[00:00.000] | The South Pacific is on the face of it, still a healthy ocean. |
[00:04.409] | We depend on it. |
[00:05.628] | Over 60% of the world's fish catch comes from the Pacific. |
[00:09.824] | But like all oceans, it has little or no protection,so it may not stay healthy much longer. |
[00:16.864] | So what's being done,one to preserve its natural treasures? |
[00:20.364] | And what does the future hold for this fragile paradise? |
[00:24.938] | For the South Pacific, this is a critical time. |
[00:29.308] | It's changing in ways that, if left unchecked,could develop into a global crisis. |
[00:34.308] | Some of its residents have been through crisis before. |
[00:38.407] | Humpback whales were hunted so relentlessly during the last century that their numbers crashed by 90%. |
[00:45.403] | But recently, they've made a comeback, surging from 5,000 to 60,000 animals. |
[00:52.003] | Their blubber is no longer boiled down,for oil. |
[00:55.050] | Today, these whales are greeted by boats loaded not with harpoons, but with tourists. |
[01:01.124] | The waters of Tonga are one of the few places in the world where it's legal to get in and meet the giants face to face. |
[00:00.000] | The South Pacific is on the face of it, still a healthy ocean. |
[00:04.409] | We depend on it. |
[00:05.628] | Over 60 of the world' s fish catch comes from the Pacific. |
[00:09.824] | But like all oceans, it has little or no protection, so it may not stay healthy much longer. |
[00:16.864] | So what' s being done, one to preserve its natural treasures? |
[00:20.364] | And what does the future hold for this fragile paradise? |
[00:24.938] | For the South Pacific, this is a critical time. |
[00:29.308] | It' s changing in ways that, if left unchecked, could develop into a global crisis. |
[00:34.308] | Some of its residents have been through crisis before. |
[00:38.407] | Humpback whales were hunted so relentlessly during the last century that their numbers crashed by 90. |
[00:45.403] | But recently, they' ve made a comeback, surging from 5, 000 to 60, 000 animals. |
[00:52.003] | Their blubber is no longer boiled down, for oil. |
[00:55.050] | Today, these whales are greeted by boats loaded not with harpoons, but with tourists. |
[01:01.124] | The waters of Tonga are one of the few places in the world where it' s legal to get in and meet the giants face to face. |
[00:00.000] | The South Pacific is on the face of it, still a healthy ocean. |
[00:04.409] | We depend on it. |
[00:05.628] | Over 60 of the world' s fish catch comes from the Pacific. |
[00:09.824] | But like all oceans, it has little or no protection, so it may not stay healthy much longer. |
[00:16.864] | So what' s being done, one to preserve its natural treasures? |
[00:20.364] | And what does the future hold for this fragile paradise? |
[00:24.938] | For the South Pacific, this is a critical time. |
[00:29.308] | It' s changing in ways that, if left unchecked, could develop into a global crisis. |
[00:34.308] | Some of its residents have been through crisis before. |
[00:38.407] | Humpback whales were hunted so relentlessly during the last century that their numbers crashed by 90. |
[00:45.403] | But recently, they' ve made a comeback, surging from 5, 000 to 60, 000 animals. |
[00:52.003] | Their blubber is no longer boiled down, for oil. |
[00:55.050] | Today, these whales are greeted by boats loaded not with harpoons, but with tourists. |
[01:01.124] | The waters of Tonga are one of the few places in the world where it' s legal to get in and meet the giants face to face. |
[00:00.000] | 从表面上看,南太平洋仍然是一片健康的海洋。 |
[00:04.409] | 我们依赖于它。 |
[00:05.628] | 世界上超过60%的捕鱼量都来自太平洋。 |
[00:09.824] | 但是和所有的海洋一样,我们对太平洋采取了很少甚至是没有采取保护政策,所以它很可能不会保持长久健康。 |
[00:16.864] | 我们应该做些什么以保持其自然宝藏? |
[00:20.364] | 未来采取什么才能保护这个脆弱的自然天堂? |
[00:24.938] | 对于南太平洋来说,现在是关键时刻。 |
[00:29.308] | 它在不断的变化着,如果任其发展,可能会造成一场全球危机。 |
[00:34.308] | 依赖南太平洋生存的一些物种曾经遭受过危机。 |
[00:38.407] | 在上个世纪座头鲸遭到无情的捕杀导致其数量下降了90%。 |
[00:45.403] | 但是最近,它们的数量有所回升,从5000头上涨,到6000头。 |
[00:52.003] | 它们的鲸脂不再被归结为石油。 |
[00:55.050] | 现在,迎接这些鲸类的不是带有鱼叉的船只,而是满载有游客的观光船。 |
[01:01.124] | 汤加海域是世界上为数不多的合法的能与巨鲸面对面的地方。 |