Changing Seas is a public television series produced by South Florida PBS (WPBT2-WXEL) in Miami, Florida, and narrated by announcers Craig Sechler and Peter Thomas.
The series accompanies oceanographers and other experts as they seek out new information about the oceans and shedding light on how human activities are threatening ocean resources.
Season 1 (2009) Changing Seas is a public television series produced by South Florida PBS in Miami, Florida. Since 2009, when its first season was released, the series has taken viewers on an exciting adventure to the heart of our liquid planet. In 2025, the show has released its 17th Season.
The first season of Changing Seas from 2009 follows scientists and explorers as they study the ocean and uncover new information that could lead to scientific breakthroughs. The season includes episodes about:
The Goliath Grouper: The comeback of the giant Goliath Grouper in Florida, despite the rapid disappearance of large fish from the world's oceans Aquarius: Scientists spend ten days living and working at the world's only underwater laboratory, Aquarius, to study the effects of ocean acidification on local reef ecosystems Deep sea corals: The magnificent deep sea corals that grow off Florida's Atlantic coast, reaching heights of up to 300 feet Aquaculture: The growing demand for fresh seafood has pushed wild stocks to the brink, and aquaculture is one alternative to wild-caught fish Salt marshes: Researchers study one of America's iconic landscapes Deep-sea submersible Alvin: Upgrades to the Alvin allow it to go deeper than ever before Juvenile tarpon and snook: Scientists study and restore their habitat in Florida Mangroves and seagrasses: Experts work to restore Florida's important mangroves and seagrasses
Season 2 (2010)
Season 3 (2011)
Season 4 (2012)
Season 5 (2013)
Season 6 (2014)
Season 7 (2015)
Season 8 (2016)
Season 9 (2017)
Season 10 (2018)
Season 11 (2019)
Season 12 (2020)
Season 13 (2021)
Season 14 (2022)
Season 15 (2023)
Season 16 (2024)
Season 17 (2025)
Awards Year Award/Festival Category Episode Result Notes2025NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy AwardsEnvironment/Science California Sea Otters: Ecosystem Engineers Environment/Science Costa Rica’s Surfing Paradise Environment/Science Whales in a Plastic Ocean Environment/Science Mystery of the Spinning Fish Environment/Science The Elephant Seals of Año Nuevo Nature Without Borders Film Festival Endangered Species California Sea Otters: Life on the Edge Won Outstanding Excellence AwardMarine Life and Oceans Eagle Rays: Soaring on Spotted Wings Won Outstanding Excellence AwardLand and Water Management Maui Aloha ʻĀina: From Mauka to Makai Won Outstanding Excellence AwardTulum WE Film FestivalResearch Exploration Short Film Alvin: Pioneer of the Deep Environment Conservation Short Film Kelp: Hidden Treasure of the Salish Sea Wildlife Conservation Short Film Sharks in Belize: Jaguars of the Sea Climate Change Short Film Bermuda: Life at Ocean’s Edge #LabMeCrazy! Science Film Festival TV Production Maui Aloha ʻĀina: From Mauka to MakaiFinalistS.O.F.A Film Festival Wildlife (Endangered, All Species) California Sea Otters: Life on the Edge Won Best Short2024NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy AwardsEnvironment/Science Ancient Adriatic: Croatia’s Sunken History NominatedEnvironment/Science Eagle Rays: Soaring on Spotted Wings NominatedNature Without Borders Film Festival Ocean Life Documentaries Mollusks: More than a Shell Won Outstanding Excellence AwardOcean Life Documentaries Sharks in Belize: Jaguars of the Sea Won Outstanding Excellence AwardOcean Life Documentaries Life in the Dark: The Polar Night Won Outstanding Excellence AwardEnvironmental Bermuda: Life at Ocean's Edge Won Outstanding Excellence AwardCMS VATAVARAN International Film Festival International - Environment Conservation Kelp: Hidden Treasure of the Salish Sea Nominated#LabMeCrazy! Science Film Festival TV Production Humpback HealthFinalistCinema Verde International Environmental Film and Arts FestivalShort Bermuda: Life at Ocean’s EdgeHonorable MentionShort Sharks in Belize: Jaguars of the SeaHonorable Mention2023Nature Without Borders Film Festival Environmental Saving Florida's Starving Manatees Won Domestic Best of Festival AwardOcean Life Documentaries Vanishing Whales Won Outstanding Excellence AwardOcean Life Documentaries Humpback Health Won Outstanding Excellence AwardEnvironmental Kelp: Hidden Treasure of the Salish Sea Won Outstanding Excellence AwardNATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy AwardsEnvironment/Science Life in the Dark: The Polar Night Environment/Science Bermuda: Life at Ocean's Edge Nominated#LabMeCrazy! Science Film Festival TV Production Habitats: The Key to Florida's FisheriesFinalistWild Oceans FilmFest Best Production About Conservation Kelp: Hidden Treasure of the Salish SeaFinalist2022NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy AwardsEnvironment/Science Humpback Health NominatedEnvironment/Science Kelp: Hidden Treasure of the Salish Sea NominatedTulum World Environment Film Festival Ocean Conservation A Decade After Deepwater Won Best Short Film in Ocean Conservation categoryCinema Verde Film Festival Florida Local Film Competition Florida's Blue Holes: Oases in the Sea Won Most Hopeful AwardNature Without Borders Film Festival, Summer Ocean Life Recreational Shark Fishing: Collaborating for Conservation Won Excellence AwardOcean Life At the Water's Edge: The Salt Marsh Won Excellence AwardOcean Life Habitats: The Key to Florida's Fisheries Won Excellence AwardNature Without Borders Film Festival, Winter Ornithology Peru's Desert Penguins Won Excellence AwardOceanography A Decade after Deepwater Won Exceptional Merit AwardOcean Life American Samoa's Resilient Coral Reefs Won Exceptional Merit Award#LabMeCrazy! Science Film Festival TV Production Peru's Desert PenguinsFinalist2021NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards Environment Alvin: Pioneer of the Deep Environment At the Water's Edge: The Salt Marsh NominatedEnvironment Recreational Shark Fishing: Collaborating for Conservation NominatedEnvironment Habitats: The Key to Florida's Fisheries NominatedWriter- Long Form Content Alvin: Pioneer of the Deep Nominated Writer: Liz Smith#LabMeCrazy! Science Film Festival TV Production Corals in Crisis The Accolade Global Film Competition Documentary Program/Series Alvin: Pioneer of the Deep Won Award of Excellence2020NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards Environment American Samoa's Resilient Coral Reefs Environment A Decade After Deepwater Environment Peru's Desert Penguins Environment Florida's Blue Holes: Oases in the Sea NominatedWild Oceans FilmFest Best Production About Conservation Corals in CrisisFinalistPostponed due to COVID-19Deering Estate Programming Partner of the Year Changing Seas 2019NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards Environment Corals in Crisis Environment Toxic Waters Nominated2018NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards Health/Science Dolphins: Breaking the Code Nominated2017NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards Environment The Future of Seafood NominatedEnvironment Toxic Algae: Complex Sources and Solutions Environment Majestic Mantas NominatedHealth/Science The Fate of Carbon Reef Renaissance Film Festival Documentary Short Beneath the Bridge Won Best-in-ShowDocumentary Short Maug's Caldera: A Natural Laboratory Co-produced with Open Boat Films; Won third place in Documentary category 2016BLUE Ocean Film Festival Broadcast Series Changing Seas FinalistMarine Animal Behavior Beneath the Bridge FinalistMarine Animal Behavior The Secret Sex Life of Fish FinalistMarine Science Maug’s Caldera: A Natural Laboratory Honorable MentionCo-produced with Open Boat FilmsMarine Science Sea Turtles: The Lost Years Ocean Exploration and Adventure Living Fossils FinalistNATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards Environment Beneath the Bridge Environment Manatees: Conserving a Marine Mammal NominatedEnvironment Maug’s Caldera: A Natural Laboratory Co-produced with Open Boat FilmsHealth/Science Sponges: Oldest Creatures in the Sea? Reef Renaissance Film Festival Documentary Short Grand Cayman’s Famous Stingrays Won Best-in-Show2015NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards Health/Science/Environment The Secret Sex Life of Fish BLUE Ocean Film Festival, Monaco Broadcast TV Program Galapagos: Windows into the FutureFinalista co-production with the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation Shorts Galapagos: Windows into the FutureHonorable Mentiona co-production with the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans FoundationREEF Renaissance Film Festival Documentary Over 20 Minutes Biggest Fish in the Sea Won Best-in-Show and Black Coral Award for 1st Place Documentary Over 20 Minutes Documentary Over 20 MinutesSaving Sawfish Won Deep Blue Award Documentary Over 20 MinutesLiving Fossils Won Aquamarine Award2014NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards Health/Science/EnvironmentLiving Fossils Health/Science/Environment Biggest Fish in the SeaNominated Health/Science/Environment Saving SawfishNominatedBLUE Ocean Film Festival Cultural Connections, People and the Sea Sunken StoriesFinalist Marine Science Tracking TigersFinalist Marine Science Reefs of RangiroaFinalista co-production with the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation Marine Science Creatures of the DeepHonorable Mention Marine Science Grouper MoonHonorable Mention Marine Science Coastal CarnivoresHonorable Mentiona co-production with Symbio StudiosREEF Renaissance Film Festival Documentary Short Grouper Moon Won Best-in-Show and Black Coral Award for 1st Place Documentary Short Documentary Short Sunken Stories Won Aquamarine Award for 3rd Place Documentary Short2013NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards Health/Science/Environment Creatures of the Deep Nominated2012NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards Health/Science/Environment Tracking Tigers Nominated2011NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards Health/Science/Environment Alien InvadersNational Academies Film/Radio/TV Sentinels of the SeasMiami Today Gold Medal Award Sentinels of the Seas2010NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards Health/Science/Environment Sentinels of the Seas2009NATAS Suncoast Chapter Regional Emmy Awards Health/Science/Environment Changing Seas Series NominatedInternational Wildlife Film Festival Human-Wildlife Interactions Super Grouper Won Honorable Mention for conservation message
Film Festival Official Selections