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As an air-breathing animal, the human is not built to survive in water, but people have found ways to live an almost aquatic life so they can exploit the sea's riches.....
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AnimalsTranscript
00:05Only one creature has carved a life for itself in every habitat on Earth.
00:12That creature is us.
00:18All over the world we still use our ingenuity to survive in the wild places,
00:24far from the city lights, face to face with raw nature.
00:30This is the human planet.
00:45The sea covers 70% of our planet's surface.
00:51It's home to three quarters of all life on Earth.
01:02All the creatures found here are perfectly adapted to thrive in the ocean.
01:10All except one.
01:30We are not evolved for a life aquatic.
01:35And we're way out of our depth in this dangerous and alien world.
01:46But great opportunities await those people who dare to venture into the water.
01:55As we immerse ourselves ever deeper in the big blue,
01:59how do we overcome the enormous challenges that confront us?
02:15Star Wars
02:16Star Wars
02:16Star Wars
02:16Star Wars
02:32Our relationship with the ocean begins on the coast.
02:38Even here, the sea is a force to be reckoned with.
02:45Galicia in northern Spain is home to one of Europe's most treacherous coasts.
02:54But the more extreme the conditions, the greater the rewards if, like Javier and Ángel, you're prepared to take the
03:01risk.
03:20Javier and Ángel are on the hunt for a strange creature that clings to the wave-battered rocks at the
03:28bottom of these cliffs.
03:43They have to move fast. Their quarry is only exposed at low tide.
03:53Let's go up, up!
04:04Let's go up!
04:07Let's go up!
04:11Tranquilo, tranquilo, pode, pode!
04:18It's goose barnacles thereafter, a highly prized delicacy that can sell for 200 euros a kilo.
04:26But it's not easy picking. Each year, about five collectors die.
04:32Few dare work when it's this rough.
04:35But those who do can charge a premium for their harvest.
04:51Despite the onslaught, Javier's filled his bag.
04:56Now it's Ángel's turn, and though it's getting even rougher...
05:03He's going in with no safety rope.
05:12Working unattached allows him to dash between waves and reach the lowest rocks where the biggest barnacles grow.
05:21But one slip could be fatal.
05:32Although the tide's coming in, Ángel's determined to collect more.
05:36Although the tide's coming in, Ángel's determined to collect more.
06:27It's this abundance of food that entices us into the waves.
06:31And just a little further out, there are even greater riches.
06:39Coastal waters account for just one-tenth of the world's oceans, but they're home to the vast majority of marine
06:45life.
06:51The trouble is, as we venture further from the shore, the dangers escalate.
07:01Benjamin's training to be a harpoonist, and he knows any day now all he's learned could be put to the
07:07test.
07:26He lives on a small Indonesian island called Lembata.
07:32Few crops grow in this rocky land, and even surviving from the sea is a struggle.
07:40But there's one animal they wait for that can dramatically change their fortunes.
08:02The whole village springs into action.
08:21It's a race against time to get out to sea.
08:41Benjamin and the rest of the crew are about to take on the biggest predator that's ever lived.
08:58They all know the risks, but opportunities don't come much bigger than this.
09:06The sperm whale.
09:10Up to 18 meters long, these mighty leviathans are powerful animals, and they won't go down without a fight.
09:27With simple wooden boats and handmade weapons, the whalers seem ill-prepared for battle.
09:32But this is how it's been for 600 years.
09:38They can only harpoon the whale when it surfaces to breathe.
09:43So they need to move fast.
09:55Benjamin's brother prepares to launch himself at the whale.
09:59This is the most dangerous moment of all.
10:02This is the most dangerous moment of all.
10:08But he misses.
10:13And now someone else must step up before the whale dies.
10:20Benjamin's moment has arrived.
10:21Benjamin's moment has arrived.
10:41Benjamin's moment has arrived.
10:42He's got it.
10:49But the battle has just begun.
10:56As the whale fights to break free, they move to harpoon it again.
11:06They need to prevent it from diving and pulling a boat under.
11:18But it's not enough.
11:25Terrified of the thrashing whale, the crew scramble to safety.
11:40Another boat attacks and harpoons the whale once more.
11:53Now dragging several boats, the whale slowly tires.
12:11Eventually, its struggles are exhausted.
12:15And a final cut through its backbone is made.
12:34It's been an epic eight-hour battle.
12:38But Benjamin has shown his skill and bravery.
12:46And this time, everyone returns safely home.
12:53The death of a whale may be sad to us.
12:56But this is their lifeline.
13:00One catch can feed a village for months.
13:02And this small-scale hunt in Lembata
13:05doesn't threaten whale numbers in these oceans.
13:09They only take around six whales a year.
13:15Nothing is wasted.
13:17The meat is shared out.
13:19As the man who dealt the decisive blow, Benjamin gets a larger share.
13:26And for a while, at least, his family won't be going hungry.
13:36Although we've evolved for a life on land,
13:39we've become remarkably efficient oceanic hunters.
13:47Adaptability is the secret of our success
13:49at discovering new ways to exploit the ocean.
13:58And in a few special places,
14:00this means working with the creatures of the sea.
14:11These fishermen of Laguna in Brazil
14:14have forged one of the most extraordinary partnerships
14:17between humans and wild animals found anywhere on Earth.
14:26Edson is up early to fish the large numbers of mullet
14:30that migrate through these waters every May.
14:35But there's a problem.
14:37The water's so murky,
14:39the fishermen can't see where to cast their nets.
14:45So they join forces with the most intelligent animal in the sea.
14:51But like all relationships,
14:53a certain amount of patience is required.
15:05Finally, their friends surface.
15:11The local bottlenose dolphins are celebrities in Laguna.
15:16In fact, Edson and his pal Alfredo know each one by name.
15:21Figueiredo is bringing a fish for us.
15:26This is Scooby.
15:27This is Scooby.
15:30Incredibly, the dolphins drive the mullet towards the fishermen.
15:35And even signal when to cast their nets
15:38with these distinctive dives.
15:58The fishermen say they can tell the size of the school,
16:02and which way it's travelling,
16:04from the vigour and direction of the dive.
16:10The fishermen say they can tell the size of the school,
16:12The dolphins do the hard work herding the mullet.
16:18Fish are served to the fishermen on a plate.
16:24But what the dolphins stand to gain is less clear.
16:28Since they detect prey by echolocation,
16:31they have no problem hunting in the murky water.
16:34But picking off individuals in the school is more difficult.
16:38It seems the nets panic the fish into breaking formation,
16:43making them much easier for the dolphins to chase down.
17:01As the nets are hauled in, the benefits of team work are revealed.
17:06As the nets are hauled in, the benefits of team work are revealed.
17:16They have to figure out how much the dolphins help them.
17:46They have to find the nets.
17:54No matter how we catch it,
17:57seafood is vital to human survival,
18:00providing the main source of protein
18:02for about half the world's population.
18:10But there's a lot more to our ancient connection with the sea than just food.
18:18The more we've come to depend on the ocean, and the further we've pushed into its vast
18:23frontier, the greater its influence has become in our lives.
18:32The Pacific covers one third of the globe.
18:40The tiny specks of land in the middle of it are about as remote as life can get for a
18:45human being.
18:58With so few options on land, the surrounding ocean underpins almost every aspect of life
19:05on a Pacific island.
19:18Over 3,000 kilometers from the nearest continent, Hawaii is one of the most isolated of all.
19:28There are few places where the sea has had a greater impact on human existence.
19:49The ocean, significantly to us, it's our home.
19:53Our connection is so great, we look at it as our origin.
20:00The water is who we are, and the water is our mother, our father, our gods.
20:07For Tom Poaco Stone, displaying his skill in the ocean is a central part of what it means
20:13to be Hawaiian.
20:22Sliding on waves, as it was known, has been practiced by the Polynesians for millennia.
20:27But it was around 1,000 years ago, when they arrived in Hawaii, that it evolved into surfing.
20:34We actually learned that we could construct boards to stand up and surf away.
20:42It became a very ritualistic component of our culture.
20:49Far more than just a sport, surfing was a sacred art form for Tom's ancestors.
20:55It was a core part of their society, and the noble pursuit of warriors, kings, and queens.
21:09We have a lot of history about women that surf, and you know, they surf so well that they
21:15actually reached godly status.
21:23We revered these women.
21:36From ancient origins, surfing has now gone global.
21:41And for some, searching for the right of your life has become an extreme obsession.
21:55December the 9th, 2009.
21:58The world surfing elite has gathered in Hawaii to ride some of the biggest swells to hit
22:03these shores in over a decade.
22:25Surfing has certainly changed, but for many, it's still a way of life.
22:29And the best riders are still revered as gods amongst the worldwide surfing tribe.
22:46With waves over 15 meters, five stories high, this is a real test of skill and stamina.
23:19Ken Bradshaw is famed for taming a 26 meter wave.
23:24Probably the biggest, probably the biggest ever ridden.
23:26But these unpredictable swells can claim even the most seasoned surfer.
23:54There's a lot of people in the world.
23:57There's a lot of people in the world.
24:03Just as he surfaces, another giant breaker comes crashing in.
24:26After a relentless pounding from six excessive waves, Cairn eventually escapes in one piece.
24:38All big wave surfers know the risks, but the adrenaline and the glory is addictive.
24:47And just as the ancient Hawaiians discovered, surfing is still the most spectacular demonstration of our ability to conquer the
24:56waves.
25:18To be continued...
25:28To be continued...
25:31To be continued...
25:36To be continued...
25:55To be continued...
25:56Our mastery of the sea is impressive, but will never tame its full fury.
26:03The enormous waves of December the 9th were created by intense tropical cyclone activity in the Pacific.
26:14When warm waters fuel the ferocity of depressions over the ocean, they can create the most violent weather systems on
26:22Earth.
26:24People must stay well away from the raging sea during these tempestuous times, but they can't stop it coming to
26:32them.
26:39These super storms, with winds of over 300 kilometers per hour, wreak havoc on the human world.
26:51It can take years to recover from the destruction.
27:02Sometimes over 1,600 kilometers wide, hurricanes and typhoons are persistent reminders of the ocean's awesome force.
27:16It's little wonder that coastal people look at these mighty waters with great reverence.
27:22But not just for the power of the ocean, but also the power of the creatures that live in it.
27:34In the islands of Papua New Guinea, Blaze is known as a sorcerer of the sea.
27:46Possessing the mysterious ability to summon sharks from the deep is one of the last so-called shark callers.
27:55A traditional hunting technique steeped in superstition.
28:00We are also known as a foreign language and their ability to associate sharks.
28:10They sign up the air in the air in the air, in the air, in the air to the air.
28:23That worship is a foreign language called fish.
28:27A traditional hunting technique of the earth'slynn body came to the air.
28:28Ah, we see, we see, close the wall.
28:33Blaze respects ritual, but he also understands shark behaviour.
28:38Rattle in the water mimics the activity of feeding fish.
28:43Sharks can detect these vibrations from three kilometres away,
28:47but they don't always respond.
29:15And as industrial fishing decimates shark numbers,
29:20the waits are getting even longer.
29:22the waits are getting even longer.
29:34Finally, a grey reef shark emerges from the blue.
29:40Blaze has appeased its spirit.
29:44But now he has to catch it, and sharks are notoriously skittish.
29:56It's a game of cat and mouse.
30:05Blaze tries to entice the shark close enough to slip a noose around its neck.
30:14But one false move and it's game over.
30:23Finally, it takes the bait.
30:25Slowly, he prepares the noose.
30:51Blaze can't keep hold of the thrashing shark,
30:55but this wooden float prevents it diving.
31:16Then, as if under a spell, the shark suddenly stops.
31:22Then, as if under a spell, the shark suddenly stops.
31:28But in fact, the float exploits a quirk in shark biology.
31:34Exhausting it so much, it enters a state known as tonic immobility.
31:41Blaze approaches with caution.
31:45The shark is still very much alive, and its bite could cause serious injury.
32:04In the past, Blaze would have killed the shark for food.
32:09But today, he lets it go freely.
32:15Blaze is committed to keeping his shark-calling culture alive.
32:23and this means keeping sharks alive.
32:28.
32:42and it's not just traditions that are threatened.
32:49In some seas around the world, a growing shortage of fish is forcing people deeper and deeper just to land
32:56a decent catch.
32:59So deep, they venture to the very limits of human survival.
33:09Welcome to the world of the powerling divers, perhaps the most dangerous fishing method of all.
33:1780 men, many of whom are still teenagers, are preparing to dive to over 40 meters.
33:24Breathing air pumped through these makeshift tubes by this rusty compressor.
33:31Joseph is one of the youngest aboard, but he's aware of the risks.
33:43He's already witnessed just how lethal his job can be.
34:05The seas around the Philippines were once rich with life, but they've been so over-exploited that decent fish numbers
34:13are only found at perilous depths.
34:30The divers guide the huge ball of nets 40 meters down to the sea floor, but all the while their
34:37air supply is at risk.
34:41Back on the boat, the ailing compressor and the ever-worsening tangle of tubes need constant attention.
34:50Like a failing heart pumping through clogged arteries, if this circulation system fails, at this depth, it's almost certain death.
35:08The height of the ship stems from death three of the ships are all around all the way, and the
35:08rest are all around the way.
35:08Joseph and the team unravel the nets and lay them out by securing them to rocks.
35:26They must work fast.
35:27Joseph knows the longer he spends at these depths, the more dangerous it becomes.
35:33With every breath, more nitrogen dissolves in his body, making him increasingly vulnerable
35:38to decompression sickness.
35:39The bends.
36:02The top of the net is suspended by plastic containers filled with air, creating a huge cavernous
36:08trap beneath.
36:18Now it's time to set the scare line.
36:31The boats drag the thousand meter line to form a huge circle around the net, and the
36:38divers position themselves along it.
36:43Joseph and the team begin closing the trap by swimming towards the net.
36:48The waving streamers and the curtain of rising bubbles panics the fish and they flee.
37:02As the line of divers tightens, more and more fish swim straight into the gaping net.
37:14This deep sea roundup is so effective it can take 50% of the fish from a reef.
37:35The net is closed and now Joseph must do something even more dangerous.
37:40Get inside and herd the catch to the far end.
38:02On deck, the tangled web of tubes is getting worse.
38:25Once the catch is concentrated, the net is released from its anchor points.
38:37Now comes the most lethal stage of all, guiding the net as it shoots to the surface.
38:43All too often the divers ascend too quickly and get the bends.
39:07As the catch is hauled onto the boat, its size is revealed.
39:14Just under a ton of fish isn't bad.
39:17But it's nowhere near what these fishermen were landing a few years ago.
39:23And this isn't the only problem.
39:25Some of the crew do have the bends.
39:29One diver has returned to the bottom to relieve the symptoms.
39:33Whilst closer to the surface, another is massaged to release the painful bubbles in his spine.
39:44Every day, these powerling divers are taking greater risks for dwindling rewards.
39:52Also a lot of experience for you also .
39:54There is no certain that you are living in your life.
39:55It is the only that you are living in your life .
39:57There is no other things.
40:01That is also possible.
40:02It's not an extreme risk.
40:04It is also dangerous.
40:04If you want to do it instead, you will not be able to fight you.
40:11Joseph has his dreams, but the harsh reality is he'll be diving twice again today, just to make ends meet.
40:22We've become so successful in the ocean, it's predicted that in 50 years almost all the fish could be gone.
40:33And this may not be the only change to come.
40:38All around the world, sea levels are rising.
40:42Soon our planet could be even more dominated by the ocean, and our ability to survive here will be pushed
40:49to the very limit.
40:58Yet there are some people who've already adapted to life in a water world.
41:08In the coral seas between Borneo, Sulawesi, and the Philippines, there are people who live more intimately with the ocean
41:16than any other culture on earth.
41:28The Bajau lout build their lives in the middle of the sea, often many kilometers from land.
41:47The ocean has a profound influence on every aspect of their existence.
41:52They even measure the passage of time by the rhythm of the tides, rather than minutes and hours.
42:06And there are some whose relationship with the sea runs even deeper.
42:20The Bajau, who live on houseboats, have almost completely severed their ties with the land.
42:32Nowhere rarely sets foot ashore.
42:34Nowhere rarely sets foot ashore.
42:35This zona hour wand hunので, after the sea flows tell me my name, this Pasteur law isanci Jacques.
42:46And our operation has been obras and has proven thereof.
42:53I'm not going to be able to do it, but I'm not going to be able to do it.
43:02Nohara and her family usually only visit land to trade for rice and fuel,
43:08or to mend their boats.
43:10But like many badger, Nohara gets land sick, and she prefers to stay aboard.
43:18Her family has no nationality, no fixed abode, and almost no money.
43:24But the ocean provides everything they need.
43:30They eat a bewildering variety of seafood.
43:41Her children adapt to an aquatic way of life from a very young age.
43:49Some badger children spend so much time in the sea,
43:54their eyes adjust to focus better underwater.
44:00But there's one member of this community whose adaptation is even more staggering.
44:10Sulbin is an underwater hunter, and the living proof of just how far we can push our bodies towards a
44:17life aquatic.
44:41Sulbin's search for supper takes him on an incredible journey under the waves,
44:46and his abilities will take your breath away.
44:55First, he prepares by entering a trance-like state.
45:19Sulbin is about to push his body almost beyond the realms of possibility.
45:25And if you want to try and join him, get ready to hold your breath for as long as you
45:31can.
45:37He takes one last breath.
46:02Focused and calm, Sulbin descends 20 meters to the sea floor.
46:17His heartbeat slows to around 30 beats per minute.
46:23The pressure at these depths crushes his chest, squeezing the air in his lungs to one-third of its usual
46:30volume.
46:35Even without weights, he's negatively buoyant enough to stride across the bottom of the sea as if hunting on land.
47:00By now, the carbon dioxide in his blood causes an almost irresistible urge to gasp for air.
47:07But Sulbin must keep his mind on the hunt.
47:20After a minute and three quarters, Sulbin spots a fish.
47:37Sulbin can go even deeper than this and stay down for up to five minutes.
47:45But he's not one to show off, and after all, he's got what he came for.
47:52Two and a half minutes of hunting under pressure on one breath.
47:57Perhaps the idea of humans existing as marine mammals is not so far-fetched after all.
48:15Through amazing adaptability and endeavor, we've pushed our limits of survival into the ocean.
48:22And as we've immersed ourselves deeper in the sea, it's had a profound effect on our lives.
48:35But as we continue to change the nature of the greatest environment on our planet,
48:42how we'll adapt in the future remains to be seen.
48:57The most technical and demanding shoots for the human planet oceans program were those that took place underwater.
49:06The dive camera crew were well prepared to film fishermen in the Philippines.
49:11But they weren't quite prepared for the dangers they'd witness and the friendships they'd forge.
49:21They're the only one that took place in the ocean.
49:22Lim in Angkong is home to the 80 piling fishermen that the film crew will follow.
49:28This is Simon, and this is Roger.
49:32They're in the middle of the water.
49:34So, they're in the middle of the water.
49:42Two fishing boats are crammed with 80 divers.
49:46Their food and provisions before heading out for two weeks at sea.
49:54At the fishing grounds, Simon and Roger are playing catch-up as their technical underwater equipment is slowing them down.
50:02They've just dropped the line, so they didn't even tell us.
50:05The captain seems to be on a real mission to prove something today, so we've got to go fast.
50:09We've got to go fast.
50:13Underwater filming is risky, but these risks are nothing compared to those faced daily by the compressor divers.
50:24Compressor diving is a dangerous way to make a living.
50:29Air, often tainted with diesel, is pumped through thin plastic tubes right down to the divers.
50:38At 64, Jonning is one of the veterans on the boat, and knows the harsh realities of compressor diving.
50:46Because of my compressor, I've had a compressor.
50:50Now, first of all, I've had 15 feet.
50:55I've had 15 feet.
50:55I've had 15 feet.
50:59Most of the divers are young and fit, and they need to be.
51:03It's physically demanding work, and the men are totally reliant on the compressor to keep them breathing.
51:13When the compressor is hard, when the air is hard, it's hard to keep them breathing.
51:20It's hard to keep them breathing.
51:25To use basically what was essentially a garden hose down at 25 meters to pump air into your mouth is
51:31just mad.
51:34The biggest danger for these fishermen is known as decompression sickness, or the bends.
51:42The bends can happen when divers have been down deep for a long time, and then come up too quickly
51:49to the surface.
51:51Nitrogen is absorbed into the body, and as the divers rise up, bubbles are formed that can lodge in the
51:57joints, causing intense pain.
52:01Two guys are in real trouble on this deep dive.
52:07Martin, a young diver, is in such pain that his friend tries to relieve it by massaging him.
52:15Once on the surface, it's obvious to everyone that Martin is still in trouble.
52:24If not treated, the bends can lead to permanent injuries, and even death.
52:33Meanwhile, the second diver, Michael, is also having problems.
52:38It seems like two men just came up with the bends.
52:41They went pretty deep on this dive, trying to get more fish.
52:44But we've taken them onto our boat to get some medical attention, so hopefully they're all right.
52:50Change one over.
52:51Simon tries to relieve their symptoms with the crew's first aid supplies.
52:55One more set.
52:57Michael's had 15 minutes on oxygen, now put Martin back onto another set of 15 minutes.
53:03And this is the rudimentary deep depression first aid that we can give them a moment.
53:08Give them oxygen, give them water to rehydrate, keep them warm.
53:13Both of them are saying that their symptoms are decreasing, and they're looking a lot more happier than they did
53:18about half an hour ago.
53:20He gives them oxygen, which helps reduce the nitrogen in their bodies and relieves their pain.
53:26But even this most basic of diving first aid is not normally available to the piling fishermen.
53:34This isn't surprising, as the fishermen in the Philippines belong to the lowest wage earners in the country, earning about
53:4125 US dollars for a week's work.
53:46However, for many like Johnny and his family, this is their whole way of life.
53:53So they're in the same way.
53:57They're very close to the average.
53:59They're not just going to be able to move, but they'll be able to move.
54:05They'll be able to move on to the right, and they're the only way of age.
54:10They'll be able to move on to the right.
54:12But they'll be able to move there and move on to the right when they leave.
54:22his son had got the bends and now has to use crutches but this isn't the only time
54:30the dangers of compressor diving have hit Jonning's family
55:06I'm very sorry about that
55:11that's terrible
55:14that's really sad isn't it
55:28having spent a week living and working with the compressor divers Simon and
55:33Roger have become very close to the fishermen to fully understand their way
55:40of life Simon needed to experience firsthand what it's like to be a
55:44compressor diver so Jonning is keen to take him on a shallow dive
55:55seeing the boys do it they've made it look easy but you know we've had several
55:59guys that have gone down with symptoms of the bends I've got to admit I'm feeling a
56:03little bit apprehensive actually Simon has scuba dive for 16 years and has
56:13logged over 3,000 dives but this is diving at its most basic
56:26that's bad for the first minute I got us out it was a little bit petrified actually
56:32this is a violent thing it's just punching air down your throat it's quite mad it took me a minute
56:39to
56:39kind of get myself under control and then once you got the hang of it and once you believed in
56:44it and
56:44trust in it then you could you could you could swim off
57:05there's a couple of times when I lost it though flailing around everywhere trying to
57:10find it again and get it back in but Johnny was keeping a good eye on me and the other
57:17rest of the guys were as well but yeah no I wouldn't want to do that for a whole
57:21whole sort of fish catching session that's for sure
57:26a strong camaraderie between the divers has been forged the film crew have captured a
57:32dramatic sequence and the fishermen head home happy with a boatload of fish to sell
57:42running and to pan pizza
57:46everyone
57:57joining and everyone on board have finished another
58:00piling fishing trip and all can return safe and sound to their families