Nova’s new documentary series “Sea Change: The Gulf of Maine” examines the impacts of climate change in this … (+)
The Gulf of Maine is warming 97% faster than the global ocean. Stretching from the tip of Cape Cod to Nova Scotia in the North Atlantic, it covers 36,000 square miles (93,000 km2) and supports a diverse ecosystem of 3,000 species, from microscopic plankton to giant right whales.
A new special three-part documentary series — Sea change: The Gulf of Mainea NOVA special presentation– produced by GBH, the largest content producer for PBS, examines global ocean changes and how they impact sea life, wildlife, marine ecosystems and local communities.
The Gulf of Maine is warming 97% faster than any other ocean surface on Earth. The warming waters threaten important marine ecosystems and are a preview of the impacts of climate change on oceans worldwide. But according to the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, this also presents an opportunity to improve climate resilience, and adaptation strategies can be developed – such as climate adaptation strategies for fishing communities – and implemented in other regions affected by climate change.
With the help of science, research and natural history Sea of Change vividly demonstrates the impacts of climate change on the marine ecosystems of the Gulf of Maine. It highlights the global ecosystem impacts through communities that work and live in this vital marine ecosystem.
The epic ocean docuseries also highlights the challenges the Gulf of Maine faces in preserving biodiversity and maintaining the regenerative power of the people who live and work in the Gulf to survive the impacts of climate change.
The series is part of a larger project initiated by National Geographic marine photographer Brian Skerry. Skerry, also a producer of Sea of Changelives in Maine and has been photographing the Gulf of Maine for 40 years to document the changing conditions there due to climate change.
Skerry said documenting the changes in the Gulf has been difficult in recent years. “It’s hard not to photograph when so much of the environment has already been altered or erased,” Skerry said in a prepared statement.
“As a New England native and current resident, I have always had a deep love for the Gulf of Maine,” Skerry said in a prepared statement. “Every other breath we take is oxygen created by our oceans. But they are now at risk, something we can document well in the Gulf of Maine, an area that sustained this continent long before the arrival of Europeans and well into the last century.”
“What once provided a seemingly endless supply of cod, lobster and mussels now allows us to witness first-hand the devastating changes brought about by climate change. I hope this series serves as both a cautionary tale and a tribute to one of my favorite places,” Skerry added.
Filmmakers Chun-Wei Yi and Stella Cha highlight the resilience of the thousands of people working to preserve the Gulf of Maine. Sea of Change is about a biologist-turned-lobsterman, Native American mussel farmers, seaweed entrepreneurs, and scientists on an expedition to a remote part of the Gulf to find answers.
The documentary series also highlights the complex marine life in the Gulf, from rice-grain-sized mud shrimp to hundreds of thousands of sand skaters.
“It’s a fantastically varied story with unforgettable images,” said GBH co-executive producer John Bredar,
The three-part series, which aired on PBS on July 24, includes “Bounty,” “Peril” and “Survival.” Sea change also includes a six-part digital short series produced by Indigenous filmmakers in collaboration with Vision Maker Media and NOVA, focusing on climate issues and solutions in Indigenous communities across the country.
Sea Change: The Gulf of Maine, a NOVA special presentation, is available as a stream on the broadcasters’ PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS App, the available for iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO.
