catching and tagging sharks along the Belize Barrier Reef, local fishers leverage their generational knowledge to help marine scientists and fisheries managers keep shark populations healthy for all. | ||
| 59 | 3 | "Bermuda: Life at Ocean's Edge" |
| As the shipwreck capital of the world, Bermuda is known for its treacherous reefs. But these uniquely resilient corals may offer clues to protecting the islands from the accelerating impacts of a changing climate. | ||
| 60 | 4 | "Life in the Dark: The Polar Night" |
| At the northernmost research station in the world, scientists brave the cold and darkness to solve an ocean mystery. They are trying to understand how some of the tiniest animals survive at a time of year when their main food source is not available. |
Season 16 (2024)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | 1 | "Ancient Adriatic: Croatia's Sunken History" |
| Archaeologists and conservators along Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast meticulously uncover and document a 2000-year-old Roman ship, providing invaluable insights into the region's maritime history and cultural heritage. | ||
| 62 | 2 | "Eagle Rays: Soaring on Spotted Wings" |
| Relatively little is known about the endangered whitespotted eagle ray’s ecology and life history. Now Florida scientists are using cutting-edge technology to gain deeper insight into the movement and diet of this elegant fish. | ||
| 63 | 3 | "Maui Aloha ʻĀina: From Mauka to Makai" |
| Hawaiians draw upon ancient wisdom to revive Maui’s traditional watersheds from the mountains to the sea. Even amidst profound loss in the wake of recent wildfires, these resilient islanders are committed to healing their island home. | ||
| 64 | 4 | "California Sea Otters: Life on the Edge" |
| The threatened southern sea otter is a voracious predator that needs to eat 25% of its body weight a day to survive. Dedicated experts study this endearing marine weasel to ensure its longtime survival along California’s coast. |
Season 17 (2025)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | 1 | "Costa Rica's Surfing Paradise" |
| In Costa Rica’s Playa Hermosa, a passionate coastal community unites to protect their iconic surf break, restore vital habitats, and safeguard the sea turtles that nest along their shores. | ||
| 66 | 2 | "Whales in a Plastic Ocean" |
| Floating plastic trash impacts even remote locations, including the Portuguese island of Madeira. Researchers study the effects these plastics are having on the health of marine mammals that frequent local waters. | ||
| 67 | 3 | "Mystery of the Spinning Fish" |
| A group of multidisciplinary scientists is trying to piece together what caused more than 80 species of fish to spin in the Florida Keys in the winter and spring of 2023/24. | ||
| 68 | 4 | "The Elephant Seals of Año Nuevo" |
| At Año Nuevo State Park, a dedicated team of scientists from the University of California Santa Cruz collaborates with a thriving colony of elephant seals to better understand their life cycles and ocean health. |
Awards
| Year | Award/Festival | Category | Episode | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards | Environment/Science | California Sea Otters: Ecosystem Engineers | Won | |
| Environment/Science | Costa Rica’s Surfing Paradise | Won | |||
| Environment/Science | Whales in a Plastic Ocean | Won | |||
| Environment/Science | Mystery of the Spinning Fish | Won | |||
| Environment/Science | The Elephant Seals of Año Nuevo | Won | |||
| Nature Without Borders Film Festival | Endangered Species | California Sea Otters: Life on the Edge | Won | Won Outstanding Excellence Award | |
| Marine Life and Oceans | Eagle Rays: Soaring on Spotted Wings | Won | Won Outstanding Excellence Award | ||
| Land and Water Management | Maui Aloha ʻĀina: From Mauka to Makai | Won | Won Outstanding Excellence Award | ||
| Tulum WE Film Festival | Research Exploration Short Film | Alvin: Pioneer of the Deep | Won | ||
| Environment Conservation Short Film | Kelp: Hidden Treasure of the Salish Sea | Won | |||
| Wildlife Conservation Short Film | Sharks in Belize: Jaguars of the Sea | Won | |||
| Climate Change Short Film | Bermuda: Life at Ocean’s Edge | Won | |||
| #LabMeCrazy! Science Film Festival | TV Production | Maui Aloha ʻĀina: From Mauka to Makai | Finalist | ||
| S.O.F.A Film Festival | Wildlife (Endangered, All Species) | California Sea Otters: Life on the Edge | Won | Won Best Short | |
| 2024 | NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards | Environment/Science | Ancient Adriatic: Croatia’s Sunken History | Nominated | |
| Environment/Science | Eagle Rays: Soaring on Spotted Wings | Nominated | |||
| Nature Without Borders Film Festival | Ocean Life Documentaries | Mollusks: More than a Shell | Won | Won Outstanding Excellence Award | |
| Ocean Life Documentaries | Sharks in Belize: Jaguars of the Sea | Won | Won Outstanding Excellence Award | ||
| Ocean Life Documentaries | Life in the Dark: The Polar Night | Won | Won Outstanding Excellence Award | ||
| Environmental | Bermuda: Life at Ocean's Edge | Won | Won Outstanding Excellence Award | ||
| CMS VATAVARAN International Film Festival | International - Environment Conservation | Kelp: Hidden Treasure of the Salish Sea | Nominated | ||
| #LabMeCrazy! Science Film Festival | TV Production | Humpback Health | Finalist | ||
| Cinema Verde International Environmental Film and Arts Festival | Short | Bermuda: Life at Ocean’s Edge | Honorable Mention | ||
| Short | Sharks in Belize: Jaguars of the Sea | Honorable Mention | |||
| 2023 | Nature Without Borders Film Festival | Environmental | Saving Florida's Starving Manatees | Won | Won Domestic Best of Festival Award |
| Ocean Life Documentaries | Vanishing Whales | Won | Won Outstanding Excellence Award | ||
| Ocean Life Documentaries | Humpback Health | Won | Won Outstanding Excellence Award | ||
| Environmental | Kelp: Hidden Treasure of the Salish Sea | Won | Won Outstanding Excellence Award | ||
| NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards | Environment/Science | Life in the Dark: The Polar Night | Won | ||
| Environment/Science | Bermuda: Life at Ocean's Edge | Nominated | |||
| #LabMeCrazy! Science Film Festival | TV Production | Habitats: The Key to Florida's Fisheries | Finalist | ||
| Wild Oceans FilmFest | Best Production About Conservation | Kelp: Hidden Treasure of the Salish Sea | Finalist | ||
| 2022 | NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards | Environment/Science | Humpback Health | Nominated | |
| Environment/Science | Kelp: Hidden Treasure of the Salish Sea | Nominated | |||
| Tulum World Environment Film Festival | Ocean Conservation | A Decade After Deepwater | Won | Won Best Short Film in Ocean Conservation category | |
| Cinema Verde Film Festival | Florida Local Film Competition | Florida's Blue Holes: Oases in the Sea | Won | Won Most Hopeful Award | |
| Nature Without Borders Film Festival, Summer | Ocean Life | Recreational Shark Fishing: Collaborating for Conservation | Won | Won Excellence Award | |
| Ocean Life | At the Water's Edge: The Salt Marsh | Won | Won Excellence Award | ||
| Ocean Life | Habitats: The Key to Florida's Fisheries | Won | Won Excellence Award | ||
| Nature Without Borders Film Festival, Winter | Ornithology | Peru's Desert Penguins | Won | Won Excellence Award | |
| Oceanography | A Decade after Deepwater | Won | Won Exceptional Merit Award | ||
| Ocean Life | American Samoa's Resilient Coral Reefs | Won | Won Exceptional Merit Award | ||
| #LabMeCrazy! Science Film Festival | TV Production | Peru's Desert Penguins | Finalist | ||
| 2021 | NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards | Environment | Alvin: Pioneer of the Deep | Won | |
| Environment | At the Water's Edge: The Salt Marsh | Nominated | |||
| Environment | Recreational Shark Fishing: Collaborating for Conservation | Nominated | |||
| Environment | Habitats: The Key to Florida's Fisheries | Nominated | |||
| Writer- Long Form Content | Alvin: Pioneer of the Deep | Nominated | Writer: Liz Smith | ||
| #LabMeCrazy! Science Film Festival | TV Production | Corals in Crisis | Won | ||
| The Accolade Global Film Competition | Documentary Program/Series | Alvin: Pioneer of the Deep | Won | Won Award of Excellence | |
| 2020 | NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards | Environment | American Samoa's Resilient Coral Reefs | Won | |
| Environment | A Decade After Deepwater | Won | |||
| Environment | Peru's Desert Penguins | Won | |||
| Environment | Florida's Blue Holes: Oases in the Sea | Nominated | |||
| Wild Oceans FilmFest | Best Production About Conservation | Corals in Crisis | Finalist | Postponed due to COVID-19 | |
| Deering Estate | Programming Partner of the Year | Changing Seas | Won | ||
| 2019 | NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards | Environment | Corals in Crisis | Won | |
| Environment | Toxic Waters | Nominated | |||
| 2018 | NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards | Health/Science | Dolphins: Breaking the Code | Nominated | |
| 2017 | NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards | 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 | Documentary Short | Beneath the Bridge | Won | Won Best-in-Show | |
| Documentary Short | Maug's Caldera: A Natural Laboratory | Won | Co-produced with Open Boat Films; Won third place in Documentary category | ||
| 2016 | BLUE Ocean Film Festival | 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 | Co-produced with Open Boat Films | ||
| Marine Science | Sea Turtles: The Lost Years | Won | |||
| Ocean Exploration and Adventure | Living Fossils | Finalist | |||
| NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards | Environment | Beneath the Bridge | Won | ||
| Environment | Manatees: Conserving a Marine Mammal | Nominated | |||
| Environment | Maug’s Caldera: A Natural Laboratory | Won | Co-produced with Open Boat Films | ||
| Health/Science | Sponges: Oldest Creatures in the Sea? | Won | |||
| Reef Renaissance Film Festival | Documentary Short | Grand Cayman’s Famous Stingrays | Won | Won Best-in-Show | |
| 2015 | NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards | Health/Science/Environment | The Secret Sex Life of Fish | Won | |
| BLUE Ocean Film Festival, Monaco | 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 | Documentary Over 20 Minutes | Biggest Fish in the Sea | Won | Won Best-in-Show and Black Coral Award for 1st Place Documentary Over 20 Minutes | |
| Documentary Over 20 Minutes | Saving Sawfish | Won | Won Deep Blue Award | ||
| Documentary Over 20 Minutes | Living Fossils | Won | Won Aquamarine Award | ||
| 2014 | NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards | Health/Science/Environment | Living Fossils | Won | |
| Health/Science/Environment | Biggest Fish in the Sea | Nominated | |||
| Health/Science/Environment | Saving Sawfish | Nominated | |||
| BLUE Ocean Film Festival | 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 | Documentary Short | Grouper Moon | Won | Won Best-in-Show and Black Coral Award for 1st Place Documentary Short | |
| Documentary Short | Sunken Stories | Won | Won Aquamarine Award for 3rd Place Documentary Short | ||
| 2013 | NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards | Health/Science/Environment | Creatures of the Deep | Nominated | |
| 2012 | NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards | Health/Science/Environment | Tracking Tigers | Nominated | |
| 2011 | NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards | Health/Science/Environment | Alien Invaders | Won | |
| National Academies | Film/Radio/TV | Sentinels of the Seas | Won | ||
| Miami Today Gold Medal Award | Sentinels of the Seas | Won | |||
| 2010 | NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards | Health/Science/Environment | Sentinels of the Seas | Won | |
| 2009 | NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards | Health/Science/Environment | Changing Seas Series | Nominated | |
| International Wildlife Film Festival | Human-Wildlife Interactions | Super Grouper | Won | Won Honorable Mention for conservation message |
Film Festival Official Selections
| Year | Festival | Episode(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | International Ocean Film Festival | Whales in a Plastic Ocean | |
| 2025 | Cinema Verde International Environmental Film and Arts Festival | Maui Aloha ʻĀina: From Mauka to Makai; Eagle Rays: Soaring on Spotted Wings; Ancient Adriatic: Croatia's Sunken History | |
| Friday Harbor Film Festival | Costa Rica's Surfing Paradise | ||
| S.O.F.A Film Festival | California Sea Otters: Life on the Edge; Whales in a Plastic Ocean | ||
| 2024 | Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, NYC | Mollusks: More than a Shell; Bermuda: Life at Ocean’s Edge; Sharks in Belize: Jaguars of the Sea | |
| Cinema Verde International Environmental Film and Arts Festival | Mollusks: More than a Shell; Life in the Dark: The Polar Night | ||
| International Ocean Film Festival's Traveling Program | Vanishing Whales | Screened at Wisconsin Coast Shipwreck National Marine Sanctuary | |
| Thunderbay International Film Festival | Vanishing Whales | Screened as part of the International Ocean Film Festival's Traveling Program; Hosted by the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary | |
| Friday Harbor Film Festival | Ancient Adriatic: Croatia's Sunken History; Bermuda: Life at Ocean's Edge; Sharks in Belize: Jaguars of the Sea; Maui Aloha ʻĀina: From Mauka to Makai | ||
| World Whale Festival | Humpback Health | ||
| 2023 | Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, NYC | Kelp: Hidden Treasure of the Salish Sea; Saving Florida's Starving Manatees | |
| International Ocean Film Festival's Traveling Program | Vanishing Whales | World Ocean Day Florida Tour | |
| Sharks in Belize: Jaguars of the Sea | World Ocean Day Florida Tour | ||
| Thunderbay International Film Festival | Recreational Shark Fishing: Collaborating for Conservation | Screened as part of the International Ocean Film Festival's Traveling Program; Hosted by the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary | |
| International Ocean Film Festival, San Francisco | Vanishing Whales | ||
| Cinema Verde International Environmental Film and Arts Festival | Kelp: Hidden Treasure of the Salish Sea; Vanishing Whales; Saving Florida's Starving Manatees; Humpback Health | ||
| Nature Without Borders International Film Festival | Vanishing Whales; Humpback Health; Kelp: Hidden Treasure of the Salish Sea; Saving Florida's Starving Manatees | ||
| 2022 | Green Planet Films Presents the International Film Festival in partnership with Mystic Aquarium | Kelp: Hidden Treasure of the Salish Sea | Screened as part of the International Ocean Film Festival's Traveling Program |
| Summit to Sea Film Festival | Kelp: Hidden Treasure of the Salish Sea | Screened as part of the International Ocean Film Festival's Traveling Program | |
| Friday Harbor Film Festival | Kelp: Hidden Treasure of the Salish Sea | ||
| Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, NYC | At the Water’s Edge: The Salt Marsh; Habitats: The Key to Florida’s Fisheries; Recreational Shark Fishing: Collaborating for Conservation | ||
| TULUM World Environment Film Festival | American Samoa's Resilient Coral Reefs | ||
| Nature Without Borders Film Festival | Recreational Shark Fishing: Collaborating for Conservation; At the Water's Edge: The Salt Marsh; Alvin: Pioneer of the Deep; Habitats: The Key to Florida's Fisheries | ||
| World Whale Film Festival | Habitats: The Key to Florida’s Fisheries | ||
| International Ocean Film Festival, San Francisco | Recreational Shark Fishing: Collaborating for Conservation | ||
| Thunderbay International Film Festival, Alpena, Michigan | A Decade After Deepwater; American Samoa's Resilient Coral Reefs; Peru's Desert Penguins | Screened as part of the International Ocean Film Festival's Traveling Program; Hosted by the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary | |
| 2021 | S.O.F.A. Film Festival | American Samoa's Resilient Coral Reefs; Peru's Desert Penguins | |
| International Ocean Film Festival, San Francisco | A Decade After Deepwater; American Samoa's Resilient Coral Reefs; Peru's Desert Penguins | ||
| Thunderbay International Film Festival, Alpena, Michigan | The Cordell Bank: A National Treasure; Mystery of the Humpback Whale Song; Corals in Crisis; Sunken Stories | Screened as part of the International Ocean Film Festival's Traveling Program | |
| Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, NYC | Florida's Blue Holes: Oases in the Sea; A Decade After Deepwater; Peru's Desert Penguins; American Samoa's Resilient Coral Reefs | ||
| Majestic Mantas | World Wildlife Day Event; live panel discussion hosted by the US State Department as part of the Capitol Showcase Program | ||
| Friday Harbor Film Festival | Alvin: Pioneer of the Deep | ||
| Environmental Film Festival in the Nation's Capital (DCEFF) | A Decade After Deepwater | ||
| World Whale Film Festival | Mystery of the Humpback Whale Song | ||
| 2020 | International Ocean Film Festival, San Francisco | The Cordell Bank: A National Treasure; Mystery of the Humpback Whale Song | |
| Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, NYC | Toxic Waters; Corals in Crisis; Mystery of the Humpback Whale Song | ||
| Friday Harbor Film Festival | A Decade After Deepwater | ||
| Korea International Ocean Film Festival | The Cordell Bank: A National Treasure | Screened in Busan, South Korea, as part of the International Ocean Film Festival's Traveling Program | |
| 2018 | Thunderbay International Film Festival, Alpena, Michigan | Maug’s Caldera: A Natural Laborator | Screened as part of the International Ocean Film Festival's Traveling Program; Co-produced with Open Boat Films |
| Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, NYC | Lords of the Wetlands | ||
| 2017 | International Ocean Film Festival, San Francisco | Maug's Caldera: A Natural Laboratory | Co-produced with Open Boat Films |
| Thunderbay International Film Festival, Alpena, Michigan | Grand Cayman's Famous Stingrays | Screened as part of the International Ocean Film Festival's Traveling Program | |
| Voices from the Water- International Traveling Film Festival on Water | Maug's Caldera: A Natural Laboratory | Co-produced with Open Boat Films | |
| 2016 | International Ocean Film Festival, San Francisco | Grand Cayman’s Famous Stingrays; The Secret Sex Life of Fish | |
| 2015 | Thunderbay International Film Festival, Alpena, Michigan | Alien Invaders | Screened as part of the International Ocean Film Festival's Traveling Program |
| Miami Underwater Festival | Grouper Moon; Saving Sawfish | Patricia and Phillip frost Museum of Science | |
| 2014 | International Ocean Film Festival, San Francisco | Alien Invaders | |
| 40Fathoms Film Festival, Durban, South Africa | Alien Invaders | ||
| Miami Underwater Festival | Living Fossils | Patricia and Phillip frost Museum of Science | |
| 2013 | Making Waves Film Festival, Boulder, Colorado | Alien Invaders | The festival was organized by the Colorado Ocean Coalition in partnership with the International Ocean Film Festival, San Francisco. |
| 2012 | Miami Underwater Festival | Reef Revival; Alien Invaders | Patricia and Phillip frost Museum of Science |
Funding
Major funding for this program is provided by the .
Additional Funding
| Season # | Additional Funders |
|---|---|
| 4 | Divers Direct |
| 5 | Divers Direct |
| 6 | Divers Direct/Emocean Sports |
| 7 | Divers Direct/Emocean Sports; Do Unto Others Trust |
| 8 | Divers Direct/Emocean Sports; In Memory of Harriet Fagan; Do Unto Others Trust; The William J. McKeehan Foundation; Friends of Changing Seas |
| 9 | Divers Direct/Emocean Sports; Do Unto Others Trust; The William J. & Isobel G. Clarke Foundation; Lady Suzanna P. Tweed & Carleton Tweed Charitable Foundation; Skip & Diane Day |
| 10 | Divers Direct & Ocean Divers; Do Unto Others Trust; The Charles N. & Eleanor Knight Leigh Foundation; Tim Choate; Skip & Diane Day; Antoinette Paterakis Lambros; Kelly Arnold |
| 11 | The William J. & Tina Rosenberg Foundation; Do Unto Others Trust; Skip & Diane Day |
| 12 | The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; The William J. & Tina Rosenberg Foundation; Do Unto Others Trust |
| 13 | In loving memory of David G. Parrot, by the Parrot Family Endowment for Environmental Education |
| 14 | The Parrot Family Endowment for Environmental Education |
| 15 | Trish & Dan Bell; The Parrot Family Endowment for Environmental Education |
| 16 | Trish & Dan Bell; The Parrot Family Endowment for Environmental Education |
| 17 | The Parrot Family Endowment for Environmental Education |
| References: |
External links
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