♪ ♪ >> Jennie: IN THIS EPISODE OF ECOSENSE FOR LIVING... >> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY, ANYWHERE WANTS TO INTENTIONALLY ENTANGLE A WHALE.

>> IT WAS NOT THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING OUT TO FEED.

IT WAS THAT THERE WAS NO FOOD FOR THEM TO FEED ON.

>> MORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED BY COWS AND DOGS AND HORSES THAN ARE EVER KILLED BY SHARKS.

♪ ♪ >> THERE USED TO BE THOUSANDS OF THESE AMAZING WHALES.

NOW WE'RE IN A RACE TO HELP THEM SURVIVE.

♪ ♪ WE WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES.

WHY ARE THEY NAMED RIGHT WHALES?

>> THAT NAME GOES BACK TO THE WHALING DAYS WHEN THE WHALERS WOULD GO OUT, LOOKING FOR WHALES TO HUNT.

AND IT WAS THE RIGHT WHALE BECAUSE THEY USED TO FLOAT WHEN THEY'D BEEN HARPOONED, WHICH MADE COLLECTING THEM AFTER THE HUNT MUCH EASIER.

SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE CALLED RIGHT WHALES.

>> SO THEY WERE THE RIGHT WHALES TO KILL.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, YES.

AND THAT'S LED TO SOME OF THE SITUATION WE'RE IN TODAY.

>> AND WHAT IS THE SITUATION WE'RE IN TODAY?

>> THERE ARE FEWER THAN 400 RIGHT WHALES LEFT IN THE WHOLE WORLD.

AND MOST OF THEM LIVE ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST OF NORTH AMERICA BETWEEN, NEW ENGLAND AND THE FLORIDA, GEORGIA AREA.

FOR ABOUT THE LAST 10 OR 12 YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE - WHAT THEY CALL A U.M.E.

OR AN UNUSUAL MORTALITY EVENT THAT HAS KILLED MORE THAN 50 NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES.

AND WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE 400, 50 IS A SIGNIFICANT HIT TO THE POPULATION.

>> WHAT ARE WE THINKING THE CAUSE OF THE DEATHS ARE?

>> ONE IS THAT THEY GET HIT BY SHIPS AND THAT'S A RISK ALL UP AND DOWN THE ATLANTIC COAST OF NORTH AMERICA.

THEY SHARE THIS HABITAT WITH SOME PRETTY BUSY SHIPPING LANES.

>> ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS THAT WHEN THESE RIGHT WHALES MIGRATE DOWN THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST AND COME TO THE SOUTHEAST, THEY HAVE TO CROSS REALLY BIG, BUSY PORT ENTRANCES, LIKE NEW YORK AND CHESAPEAKE BAY AND CHARLESTON AND SAVANNAH.

RIGHT WHALES, THEY'RE VERY SLOW MOVING.

THEY TEND TO JUST FLOAT RIGHT AT, OR BELOW THE SURFACE WHERE THEY'RE, THEY'RE OFTEN NOT VISIBLE AND THEY CAN UNFORTUNATELY BE EASY TARGETS FOR, FOR SHIPS THAT ACCIDENTALLY STRIKE THEM.

>> SO IF WE'RE SENDING PEOPLE LIKE ME AND YOU TO THE MOON, IS THERE NO WAY TO HAVE SOME TECHNOLOGY THAT THESE SHIPS CAN USE TO TRY NOT TO HIT THESE WHALES?

>> I THINK SOMETIMES WE ASSUME THAT WE CAN TECH OUT WAY OUT OF ANY PROBLEM.

BUT THIS IS A NATURAL PROBLEM AND BIOLOGICAL PROBLEMS TEND TO BE THE MOST COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT TYPES OF PROBLEMS TO SOLVE.

ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN REDUCE THE RISK OF SHIP STRIKE IS TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON SHIPS, WATCHING ALL THE TIME BUT THE CONDITIONS, UNFORTUNATELY SOMETIMES MAKE IT HARD TO SEE THOSE ANIMALS.

IF THE WATER CLARITY IS NOT GREAT OR IT'S FOGGY, OR IT'S NIGHTTIME, IT COULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THOSE ANIMALS, OR AT LEAST BY THE TIME YOU SEE THEM, IT'S TOO LATE TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION AND AVOID HITTING THAT ANIMAL.

>> WOULD THEY EVEN KNOW IF THEY HIT ONE?

>> THE THING ABOUT MODERN SHIPPING IS THESE SHIPS ARE SO BIG AND SO HEAVY AND SO FAST THAT THEY MAY NOT EVEN BE AWARE THAT THEY'VE HIT AN ANIMAL.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT SIZE AND SPEED ALSO MEANS THAT THE OUTCOME TENDS TO BE KIND OF BINARY.

EITHER THE ANIMAL IS GOING TO LIVE, OR THE ANIMAL IS GOING TO DIE.

THE OTHER MAJOR PROBLEM IS FISHING GEAR AND RIGHT WHALES HAVE A TENDENCY TO GET TANGLED UP, ESPECIALLY IN LOBSTER GEAR, THE POTS AND FLOATS AND TRAPS THAT GO ALONG WITH LOBSTER FISHING ARE PARTICULARLY GOOD AT TANGLING UP RIGHT WHALES.

>> WE KNOW THAT MOST RIGHT WHALE ENTANGLEMENTS START IN THEIR MOUTHS.

AND WE THINK THAT'S BECAUSE THIS ROPE IS IN THE WATER AND THE WHALES ARE PLOWING THROUGH THE WATER FILTER-FEEDING PLANKTON, AND THEY CAN BECOME ENTANGLED IN THE ROPE.

WHALES DON'T HAVE FINGERS, SO IF THEY BECOME ENTANGLED, THEY CAN'T PULL THE ROPE OUT OF THEIR, OUT OF THEIR MOUTH.

AND SO THEY CAN BECOME REALLY BADLY ENTANGLED AROUND THEIR BODIES.

SOME OF THIS ROPE, TAKES THOUSANDS OF POUNDS TO BREAK.

AND SO REALLY THE WHALES CAN'T BREAK IT LOOSE.

IT CAN BECOME EMBEDDED IN THEIR, IN THEIR BODIES AND THEIR BLUBBER.

IT CAN CAUSE AMPUTATIONS, I'VE SEEN REALLY, YOU KNOW, REALLY GHASTLY WOUNDS FROM FISHING ROPE ENTANGLEMENTS, AND ULTIMATELY IT CAN EVEN KILL THEM.

THEY CAN DIE FROM DROWNING ACUTELY, OR IN SOME CASES, THESE ENTANGLEMENTS WILL LAST MONTHS OR EVEN YEAR OR MORE.

♪ ♪ >> DO YOU THINK THE FISHERMEN ARE WILLING TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR?

>> THERE ARE ENTRENCHED INTERESTS THAT WOULD PROTECT THE STATUS QUO.

SO THE SHIPPING FOLKS WANT TO KEEP SHIPPING, THE FISHING PEOPLE WANT TO KEEP FISHING, THE RIGHT WHALES WANT TO KEEP BEING RIGHT WHALES.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT PUTS THEM ALL IN CONFLICT WITH EACH OTHER.

WE CAN'T EXPECT THE RIGHT WHALES TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIOR.

SO IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE INCUMBENT UPON US TO EXPLAIN TO EACH OTHER AND THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDER GROUPS IN THIS VERY COMPLEX SITUATION HOW ARE WE GOING TO PROTECT THE SPECIES WHILE PRESERVING FISHING AND WHILE PRESERVING COMMERCIAL SHIPPING, WHICH ARE OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE ECONOMY.

♪ ♪ >> I BELIEVE MOST FISHERMAN, RECREATIONAL FISHERMEN, COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN.

I THINK THEY'RE ALL CONSERVATIONISTS.

I THINK THEY ALL CARE.

BUT SINCE WHALES ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE, AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW UP, OR NOT SHOW UP, I THINK WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO BITE THE BULLET AND BE MORE RESTRICTIVE AND DO SOME STUFF THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING IN THE PAST.

SOMETIMES, YOU JUST NEED TO DO THINGS FOR INSURANCE, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HIT A WHALE WITH A BOAT OR ENTANGLE SOMETHING SOMEHOW UNINTENTIONALLY.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY, ANYWHERE WANTS TO INTENTIONALLY ENTANGLE A WHALE.

ANOTHER BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THE WHALES ARE MOVING FURTHER NORTH BECAUSE THEIR FOOD IS MOVING FURTHER NORTH BECAUSE THE WATERS ARE WARMING UP.

SO WHALES DON'T STAY WHERE THEY USED TO STAY, SO IT'S HARD TO PROTECT SOMETHING THAT'S NOT WHERE YOU SAW IT LAST YEAR.

THEN YOU'VE GOT LOBSTER FISHERIES AND SNOW CRAB FISHERIES IN CANADA, AND WE REALLY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHAT THEY DO IN CANADA - AND THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN.

BUT IT IS A COMPLEX PROBLEM, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WORKING ON IT.

>> ONE OF THE REALLY INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS WHAT'S CALLED ROPELESS FISHING.

AND THE IDEA IS TO TAKE THAT BUOY ROPE OUT OF THE WATER COLUMN ALTOGETHER.

AND SO ONE WAY THAT THAT CAN BE DONE IS TO HAVE A SYSTEM THAT HOLDS THE BUOY ROPE COILED DOWN ON THE SEA FLOOR BED.

AND THEN WHEN THE FISHERMEN COMES TO CHECK THEIR TRAPS, THAT CAN SEND AN ACOUSTIC SIGNAL AND THE BUOY POPS UP.

AND THAT WAY THERE'S A MUCH LESS RISK THAT WHALES WILL BECOME ENTANGLED.

>> IS THERE ENOUGH FOOD OUT THERE FOR THEM?

>> CLIMATE CHANGE IS AFFECTING ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE IN THE OCEAN.

THE FAMOUS GULF STREAM CURRENT OFF THE EASTERN COAST OF THE U.S. WHERE RIGHT WHALES LIVE, THAT CURRENT IS CHANGING.

IT'S SLOWING DOWN, IT'S MOVING AND THAT'S CHANGING THE WAY THAT THAT PRODUCTIVITY PATTERNS PLAY OUT IN THE OCEAN OF WHERE THE FOOD IS.

I THINK WE'RE INCLINED TO THINK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AS AN ATMOSPHERE ISSUE, BUT IT'S HAPPENING IN THE OCEAN EVERY BIT AS MUCH AS IT'S HAPPENING IN THE AIR, BECAUSE THE OCEAN ABSORBS A QUARTER OF THE CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS, AND MORE THAN 90% OF THE HEAT THAT'S BEEN TRAPPED BY THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT GOES DIRECTLY INTO THE TOP LAYERS OF THE OCEAN.

SO OF COURSE, THAT'S HAVING AN IMPACT ON MARINE LIFE.

>> SO IF IT WERE YOUR JOB TO PROTECT THE WHALES, AND WE SAID, JUST GO OUT THERE AND DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

>> WELL, I THINK PROBABLY I WOULD START BY GETTING PEOPLE TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS SPECIES, BECAUSE WHEN THE PUBLIC REALLY EMBRACES AN ANIMAL LIKE THAT AND SAYS THAT IT'S UNACCEPTABLE, WE CANNOT LOSE THIS ANIMAL FROM THIS PLANET.

THAT'S WHEN YOU'LL REALLY SEE ACTION, BECAUSE POLITICIANS LISTEN TO PEOPLE BECAUSE PEOPLE VOTE AND THEN YOU CAN REALLY GET ACTION QUICKLY WHEN AN ANIMAL IS EMBRACED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AS AN ICON THAT THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO LET GO.

ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT RIGHT WHALES IS THEY'RE NOT THAT FAR FROM US.

THEY'RE MAMMALS, JUST LIKE WE ARE, THEY CARE FOR THEIR OFFSPRING, JUST LIKE WE DO.

THEY BREASTFEED THEIR OFFSPRING, JUST LIKE WE DO.

THEY'RE ALSO HIGHLY INTELLIGENT AND HIGHLY SOCIAL ANIMALS, JUST LIKE WE ARE.

>> RIGHT WHALES HAVE BEEN INTERTWINED WITH HUMANS FOR CENTURIES, AND THEY CAME VERY CLOSE TO GOING EXTINCT AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE TO IT THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN AND THAT THE SPECIES CAN INCREASE AND CAN RECOVER.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT ALL OF THE MODELS SUGGEST THAT IF WE CAN GET ENTANGLEMENTS AND COLLISIONS FROM SHIP STRIKES UNDER CONTROL, THAT THE SPECIES STILL HAS A SHOT AT RECOVERY.

PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT IT WHEN I'M OUT THERE AND I SEE THESE MOTHERS AND CALVES, ROLLING AROUND AT THE SURFACE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY LUCKY THAT WE GET TO SEE THEM TODAY.

>> OFTENTIMES YOU'LL SEE A MOTHER AND CALF TOGETHER, AND THAT'S ALWAYS A REMINDER THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT AN ANIMAL THAT'S TAKING CARE OF ITS OFFSPRING.

AND I THINK IT'S EASY FOR HUMANS TO REALLY FEEL SOMETHING FOR THAT RELATIONSHIP, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW IT FROM OUR OWN LIVES.

♪ ♪ >> A WHOLE SEA GRASS ECOSYSTEM IS DISAPPEARING OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA.

SCIENTISTS KNOW WHY AND THEY KNOW HOW TO BRING IT BACK.

♪ ♪ >> THERE ARE SO MANY STORIES FROM THE LOCALS THAT TALK ABOUT BEING CHILDREN IN THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON AND WALKING OUT JUST LIKE WE JUST DID.

AND THEY ARE GETTING JUST CAUGHT UP IN SEA GRASS.

IT'S HARD TO WALK THROUGH.

SEAGRASS IS ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT ECOSYSTEMS.

IT'S FOOD FOR LARGE GRAZERS, WHETHER IT'S MANATEES OR SEA TURTLES.

A LOT OF HERBIVOROUS FISH WILL EAT THE GRASS, BUT IT'S ALSO HABITAT AND REFUGE FOR A LOT OF SMALL FISH SPECIES.

>> MANATEES NEED TO FEED ON VEGETATION QUITE OFTEN.

AND IT CAN BE UP TO 10% OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT PER DAY.

SO IF YOU'VE GOT A THOUSAND POUND ANIMAL, THEY'RE EATING A HUNDRED POUNDS OF FOOD A DAY, AND THAT IS A LOT OF SEAGRASS.

IT'S A LOT OF FLOATING VEGETATION.

DECEMBER OF 2020, THERE WERE A HIGHER NUMBER OF MANATEES THAT NEED TO BE RESCUED OR RECOVERED BY FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION.

ANYTIME WE WOULD GO OUT INTO THE FIELD, UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE FINDING A, EITHER A DEAD MANATEE OR A MANATEE THAT NEEDED TO BE RESCUED.

THESE ANIMALS WERE FLOATING SIDEWAYS, VERY EMACIATED AND LETHARGIC.

IT WAS NOT THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING OUT TO FEED.

IT WAS THAT THERE WAS NO FOOD FOR THEM TO FEED ON.

>> SO FAR THIS YEAR, 2021, WE HAVE OVER 905 MANATEE DEATHS.

THAT'S TREMENDOUS.

AND A LOT OF THEM ARE CONCENTRATED WITHIN THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON SYSTEM.

SO WE ASKED OURSELVES WHY, WHAT'S CAUSING THIS?

AND THE PREVALENT ANSWER IS STARVATION AND WHY ARE THEY STARVING?

BECAUSE THE HABITAT OF SEA GRASS HAS GONE.

I GREW UP IN THIS AREA, IN THE WATER, YOU KNOW, SURFING, DIVING, FISHING, SWIMMING, AND THERE WAS AN ABUNDANCE OF MARINE LIFE.

I REMEMBER THE SEA GRASS, THICK, THICK SEA GRASS GROWING IN THERE.

AND YOU COULD PULL A QUICK SEINE NET THROUGH THERE AND GET ALL KINDS OF ANIMALS FROM SEA HORSES TO LOBSTER, TO LARVAL STAGES OF FISH AND CRABS AND SHRIMP.

AND IT WAS JUST TREMENDOUS.

WE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT TOXIC ALGAE BLOOMS OR OTHER KIND OF PROBLEMS.

BUT WHEN I CAME BACK IN ´78, I STARTED TO SEE A LOT OF, A LOT OF DEGRADATION AND POLLUTION TO OUR WATERWAYS.

NOW I GO OUT THERE TO THAT SAME LOCATION, AND IT'S A BARREN SAND BOTTOM.

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE LOCATED IN THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON, WHICH IS A SHALLOW BODY ESTUARY THAT SPANS 156 MILES ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST OF FLORIDA.

WE'RE HOPING TO FIND ANY SEAGRASS, BUT HERE IN FLORIDA, WE ACTUALLY HAVE SEVEN SPECIES OF SEA GRASS, ALL SIX OF THE SPECIES OF SEA GRASS THAT ARE FOUND IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, WHICH MAKES IT A REALLY BEAUTIFUL DYNAMIC SYSTEM.

VERY BIODIVERSE.

>> THIS IS A QUADRAT THAT WE WOULD USE TO QUANTIFY HOW MUCH COVERAGE WE HAVE OF THE SEA GRASS.

SO WE PLACE THIS OVER THE BED AND THEN WE LOOK AT IT FROM ABOVE WHEN WE KIND OF TRY AND CONCEPTUALIZE HOW MUCH SEAGRASS IS BEING FILLED IN THIS AREA.

SO... ♪ ♪ SO IN THIS QUADRAT, WE'RE ONLY SEEING ONE SPECIES WHEN THAT'S THE HALODULE WRIGHTI, THE SHOAL GRASS.

IT'S NOT VERY DENSELY COVERING.

I WOULD SAY WE HAVE ABOUT 25% COVERAGE IN THIS ONE QUADRAT.

THERE IS ONLY ONE OF THOSE SEVEN SPECIES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE HERE.

♪ ♪ >> WE'RE HAVING AN INCREASE IN NUTRIENTS IN THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY FERTILIZER, RUNOFF, OR POLLUTION, OR SOME SORT OF NUTRIENTS FROM STORMWATER DRAINS.

AND JUST LIKE ANY PLANT, YOU GIVE A PLANT LIMITING NUTRIENTS, WHETHER IT'S NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS, IT'S GOING TO INCREASE GROWTH.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THESE PHYTOPLANKTON AND THE MACRO-ALGAE, THEY START TO GROW A LOT.

AND WHEN THEY GROW A LOT, THEY SHADE OUT THE SEA GRASS, AND THE SEA GRASS IS A PLANT.

IT NEEDS TO PHOTOSYNTHESIZE.

SO IF IT DOESN'T GET THAT LIGHT, IT EVENTUALLY STRESSES AND ULTIMATELY CAN DIE.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, THIS ISN'T JUST SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR MICROCOSM HERE.

IT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER THE STATE, AS WELL AS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

>> WHEN GUESTS ASK ME ABOUT MANATEES IN THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON, MY ANSWER IS NEVER ABOUT MANATEES.

IT'S ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THE ESTUARY.

WHEN SOMEBODY ASKS ME WHY MANATEES ARE DYING, IT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK MORE ABOUT HEALTHY SEA GRASSES AND MANGROVES AND OYSTER REEFS AND THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING, NUTRIENT POLLUTION FROM FERTILIZER AND SEWAGE RUNOFF AND SEPTIC TANKS AND HOW ALL OF THOSE ISSUES ARE REALLY AFFECTING THE HEALTH OF THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON AND OTHER COASTAL WATER BODIES IN FLORIDA.

SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A CONVERSATION ABOUT A MANATEE CAN ULTIMATELY LEAD TO MAJOR CHANGES IN THE WAY THAT PEOPLE BEHAVE AS FLORIDIANS AND VISITORS TO OUR STATE.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE DEGRADED A LOT OF OUR ECOSYSTEMS, WHETHER IT'S OUR OCEANS OR RIVERS OR UPLANDS, AND IT WOULD JUST BE SO WONDERFUL TO GIVE MOTHER NATURE A CHANCE TO REPAIR HERSELF.

WE DO A LOT OF RESTORATION.

AND SO IN ORDER TO GET THE SEA GRASS THAT WE GROW AND PUT BACK INTO THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON, WE NEED SOMEONE TO COLLECT IT.

BUT WE'RE -- YOU CAN'T JUST GO OUT AND GRAB SEA GRASS OUT OF THE GROUND.

AND SO WE HAVE A TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS THAT WILL WALK THE BEACHES FOR US, OR WALK ALONG THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON.

ANIF THEY FIND A FRAGMENT OF SEA GRASS THAT HAS A ROOT ON IT, THEY'LL PUT IT INTO A LITTLE BUCKET AND THEY'LL BRING IT TO US AND THEN WE'LL PLANT IT IN OUR NURSERY.

>> OKAY, SO WE'RE COLLECTING THESE FRAGMENTS HERE.

THIS ONE IS GREAT BECAUSE IT'S REALLY GREEN AND IT'S HEALTHY.

IT ALSO HAS THIS PIECE HERE, WHICH IS THE RHIZOME.

IT'S LIKE A HORIZONTAL ROOT AND THEN THE ACTUAL ROOT SYSTEM AS WELL.

AND THAT MEANS THAT WHEN WE COLLECT THIS FRAGMENT FROM THE BEACH, WE CAN ACTUALLY PLANT THIS IN OUR NURSERY.

>> WE'RE AT THE SEAGRASS NURSERY AT FLORIDA OCEANOGRAPHIC SOCIETY, WHERE WE TAKE THE FRAGMENTS OF SEAGRASS THAT VOLUNTEERS BRING IN AND WE PLANT THEM INTO THIS SEAGRASS NURSERY.

AND SO THIS WATER IS FULL STRENGTH SEAWATER THAT COMES FROM THE OCEAN SIDE.

IT GETS PULLED THROUGH HERE AND WE'RE GIVE THE SEAGRASS SOME TIME TO ROOT AND ESTABLISH IN HOPES OF ONE DAY WE'LL BE ABLE TO USE IT TO OUTPLANT BACK INTO THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON.

BECAUSE THIS IS SEAWATER THAT COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE OCEAN.

WE GET ALL KINDS OF ALGAL BLOOMS IN HERE, AND WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS THAT COME IN THREE TIMES A WEEK TO TAKE OUT ANY SORT OF BLOOM, ANY PIECES OF ALGAE AND KIND OF KEEP THE TANKS CLEAN SO THE SEA GRASS CAN ESTABLISH.

IT'S ACTUALLY VERY SOOTHING TO COME IN AND CLEAN IT.

THE MANATEE GRASS FEELS LIKE SPAGHETTI.

SO THESE ARE OUR SEAGRASS MATS.

THEY'RE COMPOSED OF A BURLAP MAT WHERE WE TIE ACTUAL SEAGRASS FRAGMENTS ONTO IT WITH FLORAL WIRE.

SO THE IDEA IS THAT THIS IS ALL BIODEGRADABLE OVER TIME, THE MAT AND THE FLORAL WIRE WOULD DISAPPEAR AND THE SEAGRASS WILL ACTUALLY ROOT INTO THE GROUND.

SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS PUT THEM IN THE GROUND AND THEN USE THESE BAMBOO STAKES TO ACTUALLY HOLD THEM DOWN.

AND THESE BAMBOO STAKES ARE BIODEGRADABLE AS WELL.

♪ ♪ >> THE SEAGRASS IS VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE ECOLOGY, BUT IT'S EVERYWHERE WITH, YOU KNOW, LOSING THE DUNES AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

SO IT'S, THERE'S EVEN IN THE THREE YEARS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES AND A LOT OF DIFFERENCES THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO JUST COME BACK.

>> IF IT DOES, IT'S GOING TO TAKE MULTIPLE YEARS.

>> YOU KNOW, WHATEVER WE CAN DO, I'M MUCH MORE COGNIZANT OF THAT, OF ECOLOGY AND YOU KNOW, THE CONSERVING WATER AND, YOU KNOW, RECYCLING AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS JUST BECAUSE THE IMPACT IT HAS DOWN HERE IS MUCH MORE OBVIOUS THAN WHAT YOU WOULD SEE IN MINNESOTA.

>> IF WE CAN CLEAN UP OUR WATER QUALITY, MOTHER NATURE WILL TAKE THE NEXT STEPS AND SHE WILL GO BACK TO WHAT SHE WAS DOING FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS.

AND SO I JUST REALLY HOPE THAT GLOBALLY, EVERYONE CAN GET TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT THE BEST MEANS TO MOVE FORWARD, TO SAVE THESE ECOSYSTEMS FOR TOMORROW'S GENERATIONS.

♪ ♪ >> AROUND 73 MILLION SHARKS ARE KILLED FOR THEIR FINS EACH YEAR.

A MAJOR REASON FOR THEIR DECLINE WORLDWIDE.

>> Jennie: SHARK FINNING IS ILLEGAL IN THE U.S.

BUT THE DEMAND FOR FINS HAS INSPIRED CONGRESS TO CONSIDER NEW LAWS.

♪ ♪ >> WHAT IS SHARK FINNING?

>> SO SHARK FINNING IS AN ABHORRENT PRACTICE OF CATCHING A LIVE SHARK FROM THE OCEAN, CUTTING ITS FINS OFF TO USE FOR SHARK FIN SOUP, AND THEN THROWING THE SHARK BACK ALIVE AND FINLESS INTO THE OCEAN.

IT'S BEEN ILLEGAL IN AMERICA FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

IT IS AN ABHORRENT PRACTICE THAT NONETHELESS STILL HAPPENS IN SOME PARTS OF THE WORLD.

>> DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY SHARKS ARE TAKEN BY SHARK FINNING?

>> WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN SHARK FINNING AND SHARK FISHING.

SO SHARK FISHING TAKES PROBABLY ABOUT A HUNDRED MILLION SHARKS A YEAR FROM THE WORLD'S OCEANS.

WE KILL A HUNDRED MILLION OF THEM.

THEY KILL ABOUT SEVEN OF US ANNUALLY.

SO IT'S A FAIRLY LOP-SIDED RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH SHARKS.

SHARK FIN IS USED MOSTLY FOR THE PRACTICE OF MAKING SHARK FIN SOUP, WHICH IS A POPULAR EAST ASIAN DELICACY.

IT'S LOSING POPULARITY, I'M TOLD, IN CHINA AT THE MOMENT, WHICH IS ENCOURAGING TO HEAR.

AND SO THE QUESTION WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES IS, IS THIS ONE DISH, THIS ONE CULTURAL PRACTICE, THIS BOWL OF SOUP WORTH IT, FOR LOSING, SOME OF THE ANIMALS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE OCEAN FOR 400 MILLION YEARS, AND SOME OF THE OCEAN'S TOP PREDATORS?

>> WHAT KIND OF LEGISLATION IS BEING PUT IN PLACE FOR THIS?

>> THERE'S BEEN SOME DIFFERENT LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS IN NORTH AMERICA TO ADDRESS SHARK CONSERVATION OVER THE YEARS.

AND THERE'S A BILL AT THE MOMENT, THE SHARK FIN SALES ELIMINATION ACT, THAT'S WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH CONGRESS THAT SEEKS TO REDUCE THE MARKET INCENTIVE FOR HAVING SHARK FINS AT ALL IN THE FIRST PLACE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THAT THE U.S.

DOES PARTICIPATE IN THE GLOBAL SHARK FIN TRADE.

AND AT ONE POINT ACTUALLY, GEORGIA WAS THE NUMBER ONE EXPORTING STATE FOR SHARK FINS.

I DON'T BELIEVE WE ARE AT THE MOMENT.

AND JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A SHARK FIN DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT FIN WAS FISHED ILLEGALLY.

THAT SHARK MAY HAVE BEEN CAPTURED PERFECTLY LEGALLY, BUT RIGHT NOW, PART OF THE PROBLEM IS YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU ARE FACED WITH AN INDIVIDUAL SHARK FIN, YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT FIN CAME FROM.

AND SO KNOWING WHETHER IT WAS FROM ILLEGALLY FISHED SHARK OR FROM AN ABHORRENTLY FINNED SHARK IS VERY DIFFICULT.

SO THE QUESTION I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE ASKING IS, IS IT WORTH IT AT ALL?

COULD WE JUST REMOVE THE MARKET INCENTIVE AND STOP IT WITH THE SHARK FINS ALTOGETHER?

SHARK IS A LEGITIMATE SEAFOOD.

I MEAN, SHARK FLESH IS EDIBLE AND SOME SHARK SPECIES ARE VERY TASTY.

AND SO THERE ARE NATIONS THAT FISH LARGE NUMBERS OF SHARK AS A PART OF THEIR NORMAL COMMERCIAL FISHING OPERATIONS.

IT'S NOT A HUGE PART OF THE U.S.

FISHING INDUSTRY, BUT COUNTRIES LIKE SPAIN AND INDONESIA AND CHINA, JAPAN, THESE COUNTRIES TAKE LARGE AMOUNTS OF SHARK MEAT FROM THE OCEAN AS PART OF THEIR FISHERY PRACTICES.

THE PROBLEM IS WHEN THEY DO THAT TO A POINT WHERE IT BECOMES A THREAT TO THE CONTINUED SURVIVAL OF THOSE SPECIES.

A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE NORTH ATLANTIC MAKO SHARK, WHICH IS AT RISK OF GOING EXTINCT BECAUSE OF INTENSE FISHING PRESSURE IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC FROM EUROPE.

THERE IS NO OTHER ANIMAL GROUP IN THE OCEAN THAT KILLS ANYWHERE NEAR AS MANY SHARKS AS WE DO, SO WE HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR ROLE IN THIS SITUATION AND FOR PUTTING OURSELVES IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH THIS GROUP OF ANIMALS.

>> I THINK BECAUSE THE GENERAL PERCEPTION IS TO BE AFRAID OF SHARKS, PEOPLE DON'T MAYBE CARE ABOUT THEM ABOUT THE SAME WAY THEY MIGHT ABOUT A RIGHT WHALE.

>> YEAH.

I THINK MAYBE YOU'RE RIGHT, BUT I ALSO FEEL LIKE THAT'S REALLY CHANGING FROM BEING REVILED AND FOR PEOPLE BEING SCARED OF THEM, TO PEOPLE SAYING SHARKS ARE REALLY COOL.

AND YOU ONLY HAVE TO LOOK AT THE POPULARITY OF THINGS LIKE "SHARK WEEK," AND THE NUMBER OF DOCUMENTARIES THAT PEOPLE LOVE TO WATCH ABOUT SHARKS AND THE FANTASTIC RESEARCH THAT'S HAPPENING.

AND IT HAPPENS BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE EMBRACED THESE SPECIES AS ICONS OF THE OCEAN THAT DESERVE RESPECT AND PROTECTION.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 500 SPECIES OF SHARKS, AND THEY CAN RANGE EVERYTHING FROM, THE DWARF LANTERN SHARK, WHICH IS A SHARK THAT'S NOT MUCH BIGGER THAN THAT AND SHOOTS GLOWING GREEN LIGHT OUT OF ITS EYES.

IT LIVES IN THE DEEP OCEAN, AND THEY'RE QUITE REMARKABLE, LITTLE ANIMALS ALL THE WAY UP TO THE WHALE SHARK THAT YOU MAY SEE SWIMMING BEHIND ME, WHICH IS THE LARGEST FISH TO HAVE EVER LIVED ON THIS PLANET.

>> WHAT DO THEY MEAN TO THE ECOSYSTEM, SHARKS OUT THERE IN THE OCEAN?

>> THEY PLAY AN IMPORTANT ECOLOGICAL ROLE.

THEY KEEP THE FOOD WEB HEALTHY AND FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.

SHARKY SEAS ARE RICH, PRODUCTIVE SEAS.

THERE'S SO MANY SPECIES OF SHARKS AND SUCH GREAT DIVERSITY THAT'S EVOLVED OVER MILLIONS OF YEARS, THAT WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT GENERALIZING, ABOUT WHAT A SHARK DOES IN THE OCEAN.

BUT IT'S CERTAINLY TRUE TO SAY THAT THAT SOME GROUPS OF SHARKS LIKE THE APEX PREDATORY SHARKS PLAY REALLY IMPORTANT ROLES IN REGULATING THE WHOLE FOOD WEB FROM THE TOP-DOWN.

>> SO IF YOU'RE OUT SWIMMING IN THE OCEAN, I MEAN, I DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A FEAR OF SHARKS.

I MEAN, SHOULD YOU HAVE THAT FEAR?

>> I THINK YOU SHOULD BE RESPECTFUL OF THE OCEAN AND ITS INHABITANTS.

THEY DESERVE TO BE THERE.

THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE THERE.

THEY EVOLVED THERE.

SO, BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING WITH SO FEW UNPROVOKED SHARK INCIDENTS WITH PEOPLE EVERY YEAR, IT'S JUST SIX OR SEVEN PEOPLE GLOBALLY.

MORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED BY COWS AND DOGS AND HORSES THAN ARE EVER KILLED BY SHARKS.

SO I THINK IT'S JUST THAT MENACING APPEARANCE, THAT, AND THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN, WHAT YOU CAN'T UNDERNEATH YOU WHEN YOU'RE IN THE WATER THAT LEADS TO THAT FEAR AND THAT ANXIETY ABOUT SHARKS, BUT THEY REALLY REPRESENT VERY LITTLE THREAT TO YOU AND YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY TO GET IN THE WATER AND SWIM AND SURF AND DO ALL THE THINGS AND ENJOY THE COASTAL HABITAT THAT WE HAVE HERE.

>> HOW'S CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTING ALL THESE SHARKS?

>> CLIMATE CHANGE IS AFFECTING EVERYTHING IN THE OCEAN AND SHARKS ARE NOT IMMUNE FROM THAT.

SO, AS THE CURRENT CHANGE AND THE TEMPERATURE PATTERNS CHANGE, PRODUCTIVITY PATTERNS CHANGE FOOD OCCURS IN DIFFERENT PLACES AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

THANKFULLY SHARKS ARE HIGHLY MOBILE SPECIES SO THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR DISTRIBUTIONS VERY QUICKLY IN RESPONSE TO WHAT'S HAPPENING.

ON THE DOWNSIDE, THEY'RE NOT SO RESILIENT TO LOSING THEIR POPULATIONS.

THEY REPRODUCE VERY SLOWLY.

THEY LIVE FOR A LONG TIME.

IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF ANIMAL REPRODUCTION, WE RECOGNIZE TWO DIFFERENT STRATEGIES, THE RABBITS AND THE ELEPHANTS - AND SHARKS ARE MORE LIKE ELEPHANTS THAN THEY ARE LIKE RABBITS.

AND SO, UNFORTUNATELY THAT MEANS THEY ARE SLOW TO RECOVER IN THE CASE THAT THEIR POPULATIONS ARE DISTURBED.

>> HOW IS PLASTIC POLLUTION AFFECTING SHARKS AND JUST THE OCEAN ECOSYSTEM?

>> THERE IS REALLY ONLY ONE SOLUTION FOR THE OCEAN PLASTIC CRISIS.

AND THAT'S TO SAY, SHUT OFF THE TAP.

WE HAVE TO TURN OFF THE FLOW OF PLASTIC THAT GOES INTO THE OCEAN, ALMOST ALL OF WHICH COMES FROM RIVERS.

ULTIMATELY, IT WASHES OFF LAND INTO RIVERS, FLOWS FROM RIVERS INTO THE SEA.

IF WE CAN INTERCEPT IN THOSE RIVERS AND STOP THAT PLASTIC FROM EVER REACHING THE SEA, THEN WE CAN AVOID THE PROBLEM.

ONCE IT'S OUT THERE IN THE OPEN OCEAN, YOU'RE REALLY TRYING TO CLOSE THE GATE AFTER THE HORSE HAS ALREADY BOLTED.

SO YOU REALLY NEED TO GET THAT PLASTIC AND SCOOP IT OUT BEFORE IT HITS THE OCEAN.

THERE'S A GREAT SOLUTION IN BALTIMORE, THE BALTIMORE TRASH WHEEL, THAT'S THERE TO SCOOP PLASTIC OUT OF THE JONES FALLS CREEK, BEFORE IT GOES INTO THE OCEAN.

WE NEED ONE OF THOSE AT THE MOUTH OF EVERY RIVER TO CATCH THE PLASTIC BEFORE IT MAKES ITS WAY INTO THE OPEN OCEAN.

AS DAVID ATTENBOROUGH RECENTLY SAID, WE HAD THE BRILLIANCE TO CREATE THESE EXTRAORDINARY MATERIALS THAT HAVE TRANSFORMED EVERY ASPECT OF OUR LIVES.

WELL, NOW WE NEED TO TAKE THAT ENGINEERING BRILLIANCE AND TURN IT TOWARDS SOLUTIONS, FOR SOLVING THIS OCEAN PLASTICS CRISIS BEFORE IT BECOMES AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO THE ANIMALS THAT LIVE THERE.