Changing Seas
Changing Seas is a public television series produced by WPBT2 in Miami, Florida. Narrated by well-known voice talent Peter Thomas, this series takes viewers on an exciting adventure to the heart of our liquid planet. The oceans cover roughly 70 percent of the earth's surface and they contain 97 percent of the world's water supply. Nevertheless, only five percent of their vast expanse has been explored - leaving in secret a deep, liquid wilderness yet to be discovered. Regardless, the oceans have long played an important role in people's lives. Currently, more than half of all Americans live within 50 miles of the coast, and that number is rising. It is estimated that by 2025 more than 75 percent of Americans will live along the country's shorelines. Coastal and marine waters support 28 million jobs and draw 189 million tourists a year. While the population's dependence on the oceans as a natural resource and a source for recreation continues to increase, the health of these large bodies of water is rapidly declining. Over-fishing, global climate change, pollution: these are only a few of the threats that the oceans are facing today. At the same time, the seas hold great promise for ongoing medical research, as an untapped source of alternate energy, and other benefits that scientists are just now beginning to discover. Changing Seas goes to sea with explorers and scientists as they uncover new information that could lead to scientific breakthroughs. This documentary series lets viewers experience first-hand how oceanographers and other experts study earth's last frontier, and it sheds light on how human activities are threatening ocean resources.
- 2009-2026
- 18 seasons
- WPBT2
- Documentary, Action & Adventure
Changing Seas is a public television series produced by WPBT2 in Miami, Florida. Narrated by well-known voice talent Peter Thomas, this series takes viewers on an exciting adventure to the heart of our liquid planet. The oceans cover roughly 70 percent of the earth's surface and they contain 97 percent of the world's water supply. Nevertheless, only five percent of their vast expanse has been explored - leaving in secret a deep, liquid wilderness yet to be discovered. Regardless, the oceans have long played an important role in people's lives. Currently, more than half of all Americans live within 50 miles of the coast, and that number is rising. It is estimated that by 2025 more than 75 percent of Americans will live along the country's shorelines. Coastal and marine waters support 28 million jobs and draw 189 million tourists a year. While the population's dependence on the oceans as a natural resource and a source for recreation continues to increase, the health of these large bodies of water is rapidly declining. Over-fishing, global climate change, pollution: these are only a few of the threats that the oceans are facing today. At the same time, the seas hold great promise for ongoing medical research, as an untapped source of alternate energy, and other benefits that scientists are just now beginning to discover. Changing Seas goes to sea with explorers and scientists as they uncover new information that could lead to scientific breakthroughs. This documentary series lets viewers experience first-hand how oceanographers and other experts study earth's last frontier, and it sheds light on how human activities are threatening ocean resources.
Season 18 Episode Guide
4 Episodes 2026
Episode 1
Puerto Rico: Resilience in Action
Wed, Jun 17, 2026
After Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Puerto Rico's fishing communities didn't just rebuild, they transformed. With support from marine conservation non-profit Conservación ConCiencia, fishers are leading efforts to restore fisheries, protect endangered species, and strengthen their communities through collaboration, trust, and resilience.
Episode 2
The Seals of Sable Island
Wed, Jun 17, 2026
Situated on the edge of the continental shelf, 180 miles offshore from Halifax, Nova Scotia, lies Sable Island – a wind-swept crescent of shifting sand. Home to famous wild horses that roam the beaches and dunes, each winter this wilderness transforms into the planet's largest gray seal breeding colony. Researchers with Fisheries and Oceans Canada have been studying this changing population of gray seals since the 1960s, and now U.S.-based experts are conducting a unique physiological study on mom and pup pairs to better understand how iron transferred during lactation influences a pup's future survival.
Episode 3
Engineering the Power of Waves
Wed, Jun 24, 2026
At the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory at Oregon State University, scientists and engineers recreate ocean waves to test artificial breakwaters and underwater energy converters. This increased understanding allows engineers to better help protect coastal communities and advance renewable power.
Episode 4
Getting Sharked: Search for Solutions
Wed, Jun 24, 2026
As shark populations are slowly recovering along the southeastern U.S., recreational fishers are reporting more depredation – instances of sharks eating their catch before they can reel it in. With frustrations mounting among anglers, researchers are testing "repellent" devices in the search for a solution that will keep fishers happy and sharks thriving.