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Born
and raised in New Orleans,
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00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:16,680
I've fished along Louisiana's
bayous my whole life.
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00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:21,560
These historic waterways
are a sportsman's paradise.
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00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:24,760
It's the fun, the
adrenaline rush when you feel
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00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:26,240
the fish hit your line.
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00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,360
Did he stay on your line?
Did he get off your line?
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00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,880
You never know
what's gonna happen.
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00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:38,640
Playing a
super hero is one thing,
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00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:41,760
but fishing here is
where it feels real.
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00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:45,760
You never know what's
gonna bite your line.
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00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:50,280
So, you have to stay focused,
you have to stay in the moment.
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But even in the
calm waters of New Orleans,
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there are predators
just below the surface.
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Bull sharks
in fresh water miles inland,
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00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:06,960
in my home town.
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We've all heard
that there are sharks swimming
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in the Lake.
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Maybe closer
to the shore than you think.
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.
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From
the Gulf of Mexico...
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.
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To
the Atlantic Coast,
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00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:22,320
sharks are targeting
fishing boats and taking fish.
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No!
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Right off the line.
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I
think a shark got it.
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.
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00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:29,480
As an avid fisherman,
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00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:31,680
raising a family
along these waters,
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I wanna know what's behind this.
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Right there.
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00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:40,400
So, I'm on a quest to find
out why these apex predators
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are swiping fishermen's
hard earned catches.
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Oh! You saw that?
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00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:45,920
Go, go, go.
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00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:47,240
Careful, she's gonna go.
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00:01:47,320 --> 00:01:49,520
And,
see how bold new research...
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00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:51,040
Grab that dorsal fin.
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00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:53,920
Could help
prevent these frequent run ins.
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That's a big fish.
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00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:57,720
That's amazing.
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00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:00,640
With sharks and fishermen
both depending on these waters
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00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:05,240
to survive, the
stakes couldn't be higher.
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00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:15,720
You know,
New Orleans is different.
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00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:17,920
Our vibe is different.
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00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:22,920
Some people think
Louisiana's soul comes from
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its music or food.
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But I think it's the waters
that shape our culture and
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spawns my love for fishing.
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This right here is
where I grew up and
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00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,320
honed in my
skills as a fisherman.
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I was out here,
damn near every day.
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I mean, that's when
I wasn't in trouble,
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that was the one thing
that kept me out of trouble.
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But I remember
once when I was a kid,
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somebody took a hot dog
and caught a 70 pound catfish
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out of that lagoon.
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.
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It was the thing of legend.
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He was on the news.
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.
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So, this right
here is Bayou St. John.
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And this was my
bridge where I would fish.
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This was kinda
like my playground.
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It was so hot, you could
sit in the water and fish.
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So, being in the
middle of the city,
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it was just a easy
place to catch dinner
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'cause my mom loved perch.
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So, I would come
out and catch 'em and
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she would clean
'em and cook 'em.
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Growing up here, I didn't
hear much about sharks swimming
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in these waters, but since I
moved back to New Orleans to
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raise my family,
that's all changed.
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To find out why, I'm
headed to another one of
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my childhood fishing spots.
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Southeast of the
city is Venice, Louisiana,
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also known as Tuna Town.
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00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:55,800
I've spent a lot of
time on these wharfs with
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the fresh smell of fish
coming in after a day's catch.
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In recent years,
business has boomed here.
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A lot of these boats run
charter trips while others are
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commercial vessels with
crews that make a living on
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their daily catch.
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But these days, Tuna Town
sounds more like Shark City.
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Good Lord,
the sharks just eat you up.
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If you hook
five fish maybe get one.
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That's a lot
of money out of our pocket.
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It makes our job harder.
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Dam!
Look at that!
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Out
in the Gulf of Mexico,
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sharks are tracking trawlers,
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taking tuna and even
tearing open shrimp nets.
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This is a
shark feeding frenzy.
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Some boats
are losing half of their catch,
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costing them
thousands of dollars a week.
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You lose a lot
of fish to sharks, big sharks,
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small sharks,
they're everywhere.
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Lose a lot of equipment,
a lot of money.
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Scientists
refer to this act as,
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"Depredation."
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To see it for myself, I'm
headed out to the Gulf with
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Captain Brett Ryan
to do a little fishing.
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All right.
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{\an8}You wanna hop
aboard and we'll get this day
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{\an8}going and come catch some fish.
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{\an8}- Let's do it.
Hop in right there.
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Wow!
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- Welcome aboard.
- Thank you.
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To understand
what's driving this conflict,
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I also recruited a
bona fide shark expert.
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Good morning.
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Anthony.
Jasmine, nice to meet you.
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00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:34,400
{\an8}
Nice to meet you.
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{\an8}- Can I come aboard?
Absolutely!
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{\an8}- Yes, please.
All right.
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00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:39,200
Marine biologist Jasmin Graham
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00:05:39,280 --> 00:05:42,600
studies shark ecology
and evolution and is here
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to decode any
shark behavior we might see.
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We're
gonna head out to West Delta
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this afternoon.
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We've noticed there is a lot of
issues with shark depredation.
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And it's becoming
more and more prevalent.
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I have a friend,
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he hit a pretty got sized fish.
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Shark came and grabbed it.
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And now, instead of
him letting the fish go,
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he doubled down.
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So, the sharks' dragging
him across the Gulf of Mexico.
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Mm-hmm.
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Five minutes
later, he pops his head up,
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he has a half a fish.
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- Hmm.
- I would have let that go.
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We'll, you'd let it go!
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Was it
worth the half a fish?
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Right.
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We're headed to a fishing spot
where the battle between anglers
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and sharks is no joke.
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A few miles off shore, the
rigs of the West Delta oil field
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provide some of the best
fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.
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I've experienced this
and Jasmin knows why.
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So,
it's a big aggregation of
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a lot of different species.
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It's why it's a
great fishing spot.
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Hmm.
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00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:56,880
And it's just
as much biodiversity as we have
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on coral reefs, we have
on these artificial reefs.
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Right.
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Under water, these steel
skeletons are a sanctuary for
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a wide array of fish species.
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Over time, algae and other
life forms grow on these rigs,
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forming a complex ecosystem.
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It's an angler's paradise and
a pretty good place to hang out,
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if you're a hungry shark.
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So, the chances of witnessing
depredation firsthand are good.
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- You ready?
- Yep.
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Grab your weight.
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Let it rip, tater chip.
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Here we go.
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This is my first time
being out here in a long time.
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My uncle and I, we
would come out to the rigs.
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It's great, it
brings up my childhood.
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So, it's just fun to be here
as an adult and do it again.
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You don't know what
you're gonna catch out here.
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Oh,
that was a little nibble.
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Yeah.
Been nibbling for a minute.
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There goes
a shark right by the boat.
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Y'all keep an eye out.
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Uh-oh!
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Got a fish on.
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It's a good size one.
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Uh-oh.
That was a shark.
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He
came right under the boat.
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Foof! Right there.
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Well, the hook is gone.
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And so is my fish.
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And although I got a
quick look at the shark,
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I couldn't say for
sure what the species was.
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Luckily, Jasmin came prepared.
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I'm just
gonna swab it and hopefully get
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some bit of that
shark's DNA on it.
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The good thing is, that
we did see it at the surface,
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and I was able to
identify that it was a blacktip,
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00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:52,080
Carcharhinus limbatus, so.
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00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:53,520
Carcharhinus limbatus.
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00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:55,520
Yeah.
So, if you're ever on Jeopardy.
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- I got it.
- You got it.
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I'll never forget it.
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- Yes.
- Yes.
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So,
most identifying feature,
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obviously black tips
on its fins.
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So, if it comes back
and says that it is,
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00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:07,120
in fact, a blacktip,
we know that it worked.
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00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:11,800
Recent DNA
research proves that at least
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00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:16,000
15 different shark species are
stealing fishermen's catches
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out here in the Gulf.
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One of the biggest culprits,
the bull shark is responsible
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for over one third
of the fish heists.
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00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:27,440
Other species include close
relative the sandbar shark,
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00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:32,000
along with blacktips,
spinners and makos.
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00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,640
- Shark on the line!
- Shark on the line.
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00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:40,640
As soon
as we cast another line,
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they're back for more.
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00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:43,440
Oh, there it goes.
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00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:45,040
- Yeah.
- There it goes.
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00:09:45,120 --> 00:09:47,400
It's got it.
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00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:50,560
We
aren't the only boat load of
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00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:52,080
anglers out here.
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00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:54,040
What's the word?
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00:09:54,680 --> 00:09:56,680
We're
getting murdered by sharks!
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00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:58,040
It
feels like a losing battle.
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00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:00,560
Whoa!
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00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:02,320
Even if you hook a fish.
215
00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:04,320
That is a
shark eating that snapper.
216
00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:06,680
The
sharks think it's a free meal.
217
00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:08,200
He's coming up.
218
00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:10,200
Looks like a blacktip.
219
00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:13,200
Got him.
220
00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:18,160
He took my fish.
221
00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:21,360
For sharks, gabbing a fish
already struggling on a line
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00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:23,480
is easy pickings.
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00:10:23,560 --> 00:10:27,560
But for me, I wouldn't call
this a relaxing fishing trip.
224
00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:30,080
So why has shark
depredation become such
225
00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:32,640
a big problem in these waters?
226
00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:35,160
We're
fishing in the same spot
227
00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:36,360
that the sharks are fishing in.
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00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:37,440
Yeah.
229
00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:38,520
I mean, look,
there's nothing else out here.
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00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:39,600
This is the structure.
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00:10:39,680 --> 00:10:40,680
This is it, yeah.
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00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:41,880
So, that's
where they're all gonna go.
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00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:42,960
Right.
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00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:45,000
Sharks
learn really, really quickly.
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00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:47,960
So, they learn,
you know, engine means food.
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00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:50,160
So, they start coming
straight for the boats.
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00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:52,840
So, now we're in direct
competition with them for
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00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:54,680
the same fish.
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00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:56,720
And that's why
you get depredation.
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00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:57,800
Right.
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00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:00,080
'Cause
they gotta eat, we gotta eat.
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00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:01,920
We gotta figure
out how we both eat.
243
00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:03,160
Where's the helping hand?
244
00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:04,720
It's like, we
opened a, a buffet.
245
00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:05,800
Yeah.
246
00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:06,880
And
they're just sitting around
247
00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:07,960
waiting for a snack.
248
00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:09,680
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
249
00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:12,240
These
sharks are smart and they know
250
00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:14,680
an easy meal when they see one.
251
00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:19,560
And this is a phenomenon
that seems to be spreading.
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00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:24,920
In New Orleans, away from
the Gulf's artificial reefs,
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00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:27,440
frustrated fishermen
say bull sharks are taking
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00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:29,560
their fish too.
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00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:34,320
To see for myself, I'm headed
back to the Big Easy to actually
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00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:37,720
try to catch a
shark in the city.
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00:11:40,680 --> 00:11:42,200
New Orleans.
258
00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:43,800
I love this city, man.
259
00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:45,960
And apart from a
few years in New York,
260
00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:48,560
I've lived here my whole life.
261
00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:50,320
New Orleans is one
of those cities where
262
00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:53,000
people enjoy life, you know?
263
00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:54,720
And that's what
makes it so great.
264
00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:58,800
It's the home of jazz,
gumbo and Mardi Gras.
265
00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:02,720
And these days, a
growing shark population.
266
00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:06,320
To get a handle on why
their numbers are rising,
267
00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:09,440
I'm headed to a spot
on the edge of town.
268
00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:11,880
The lake is
five minutes up here.
269
00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:15,560
Where the sharks are
swimming pretty close to home.
270
00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:18,200
We fish under this
bridge down by the pillars,
271
00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:21,880
'cause the pillars
have become an ecosystem.
272
00:12:22,640 --> 00:12:26,440
At 630 square miles,
Lake Pontchartrain is
273
00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:29,280
the largest inland
body of water in Louisiana.
274
00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:33,160
The lake is
actually a tidal lagoon,
275
00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:35,920
{\an8}connected by channels
to the Gulf of Mexico.
276
00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:41,280
{\an8}That means sharks can enter
the lake directly from the Gulf.
277
00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:46,600
There are sharks
swimming in Lake Pontchartrain.
278
00:12:46,680 --> 00:12:48,320
One local fisherman,
279
00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:51,160
{\an8}he caught a nearly
six foot bull shark
280
00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:53,440
{\an8}right along the sea wall.
281
00:12:57,680 --> 00:12:59,720
I'd
fished in Lake Pontchartrain.
282
00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:03,000
It's literally in my backyard.
283
00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:05,800
I take my boat out, I take my
kids out on Lake Pontchartrain.
284
00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:08,520
'Cause we're so naive
to what's around us, like,
285
00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:09,840
"Oh, there's
nothing in the lake,"
286
00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:11,880
but the lake's full of sharks.
287
00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:16,440
To get to the bottom of this,
I'm fishing with a guy who knows
288
00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:18,880
what these
predators are doing here,
289
00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:20,600
so far from the sea.
290
00:13:20,680 --> 00:13:22,760
You got dinner or bait?
291
00:13:23,680 --> 00:13:27,360
This is local shark
scientist, Marcus Drymon.
292
00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:28,760
Now
when you think back to fishing
293
00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:29,960
{\an8}when you were a kid,
294
00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:32,680
{\an8}do you ever hear of people
catching bull sharks in here?
295
00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:33,840
- Yeah.
- Okay.
296
00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:35,240
Every now and
then my uncle would come back in
297
00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:37,760
with a shark, but
they were smaller sharks.
298
00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:40,240
They weren't massive predators.
299
00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:41,800
What I'm after here today
300
00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:44,120
are bull sharks
and bull sharks can live
301
00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:45,880
in completely fresh water.
302
00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:48,920
And anything in
between fresh and saltwater.
303
00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:51,240
So, it's inherent to
bull sharks in general.
304
00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:53,000
- Oh wow.
- Yeah.
305
00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:56,040
For bull sharks
it's like a super power.
306
00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:59,440
Their ability to swim in
fresh water is nearly unique.
307
00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:02,680
Which is great for them
but not so wonderful for
308
00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:04,400
all the fishermen.
309
00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:09,080
So, Marcus is keeping tabs
on them and looking for ways
310
00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:13,360
to keep the conflict between
sharks and anglers to a minimum.
311
00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:17,680
So, what is the goal as
far as the bull sharks?
312
00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:18,760
In this part of the world,
313
00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:22,960
a lot of folks are attributing
depredation to bull sharks.
314
00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:24,160
They're saying,
"Hey, what's going on?
315
00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:26,560
If the sharks are
biting my fish that often,
316
00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:28,200
there must be a lot
more sharks in the water."
317
00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:29,320
Hmm.
318
00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:30,800
And
in the past 30 years,
319
00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:33,040
especially in the United States,
we've done a really good job of
320
00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:36,240
protecting sharks and so
the populations are increasing.
321
00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:37,320
Mm-hmm.
322
00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:38,400
But the thing is, we don't
323
00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:40,280
have a great feel
for which parts of
324
00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:41,480
Lake Pontchartrain
they like the best.
325
00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:42,560
Yeah.
326
00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:43,640
What
are the inlets where they
327
00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:44,720
might be coming in?
328
00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:46,680
Where are the areas
where the water is just right
329
00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:47,760
for a bull shark?
330
00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:49,920
But that's exactly what
we'll be trying to figure out.
331
00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:53,280
If we catch one, is we'll
put in a little transmitter.
332
00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:55,040
For more than 15 years,
333
00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:59,120
Marcus has been catching,
tagging and releasing sharks.
334
00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:02,920
To date, he's tagged
more than 10,000 in the Gulf
335
00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:04,640
and Lake Pontchartrain.
336
00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:06,520
- Oh!
- Fish on.
337
00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:07,800
Oh, you son of a...
338
00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:10,120
So, maybe I can help
him by tagging my first.
339
00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:14,640
Oh, this side.
340
00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:17,360
Please be a shark.
341
00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:19,320
Please.
342
00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:20,640
That's one.
343
00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:22,400
Ooh! That's one.
344
00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:24,720
Oh boy!
That's a baby bull shark.
345
00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:27,280
That's a baby?
346
00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:28,600
That's as small as they get.
347
00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:29,720
Wait.
348
00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:31,760
That's as small as they get.
349
00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:34,440
So,
they're in the womb that big?
350
00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:35,520
Yeah.
351
00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:37,080
Just gently lift it up
and I'm gonna grab it right
352
00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:38,160
when it gets here.
353
00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:40,080
- Yep.
- One, two, three, go.
354
00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:42,440
Go. Ahh.
355
00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:46,480
Perfect. Look at that.
356
00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:47,800
That's amazing.
357
00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:48,880
It's crazy.
358
00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:49,960
Pop this hook out, see?
359
00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:51,040
Yeah.
360
00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:52,120
When
you see a little belly button,
361
00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:53,200
you know it was just born.
362
00:15:53,280 --> 00:15:54,440
It's called the umbilical scar.
363
00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:55,720
- And you see how it's open?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
364
00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:56,800
- Born in July.
- So, he's just born.
365
00:15:56,880 --> 00:15:58,080
So, he was just born, like,
366
00:15:58,160 --> 00:15:59,360
two months ago.
367
00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:01,200
Wow.
368
00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:03,200
That's crazy, man.
369
00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:08,080
So, check this out.
370
00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:09,760
That's a female.
371
00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:12,320
To track
our baby as she grows up,
372
00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:15,080
we're gonna need to
implant a transmitter.
373
00:16:15,160 --> 00:16:17,400
All right. Let's do it then.
374
00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:20,000
And, amazingly,
turning most sharks upside down
375
00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:22,400
puts them in a
trance-like state.
376
00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:25,880
It's called tonic immobility,
377
00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:28,680
like a natural
state of paralysis.
378
00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:32,960
This way, Marcus can get to work
without adding to her stress.
379
00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:36,680
So, you say that this shark
is about a month or two old.
380
00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:37,840
Yeah, that's right.
381
00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:39,640
And, at 30 inches.
382
00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:40,920
Yeah.
383
00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:42,000
You know, it's,
384
00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:43,880
it's a good
distance to the Gulf.
385
00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:44,960
So, you ask yourself,
386
00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:47,480
what's a little shark like
this doing all the way up here?
387
00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:48,920
Yeah,
what's a girl like this doing
388
00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:51,400
in a neighborhood like this?
389
00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:52,600
That's exactly right.
390
00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:54,120
And the answer is, it's
the perfect neighborhood for
391
00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:55,880
this shark to be in right now.
392
00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:58,400
I mean, it's, it's
perfect in terms of protection,
393
00:16:58,480 --> 00:16:59,800
it's a safe neighborhood.
394
00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:01,800
It's a neighborhood
with lots of food.
395
00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:03,000
And it's a
neighborhood where there's
396
00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:04,160
not a lot of bad guys, so.
397
00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:05,240
Right.
398
00:17:05,320 --> 00:17:06,760
This is what
we could call a primary nursery.
399
00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:09,120
So, you know, if you think
about the big mothers, you know,
400
00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:11,400
it's like humans,
they have birth, basically,
401
00:17:11,480 --> 00:17:12,880
once a year.
402
00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:15,320
and then she comes into an area
like this and she drops 'em off.
403
00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:16,680
Right.
404
00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:19,640
Right here, in
Lake Pontchartrain.
405
00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:22,960
So, it turns out that many
of the sharks causing havoc
406
00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:25,120
in my backyard are just kids.
407
00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,480
Well, close.
408
00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:31,160
And growing up near New Orleans,
these trainee predators realize
409
00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:34,360
that a fish on the hook
is there for the taking.
410
00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:38,040
It's shocking to me because
I grew up so close to here.
411
00:17:38,120 --> 00:17:40,640
And I would fish literally
right outside this inlet.
412
00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:43,720
The idea of a shark
being in my backyard is crazy,
413
00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:46,400
and to catch a baby
still with the umbilical cord,
414
00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:47,760
it's mind blowing.
415
00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:50,480
People are coming through
here with their boats to go have
416
00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:55,560
lunch on the lake and there's
sharks outside their house.
417
00:17:56,800 --> 00:17:58,920
So,
that's all she needs.
418
00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:00,280
Do you wanna be the
one to put her back?
419
00:18:00,360 --> 00:18:01,760
I would love to.
420
00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:03,800
I
just hold 'em just like that.
421
00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:05,720
There you go, you got it.
422
00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:08,120
You're
not going to take my finger.
423
00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:09,920
And just drop her in?
424
00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:12,000
Just drop
her in whenever you're ready.
425
00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:14,080
It's a beautiful fish.
426
00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:16,080
It's a
beautiful, beautiful fish.
427
00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:17,400
All right, little lady.
428
00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:19,240
I'll see you in a few years.
429
00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:22,560
Gone.
430
00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:23,640
Completing the circle.
431
00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:25,200
Wow.
432
00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:27,600
Come on. Come on.
433
00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:31,000
By
tracking baby bull sharks,
434
00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:34,640
identifying which areas they
prefer and sharing that data
435
00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:37,760
with anglers, Marcus
hopes to reduce depredation
436
00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:40,040
in these waters.
437
00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:41,960
Well done, that's awesome.
438
00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:43,560
That's amazing.
439
00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:46,720
And now that I know baby
sharks shelter here in the lake
440
00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:50,520
as they mature, I'm hoping
other fishermen can learn to
441
00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:52,640
accept them in our neighborhood.
442
00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:59,000
But when these sharks grow up
and swim out to deeper waters...
443
00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:01,240
.
444
00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:04,160
They're bigger
and even more intimidating.
445
00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:09,400
And research shows bull sharks
can really get around.
446
00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:14,600
Some even travel to the Gulf all
the way from Southern Florida,
447
00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:17,400
where I'm about to see for
myself that depredation is
448
00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:19,560
also on the rise.
449
00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:24,600
I've come to Florida,
450
00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:27,360
the self-styled fishing
capital of the world,
451
00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:30,120
to get a different
viewpoint on the problem.
452
00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:33,760
Just caught us
some fresh shark bait.
453
00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:37,920
There are now more than a
million boats registered here
454
00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:39,720
in the Sunshine State,
455
00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:43,200
putting more and more anglers
in direct conflict with sharks.
456
00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:45,520
There it is!
457
00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:48,360
Oh, that's a bull shark.
458
00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:50,840
I
think a shark got it.
459
00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:52,240
A shark
came by and nabbed him,
460
00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:54,080
split him right in half.
461
00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:58,080
Anglers say
bull shark numbers have surged
462
00:19:58,160 --> 00:19:59,920
and shark fishing tournaments,
463
00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:02,920
which already killed
tens of thousands a year,
464
00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:04,480
are pushing for more.
465
00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:07,200
Save our sharks!
466
00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:10,280
{\an8}Meanwhile,
conservationists point out that
467
00:20:10,360 --> 00:20:13,160
bull sharks are a
vulnerable species that
468
00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:15,520
deserve continued protection.
469
00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:16,920
I'm interested to
see 'em down there.
470
00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:18,360
{\an8}
Sharks in the movies,
471
00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:22,040
{\an8}they're portrayed as
these mindless, man-eaters.
472
00:20:22,120 --> 00:20:24,960
But actually sharks
are really afraid of us
473
00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:27,200
because we're scary, right?
474
00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:28,280
Right.
475
00:20:28,360 --> 00:20:30,680
We kill a
hundred million sharks a year.
476
00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:33,680
Sharks kill one or
two people a year.
477
00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:36,520
Shark biologist, Jasmin Graham,
478
00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:40,800
thinks protecting sharks is
in everyone's best interests.
479
00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:42,600
Even the fishermen.
480
00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:45,160
To help me understand,
we're at a spot off
481
00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:47,600
the east coast of
Florida near Jupiter.
482
00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:50,600
It's called Deep Ledge.
483
00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:54,480
{\an8}Out here, four miles offshore,
484
00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:56,080
{\an8}the cold waters of the Atlantic
485
00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:59,560
{\an8}are split by a warmer current
coming in from the south.
486
00:20:59,640 --> 00:21:01,560
{\an8}The Gulf Stream.
487
00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:07,080
This conveyor belt of
nutrients and plankton
488
00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:12,400
attracts a huge range of
fish species, including sharks.
489
00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:17,840
And Jasmin wants us both to
get in the water with them.
490
00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:21,200
Now you're
going into their territory.
491
00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:22,400
How you feeling?
492
00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:24,600
Uh, I'm a
little, I'm a little nervous.
493
00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:26,440
I'm interested to
see how they react.
494
00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:28,200
'Cause I've never seen
them in their habitat,
495
00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:30,880
I've only seen them being
pulled out of their habitat.
496
00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:33,800
But, my problem is,
I'm not the best swimmer.
497
00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:38,080
So, I don't wanna be the
bait that brings the sharks in.
498
00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:39,320
All you have to do,
499
00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:41,080
I recommend what
we call star fish.
500
00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:42,760
Get as flat as possible.
501
00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:46,680
The more surface area you have,
the more buoyant you are.
502
00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:49,320
So, if
the shark gets too close,
503
00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:51,280
I should hit it
in the nose, right?
504
00:21:51,360 --> 00:21:52,680
Well,
you don't need to hit it.
505
00:21:52,760 --> 00:21:53,800
You just need to, like...
506
00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:55,600
Where I'm from,
we punch 'em in the nose.
507
00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:56,800
Well, don't punch.
508
00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:59,080
We don't need to punch 'em.
509
00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:01,800
All you have to do
is just gently like, no.
510
00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:03,280
Just guide 'em and then,
511
00:22:03,360 --> 00:22:05,280
and they'll be like,
"Oh, all right."
512
00:22:05,360 --> 00:22:06,800
So, it's like dating.
513
00:22:06,880 --> 00:22:08,240
Please continue.
514
00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:09,320
I'm just saying.
515
00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:10,840
"Oh, no, sir, thank you."
516
00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:12,080
Once you see 'em,
517
00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:13,560
you'll have a appreciation.
518
00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:15,640
I think anyone that
swims with sharks has
519
00:22:15,720 --> 00:22:17,880
a much better understanding
and respect for them.
520
00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:19,120
Right.
521
00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:21,800
All right.
So, you ready to get in?
522
00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:23,680
- I'm ready.
- Let's do it.
523
00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:24,800
Don't punch in the nose.
524
00:22:24,880 --> 00:22:25,880
Don't punch the shark.
525
00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:26,960
Don't punch in the nose.
526
00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:28,040
Do
not punch the shark.
527
00:22:28,120 --> 00:22:30,360
Don't do it.
I got it, I got it.
528
00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:35,960
All right,
you guys, let's get ready.
529
00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:38,280
Let's do it.
530
00:22:39,840 --> 00:22:40,880
All right.
531
00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:44,440
Alrighty.
Three, two, one.
532
00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:48,320
We're in.
533
00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:50,480
And I'm just gonna hold
on to my home girl, Jasmin,
534
00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:53,000
you know, to
make sure she's okay.
535
00:22:56,800 --> 00:22:59,800
And out of nowhere, the
biggest shark I've ever seen
536
00:22:59,880 --> 00:23:01,840
comes out of the blue.
537
00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:03,560
Oh! What?
538
00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:04,640
You saw that?
539
00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:06,920
Yeah. That was so cool.
540
00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:14,920
There
really is a shark down there.
541
00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:17,120
It is a, a shark.
542
00:23:18,120 --> 00:23:20,520
And it's not alone.
543
00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:25,240
They swim so close.
544
00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:26,360
Yeah.
545
00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:29,120
It's wild, they're so pretty.
546
00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:32,200
They
really are so terrifyingly
547
00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:34,440
graceful and majestic.
548
00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:38,200
In fact, coming face to face
with these incredible creatures
549
00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:40,200
is nothing like I expected.
550
00:23:40,280 --> 00:23:41,600
They seem so chill.
551
00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:43,680
Yeah. I told you.
552
00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,200
They're not worried about us.
553
00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:55,360
So, you gotta respect them,
you gotta respect their space.
554
00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:57,080
Yeah. Okay.
555
00:23:57,160 --> 00:23:58,600
You leave them alone,
556
00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:00,160
they'll leave you alone.
557
00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,280
You cool.
558
00:24:02,360 --> 00:24:05,120
Realizing
they don't want a piece of me,
559
00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:09,320
it's time to let go of my
fear and enjoy the spectacle.
560
00:24:10,920 --> 00:24:14,000
Female
sandbar right down there.
561
00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:17,680
Ah, that's crazy.
562
00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:22,040
Up to eight feet long
and more than 200 pounds
563
00:24:22,120 --> 00:24:25,440
of calm, agile shark.
564
00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:33,000
A little deeper,
fully grown bull sharks
565
00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:36,840
along with duskies
and silky sharks too.
566
00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:41,280
All of them just
minding their own business.
567
00:24:41,360 --> 00:24:43,280
Woo! You did it.
568
00:24:43,360 --> 00:24:44,560
I swam with sharks.
569
00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:46,920
You
did it, it's happened.
570
00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:48,600
Oh my God.
571
00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:50,120
No, that was great.
572
00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:51,880
You really looked out
for me, I appreciate that.
573
00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:52,960
No problem.
574
00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:54,040
The
first time I had to grab you.
575
00:24:54,120 --> 00:24:55,120
- Yeah.
- You know?
576
00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:56,200
Yeah.
577
00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:57,640
Then I
worked my way up to it.
578
00:24:57,720 --> 00:24:59,240
And you stayed calm.
579
00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:01,160
- Stayed calm.
- I was impressed.
580
00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:02,320
It
was pretty amazing.
581
00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:05,200
They kept coming up and swimming
around us and through us.
582
00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:06,400
I mean, they
were four feet away.
583
00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:08,480
Yeah.
584
00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:11,720
But I always say, if I'm
diving and I don't see a shark,
585
00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:14,160
I'm actually concerned,
'cause that means that
586
00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:16,120
the ecosystem isn't healthy.
587
00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:18,960
So, we have some fish that
eat coral, they eat algae.
588
00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:20,040
Right.
589
00:25:20,120 --> 00:25:21,240
And, if
there were no predators,
590
00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:23,760
they would stay in the same
spot and they'd just eat all of
591
00:25:23,840 --> 00:25:25,200
the vegetation in the area.
592
00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:26,280
Yeah.
593
00:25:26,360 --> 00:25:27,520
But,
if you have sharks,
594
00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:30,600
just them being
present is controlling fish,
595
00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:32,120
so they're kind
of policing them,
596
00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:35,120
herding them, making
them eat at different areas.
597
00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:36,400
It's impressive.
598
00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:38,440
It's really impressive.
599
00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:45,240
As apex predators, sharks
play a vital role in preserving
600
00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:48,360
delicately balanced ecosystems.
601
00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:53,400
Without them, fishermen
could have nothing to catch.
602
00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:57,360
So, it's beneficial for all
of us to find ways of reducing
603
00:25:57,440 --> 00:26:01,680
depredation without turning
sharks into the bad guys.
604
00:26:03,360 --> 00:26:06,000
Here in Florida, there's a
team of scientists going to
605
00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:09,200
new depths to do just that.
606
00:26:14,120 --> 00:26:16,080
Off the
coast of West Palm Beach,
607
00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:18,600
one scientist is
hopeful that fishermen and
608
00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:20,840
sharks can get along.
609
00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:22,040
We're above one of our
610
00:26:22,120 --> 00:26:24,760
wreck sites where we
have the listening stations.
611
00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:27,800
We're gonna be listening
for tagged bull sharks.
612
00:26:27,880 --> 00:26:30,480
Dr. Yannis Papastamatiou has
613
00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:33,640
been studying shark
behavior for 25 years.
614
00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:37,920
{\an8}His team is monitoring
bull sharks at a group of
615
00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:41,400
{\an8}ship wrecks about
100 feet below the surface.
616
00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:45,680
Like the oil rigs in the Gulf,
617
00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:48,400
these wrecks
became artificial reefs,
618
00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:52,000
making them popular
with anglers and sharks.
619
00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:55,880
And as a result, the area
is now a depredation hot spot.
620
00:26:56,880 --> 00:26:58,920
{\an8}So,
it's creating animosity between
621
00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:01,120
{\an8}fishers and, and sharks.
622
00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:04,600
So, we wanna try and help
alleviate that in a way that
623
00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:06,880
doesn't require
killing the animals.
624
00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:10,360
Instead,
Yannis wants to uncover
625
00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:13,120
the secrets of the
sharks' movements.
626
00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:15,720
Figure out where
they go and when.
627
00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:19,960
And learn which parts of the
shipwrecks the sharks favor.
628
00:27:20,040 --> 00:27:22,960
So, he's tracking them
with a underwater network
629
00:27:23,040 --> 00:27:25,080
of acoustic receivers.
630
00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:27,320
Oh,
there's a few sharks below us.
631
00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:30,040
There are
bull sharks still here.
632
00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:32,400
To
trace their movements,
633
00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:35,040
Yannis needs to fit as
many sharks as he can with
634
00:27:35,120 --> 00:27:37,960
an acoustic transmitter.
635
00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:41,440
And today, he's calling on
my angling skills to bring
636
00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:43,480
another one to the boat.
637
00:27:43,560 --> 00:27:47,600
The only trouble is, I
don't see any fishing rods.
638
00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:50,560
So, what's the process
today for catching a shark?
639
00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:51,840
We're just gonna basically drop
640
00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:55,160
the line into the
water and hopefully
641
00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:56,800
hook one up pretty quickly.
642
00:27:56,880 --> 00:27:59,080
And that's when the kind of
the fight is on because these
643
00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:00,800
are really,
really strong animals.
644
00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:02,120
And
we're pulling 'em in by hand?
645
00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:04,440
We're pulling 'em in by hand.
646
00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:08,280
So
here it is in a nutshell.
647
00:28:08,360 --> 00:28:12,440
To catch and tag a bull shark,
we have to pull it in by hand,
648
00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:17,160
collect some vitals, implant
the transmitter and let it go.
649
00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:18,920
Easy, right?
650
00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:20,600
So,
if you wanna take the bait.
651
00:28:20,680 --> 00:28:21,680
Yeah.
652
00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:23,800
Drop that over the side.
653
00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:28,040
The big danger here is
with one of these big animals,
654
00:28:28,120 --> 00:28:29,560
if you get wrapped up,
655
00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:30,920
then there's that danger
of you going over the side.
656
00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:32,000
You're going over, right.
657
00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:33,200
We also have, at the end of
658
00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:34,600
that line, we have that float.
659
00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:36,520
So, we've had really
big sharks like tigers,
660
00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:38,760
if it gets to the point
where it's not controllable,
661
00:28:38,840 --> 00:28:41,280
just throw the whole thing
over the side and just follow
662
00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:42,480
the float, 'cause they're
just gonna be towing the float
663
00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:43,560
and they tie themselves up.
664
00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:44,640
- Oh.
- Like, Jaws.
665
00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:45,760
Like, Jaws.
Yeah, yeah, yeah,
666
00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:47,040
I didn't wanna bring up, Jaws.
667
00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:48,120
No.
668
00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:49,760
It was a, it has a
big influence on me,
669
00:28:49,840 --> 00:28:51,760
so that's part of
the reason I'm here.
670
00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:53,560
There's one here.
671
00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:55,960
Yep, see one right down there.
672
00:28:56,880 --> 00:28:58,880
Right
after the bait goes down,
673
00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:02,480
three huge bull sharks
come to check it out.
674
00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:03,640
Oh, that's a big shark.
675
00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:04,760
Careful with the shark.
676
00:29:04,840 --> 00:29:06,600
- It's coming in.
- Keep looking at it.
677
00:29:06,680 --> 00:29:07,720
There we go, there we go.
678
00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:09,160
He took it, whoa.
679
00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:11,080
Whoa.
680
00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:12,160
They're following him.
681
00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:13,240
Yeah.
682
00:29:13,320 --> 00:29:14,520
They get a lot bolder
when they're in groups.
683
00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:17,160
When they're solo,
they're really cautious.
684
00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:20,400
So, now we play the game.
685
00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:21,760
Start bringing it in.
686
00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:23,960
The
game is like a tug of war.
687
00:29:24,040 --> 00:29:26,960
To win, we need to pull
the shark up high enough to
688
00:29:27,040 --> 00:29:28,760
safely secure it
alongside the boat.
689
00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:29,840
It's coming up.
690
00:29:29,920 --> 00:29:31,400
Ah, man.
691
00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:37,680
But this fish
isn't ready to give in.
692
00:29:41,840 --> 00:29:44,160
How many pounds would
you say this fish weighs?
693
00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:45,440
I'm
gonna guess 700, 800 pounds.
694
00:29:45,520 --> 00:29:46,520
800?
695
00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:47,600
That's my guess.
696
00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,040
Yeah. Definitely.
697
00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:54,160
There we go.
698
00:29:54,240 --> 00:29:57,240
Coming, it's
coming up, coming up.
699
00:29:57,320 --> 00:29:58,360
There we go.
700
00:29:58,440 --> 00:29:59,600
Okay, slow ahead, slow ahead.
701
00:29:59,680 --> 00:30:01,000
Whoa, whoa.
702
00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:04,040
Okay guys. Get it on.
703
00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:06,040
Get it, careful,
careful, careful.
704
00:30:06,120 --> 00:30:08,800
This is a big animal; that can
cause a really serious bite.
705
00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:10,280
So, obviously I
don't wanna get bit,
706
00:30:10,360 --> 00:30:11,840
and I don't want
anybody else to get bit.
707
00:30:11,920 --> 00:30:14,240
That's a big fish.
708
00:30:14,320 --> 00:30:17,160
Don't, careful, she's gonna go.
709
00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:22,440
Okay, here she comes,
here she comes.
710
00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:24,360
Grab that dorsal fin.
711
00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:26,240
Grab dorsal.
712
00:30:26,320 --> 00:30:28,600
Got it? Got it?
713
00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:30,160
Hold it tight.
714
00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:32,960
Okay, pull in the slack,
pull in the slack.
715
00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:36,800
Okay. That's good for now.
716
00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:40,280
Look at that. Look at that.
717
00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:45,160
All right, first bull shark.
718
00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:50,960
That was not easy.
719
00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:52,840
But there's no time to rest.
720
00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:54,480
So,
bull sharks are quite hardy,
721
00:30:54,560 --> 00:30:56,400
but we still wanna get
her processed and released
722
00:30:56,480 --> 00:30:57,840
as quickly as possible.
723
00:30:57,920 --> 00:30:59,200
Wow.
724
00:30:59,960 --> 00:31:02,000
This shark has
never been tagged.
725
00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:04,600
It's a perfect
addition to Yannis' project.
726
00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:07,800
It's 83.
727
00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:09,240
183?
728
00:31:09,320 --> 00:31:11,680
- Two meters, six.
- 206.
729
00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:13,960
- 47.
- King 47.
730
00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:16,280
Over
eight feet from nose to tail,
731
00:31:16,360 --> 00:31:18,560
this is an adult female.
732
00:31:19,680 --> 00:31:21,920
Like many sharks,
flipped on her back,
733
00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:25,440
she enters a trance-like state
and will be less stressed out,
734
00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:28,560
which is lucky
because now I have a pretty,
735
00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:32,240
let's say, delicate job to do.
736
00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:33,400
All the way in?
737
00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:34,480
Yeah.
738
00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:36,080
Yeah, all the
way in, then you rotate it.
739
00:31:36,160 --> 00:31:38,840
Yannis wants
me to swab the shark's anus,
740
00:31:38,920 --> 00:31:42,080
so we can test her
feces for fish DNA.
741
00:31:42,760 --> 00:31:44,360
- Oh boy.
- Thank you very much.
742
00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:45,560
There you go.
743
00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:48,640
The sample will show whether
she's eating the same prey
744
00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:50,480
the fishermen are after.
745
00:31:50,560 --> 00:31:52,600
When I woke up this morning, I
didn't think I would be giving
746
00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:54,600
a shark a anal swab.
747
00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:56,760
What a lucky guy.
748
00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:00,360
Finally,
just like our baby shark
749
00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:01,840
in Louisiana,
750
00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:05,040
the team surgically
implants a transmitter.
751
00:32:05,360 --> 00:32:08,880
Once this shark is released,
Yannis will be able to track
752
00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:12,120
her movements for
up to five years.
753
00:32:12,200 --> 00:32:13,440
We're
really interested in knowing
754
00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:15,480
where they're
exactly hanging out.
755
00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:16,960
Where they're
moving to and when.
756
00:32:17,040 --> 00:32:18,040
Right.
757
00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:19,120
But
what we've noticed is that some
758
00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:21,280
of these wrecks can have
a lot of sharks on them,
759
00:32:21,360 --> 00:32:23,000
whereas other wrecks don't.
760
00:32:23,080 --> 00:32:26,520
So, what makes a wreck
attractive to bull sharks
761
00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:28,320
versus unattractive?
762
00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:29,440
So then if we
can figure that out,
763
00:32:29,520 --> 00:32:31,400
then we can perhaps
design artificial reefs where
764
00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:34,200
you're not gonna get
them colonized by sharks.
765
00:32:34,280 --> 00:32:36,520
And so, we can try and
reduced that depredation
766
00:32:36,600 --> 00:32:37,760
without viscous, you know,
767
00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:39,840
feeling the need to
go and kill the animals.
768
00:32:39,920 --> 00:32:41,880
That's amazing.
769
00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:44,160
It's a radical idea.
770
00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:46,880
Build sharkless reef
for fishing and eliminate
771
00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:50,360
the conflict zones,
not the sharks.
772
00:32:51,160 --> 00:32:54,440
Just the sheer amount of
power and strength that this
773
00:32:54,520 --> 00:32:57,800
animal exhibits, to be
able to hold her and tag her,
774
00:32:57,880 --> 00:33:01,720
and like, get this close
to her, it's really humbling.
775
00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:03,840
It's really humbling.
776
00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:05,360
All right. So we're ready to
777
00:33:05,440 --> 00:33:06,440
release her.
778
00:33:06,520 --> 00:33:07,880
All right.
How does that work?
779
00:33:07,960 --> 00:33:09,360
Okay, so.
780
00:33:09,440 --> 00:33:11,280
Go, push her away.
781
00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:12,480
And just give her a push off.
782
00:33:12,560 --> 00:33:15,200
There you go. There she goes.
783
00:33:16,440 --> 00:33:18,320
Hopefully,
shark free reefs could cut
784
00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:21,000
depredation here in Florida,
785
00:33:21,080 --> 00:33:23,200
but in Louisiana,
786
00:33:23,280 --> 00:33:25,960
protecting the interest
of sharks and fishermen is
787
00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:28,400
even harder,
788
00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:32,960
because the entire
coastline is under threat.
789
00:33:37,080 --> 00:33:40,080
In New Orleans,
fishermen are forced to share
790
00:33:40,160 --> 00:33:44,440
the city's waterways these
days with young bull sharks.
791
00:33:45,320 --> 00:33:49,720
But, as I know all too well,
there's another problem that's
792
00:33:49,800 --> 00:33:52,720
making all of our
lives more precarious.
793
00:33:53,080 --> 00:33:56,080
It's no secret the city
is uniquely vulnerable to
794
00:33:56,160 --> 00:33:59,000
hurricanes and storm surges.
795
00:33:59,080 --> 00:34:01,720
We're in a very
special part of town for me,
796
00:34:01,800 --> 00:34:04,040
this is the, the Seventh Ward.
797
00:34:04,120 --> 00:34:05,720
This was my old stomping ground.
798
00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:06,800
This was my neighborhood,
799
00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:10,000
that was wildly
devastated with Katrina.
800
00:34:10,080 --> 00:34:13,680
Today, almost
two decades after Katrina,
801
00:34:13,760 --> 00:34:15,560
the Louisiana
coastline continues to
802
00:34:15,640 --> 00:34:17,800
change and fracture.
803
00:34:17,880 --> 00:34:22,480
And the impacts for my city are
still potentially devastating.
804
00:34:22,560 --> 00:34:25,520
My dad built this house
and it was my mom, my dad,
805
00:34:25,600 --> 00:34:30,720
my five siblings and I, and
we used to play on this levy.
806
00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:33,000
We used to go down to
the end of the canal here,
807
00:34:33,080 --> 00:34:36,360
and dig worms to go
on the bayou and fish.
808
00:34:38,280 --> 00:34:42,200
In 2005, when Hurricane Katrina
roared through New Orleans,
809
00:34:42,280 --> 00:34:44,240
countless levies were breached,
810
00:34:44,320 --> 00:34:46,120
including this one,
811
00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:50,600
breaking directly behind our
house and into our backyard.
812
00:34:53,360 --> 00:34:56,840
The flooding here is
getting worse after waters from
813
00:34:56,920 --> 00:34:59,640
Lake Pontchartrain
broke through a levy.
814
00:34:59,720 --> 00:35:02,600
Authorities are
focused on search and rescue
815
00:35:02,680 --> 00:35:05,000
before it's too late.
816
00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:07,080
You know,
August 29th will always be
817
00:35:07,160 --> 00:35:10,080
etched in my mind
because so many people,
818
00:35:10,160 --> 00:35:12,920
so many friends, so many
family members were, um,
819
00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:15,640
were affected by it.
820
00:35:17,280 --> 00:35:20,280
You know, they were a bunch
of people I know that were
821
00:35:20,360 --> 00:35:22,520
trapped in their attics.
822
00:35:22,600 --> 00:35:25,560
You know, I had family
members that were airlifted out.
823
00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:30,400
So, there's no,
824
00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:34,320
there's no way to explain
or describe that experience.
825
00:35:36,960 --> 00:35:39,520
It was very difficult to
think that I didn't have
826
00:35:39,600 --> 00:35:42,840
a home to go to.
827
00:35:42,920 --> 00:35:46,920
It literally
washed away my youth.
828
00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:48,680
And that's what brought me back.
829
00:35:48,760 --> 00:35:51,880
That's why I moved back home.
830
00:35:51,960 --> 00:35:53,520
You know, I wanted to
build my future here.
831
00:35:53,600 --> 00:35:55,760
I wanted to have my family here.
832
00:36:02,080 --> 00:36:05,960
The floods here took
many people by surprise.
833
00:36:07,360 --> 00:36:10,960
But scientists understand
why they were so destructive.
834
00:36:11,040 --> 00:36:14,720
The wetlands that shelter our
young bull sharks should also
835
00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:19,080
protect the city and the
coast against a storm surge.
836
00:36:19,160 --> 00:36:24,600
But in my lifetime, so much of
that natural buffer has eroded.
837
00:36:25,080 --> 00:36:27,240
Re-engineering the
Mississippi River,
838
00:36:27,320 --> 00:36:30,440
the oil industry,
carving through wetlands
839
00:36:30,520 --> 00:36:32,800
and rising seas.
840
00:36:32,880 --> 00:36:36,280
{\an8}The combined effect is
that Louisiana is vanishing
841
00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:38,160
{\an8}into the Gulf.
842
00:36:38,240 --> 00:36:42,240
{\an8}An area the size of
Manhattan is lost every year.
843
00:36:47,240 --> 00:36:50,280
There's been an intense amount
of erosion around New Orleans.
844
00:36:50,360 --> 00:36:52,280
You'll see it when
you fly into the airport.
845
00:36:52,360 --> 00:36:54,720
The entire wetland
is slowly going away.
846
00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:56,720
The Cyprus trees are going away.
847
00:36:56,800 --> 00:36:58,600
And everybody's aware of it.
848
00:36:58,680 --> 00:37:00,960
But we haven't
done anything about it.
849
00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:04,800
The loss of our wetlands
leaves us wide open to storms
850
00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:06,760
like Katrina.
851
00:37:06,840 --> 00:37:10,080
But, how does affect
the young bull sharks that
852
00:37:10,160 --> 00:37:12,360
call these areas home?
853
00:37:14,000 --> 00:37:15,360
Hey Marcus.
How you doing?
854
00:37:15,440 --> 00:37:16,760
- Hey Brad, how's it going?
- Good to see you.
855
00:37:16,840 --> 00:37:17,880
- Good to see you.
- Yeah.
856
00:37:17,960 --> 00:37:19,480
- Thanks for taking me.
- Yeah. Absolutely.
857
00:37:19,560 --> 00:37:20,840
What we
got going on today?
858
00:37:20,920 --> 00:37:22,000
Let's put up a hydrophone.
859
00:37:22,080 --> 00:37:23,920
To find out,
my new fishing buddy,
860
00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:27,560
Dr. Marcus Drymon, is
expanding a coastal network of
861
00:37:27,640 --> 00:37:31,760
underwater receivers, like
the one Yannis uses in Florida.
862
00:37:31,840 --> 00:37:33,560
{\an8}By
putting a hydrophone here,
863
00:37:33,640 --> 00:37:36,680
{\an8}we're in the first step of
gathering the data we need to be
864
00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:38,280
able to determine habitat use.
865
00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:41,360
And that'll help us in the
future to know if changes to
866
00:37:41,440 --> 00:37:44,680
the coastal landscape are
altering the movements of
867
00:37:44,760 --> 00:37:46,160
bull sharks in this area.
868
00:37:46,240 --> 00:37:48,320
With a
network of these hydrophones in
869
00:37:48,400 --> 00:37:51,920
and around Lake Pontchartrain,
Marcus can get a clear picture
870
00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:55,640
of the bull sharks movements
and ever changing habitat.
871
00:37:55,720 --> 00:37:57,480
As
coastal erosion is increasing,
872
00:37:57,560 --> 00:38:00,520
those habitats are destroyed
for these young bull sharks,
873
00:38:00,600 --> 00:38:02,200
so they have to
go somewhere else.
874
00:38:02,280 --> 00:38:05,320
And if that coastal erosion is
moving these suitable habitats
875
00:38:05,400 --> 00:38:09,080
further and further inland,
closer and closer to areas of
876
00:38:09,160 --> 00:38:10,360
high human development,
877
00:38:10,440 --> 00:38:12,160
then naturally, that's
where those bull sharks
878
00:38:12,240 --> 00:38:14,080
are going to be going.
879
00:38:14,960 --> 00:38:17,480
That could mean
city anglers losing more fish to
880
00:38:17,560 --> 00:38:19,960
even more sharks.
881
00:38:27,120 --> 00:38:29,440
But armed with the knowledge
of juvenile bull sharks
882
00:38:29,520 --> 00:38:31,320
migration patterns,
883
00:38:31,400 --> 00:38:34,240
anglers might be
able to fish at times and
884
00:38:34,320 --> 00:38:38,000
in places that have
fewer sharks around.
885
00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:43,440
That maybe one answer.
886
00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:48,240
But, as Louisiana's
coastline continues to change,
887
00:38:48,320 --> 00:38:51,960
sharks are
losing vital habitats.
888
00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:57,520
So, I'm going to team up
with some real home town heroes
889
00:38:57,600 --> 00:38:59,880
who are working
hard to change that.
890
00:39:06,720 --> 00:39:08,120
East of New Orleans,
891
00:39:08,200 --> 00:39:10,440
there's a band of ecowarriors,
892
00:39:10,520 --> 00:39:13,520
working to put the
brakes on coastal erosion.
893
00:39:14,480 --> 00:39:18,680
Possibly saving the
sharks and the city.
894
00:39:20,160 --> 00:39:24,560
New Orleans is a bowl and
that bowl keeps getting deeper
895
00:39:24,640 --> 00:39:27,760
and deeper the more
coastal erosion we have,
896
00:39:27,840 --> 00:39:31,440
the more soil we lose,
the more the city sinks.
897
00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:34,440
For the sharks and
the people who live here,
898
00:39:34,520 --> 00:39:37,080
the stakes are incredibly high.
899
00:39:37,600 --> 00:39:41,920
The marsh and the canals are
our lines of defense against
900
00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:43,920
flooding and hurricanes.
901
00:39:44,000 --> 00:39:46,280
So, it's important
that we realize that,
902
00:39:46,360 --> 00:39:48,200
you know, we're a
ticking time bomb.
903
00:39:48,280 --> 00:39:50,320
It's all fun and games
to go the Quarter until
904
00:39:50,400 --> 00:39:52,520
the Quarter's under
six feet of water.
905
00:39:52,600 --> 00:39:54,640
Fortunately, the
French Quarter stayed
906
00:39:54,720 --> 00:39:57,440
relatively dry during Katrina.
907
00:39:57,520 --> 00:40:01,920
But, as sea levels rise, the
city's man-made defenses will be
908
00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:04,520
pushed to their limits.
909
00:40:04,600 --> 00:40:06,160
Instead of building more levies,
910
00:40:06,240 --> 00:40:08,600
one group has a
different plan of attack.
911
00:40:08,680 --> 00:40:10,120
Good morning, everyone.
912
00:40:10,200 --> 00:40:11,640
Morning.
913
00:40:11,720 --> 00:40:13,680
These
volunteers are foot soldiers in
914
00:40:13,760 --> 00:40:16,440
the battle against erosion.
915
00:40:16,520 --> 00:40:19,800
And they're fighting to
bring back our lost wetlands.
916
00:40:22,120 --> 00:40:25,320
Today, the team and I are
headed out east of New Orleans,
917
00:40:25,400 --> 00:40:29,360
to plant some grass along a
section of eroding marshland.
918
00:40:33,720 --> 00:40:35,720
Without the tree roots
to hold them together and
919
00:40:35,800 --> 00:40:40,040
a protective grass barrier,
the banks are washing away.
920
00:40:40,120 --> 00:40:42,840
To put things right, the
volunteers and I will have to
921
00:40:42,920 --> 00:40:44,680
get a little muddy.
922
00:40:44,760 --> 00:40:45,800
I've fished these waters,
923
00:40:45,880 --> 00:40:47,640
I never thought I
would walk in 'em.
924
00:40:47,720 --> 00:40:51,560
I didn't know the mud
was this, uh, this juicy.
925
00:40:53,640 --> 00:40:55,200
We
have some cut grass that
926
00:40:55,280 --> 00:40:56,840
we harvested from a canal.
927
00:40:56,920 --> 00:40:58,840
And so now we're ready to
roll and start planting it.
928
00:40:58,920 --> 00:41:01,480
So, everyone's ready
to get dirty and wet.
929
00:41:02,880 --> 00:41:04,360
- All right.
- Let's go.
930
00:41:04,920 --> 00:41:07,200
Oh-oh,
yeah, that's the soot, baby.
931
00:41:07,280 --> 00:41:09,600
That's the soot, baby.
932
00:41:10,800 --> 00:41:14,040
This is the definition of gumbo.
933
00:41:14,120 --> 00:41:16,440
That's what this is.
934
00:41:20,840 --> 00:41:22,800
Man, I really liked these shoes.
935
00:41:22,880 --> 00:41:24,680
Not anymore!
936
00:41:25,040 --> 00:41:27,640
Each clump of grass has
to individually planted
937
00:41:27,720 --> 00:41:29,520
in the muck.
938
00:41:29,600 --> 00:41:31,000
So, it's tiring.
939
00:41:31,080 --> 00:41:33,280
It's hard work.
940
00:41:33,360 --> 00:41:36,040
So how many have you all, this
is your first time doing this?
941
00:41:38,560 --> 00:41:41,480
So y'all knew what to expect!
942
00:41:41,560 --> 00:41:43,200
And
we still came out.
943
00:41:43,280 --> 00:41:46,240
Nobody said, "Get ready."
944
00:41:46,320 --> 00:41:48,640
I should have
asked more questions.
945
00:41:50,520 --> 00:41:54,640
So, right here, right here.
946
00:41:55,040 --> 00:41:59,080
Gardner's group hopes
to plant 30,000 trees and
947
00:41:59,160 --> 00:42:03,360
33,000 grass plugs
along the central wetlands.
948
00:42:04,440 --> 00:42:05,560
When
you think about the value
949
00:42:05,640 --> 00:42:07,400
of wetlands, it
being nursery ground,
950
00:42:07,480 --> 00:42:09,720
{\an8}this grass is gonna play
that role beautifully, right?
951
00:42:09,800 --> 00:42:11,800
{\an8}It's gonna stop that
wave action on the shore,
952
00:42:11,880 --> 00:42:15,640
provide vital habitat,
migratory birds, also fish
953
00:42:15,720 --> 00:42:18,640
and crabs coming here
using it for spawning grounds
954
00:42:18,720 --> 00:42:20,040
as a nursery.
955
00:42:20,120 --> 00:42:22,120
And, of course, it is
the last line of defense
956
00:42:22,200 --> 00:42:23,760
against hurricane.
957
00:42:23,840 --> 00:42:25,800
Get
your back in there, buddy.
958
00:42:30,360 --> 00:42:32,320
It's the ultimate win-win.
959
00:42:32,400 --> 00:42:35,680
We're protecting New Orleans
against flooding and restoring
960
00:42:35,760 --> 00:42:40,000
habitat for all kinds
of valuable wildlife,
961
00:42:40,080 --> 00:42:42,160
including bull sharks.
962
00:42:42,240 --> 00:42:43,960
I grew up in
these waters, you know,
963
00:42:44,040 --> 00:42:47,880
and to see the coastal
erosion and where it was and
964
00:42:47,960 --> 00:42:51,200
where it is now,
just in my lifetime is,
965
00:42:51,280 --> 00:42:53,000
is really substantial.
966
00:42:53,080 --> 00:42:55,920
I want my sons to be able to
come out here and be able to
967
00:42:56,000 --> 00:42:59,240
enjoy this area the way I did.
968
00:43:00,360 --> 00:43:04,400
But it's amazing to see
how much work goes into
969
00:43:04,480 --> 00:43:07,160
rectifying what we destroy.
970
00:43:07,240 --> 00:43:12,400
Have to make better decisions
to correct our bad decisions,
971
00:43:12,480 --> 00:43:15,680
which is a good thing, right?
972
00:43:15,760 --> 00:43:18,400
America deserves more Louisiana.
973
00:43:24,040 --> 00:43:27,680
Like most fishermen,
sharks used to terrify me.
974
00:43:27,760 --> 00:43:29,840
But now I see them in a new way.
975
00:43:29,920 --> 00:43:33,640
{\an8}These apex predators are
crucial to the balance of life
976
00:43:33,720 --> 00:43:35,960
{\an8}in our oceans.
977
00:43:37,680 --> 00:43:42,160
{\an8}To make a living here, our
fishing industry needs them.
978
00:43:42,240 --> 00:43:44,160
{\an8}And by working with scientists,
979
00:43:44,240 --> 00:43:47,040
{\an8}we can find new ways
to avoid conflict,
980
00:43:47,120 --> 00:43:52,080
{\an8}protect our sharks and
restore our fragile coastline.
981
00:43:55,560 --> 00:43:58,520
{\an8}And that's the Louisiana I want.
982
00:43:58,600 --> 00:44:01,080
{\an8}Let the
good times roll, y'all!