Bluefin Tuna
The first ever comprehensive series on the natural history of the world's oceans.
The Blue Planet is a British nature documentary series created as a co-production between the BBC Natural History Unit and Discovery Channel. It premiered on 12 September 2001 in the United Kingdom. It is narrated by David Attenborough.
- Scientific Classification
- Genus Thunnus (Atlantic: T. thynnus; Pacific: T. orientalis)
- Maximum Length
- Up to 3 meters (10 feet)
- Maximum Weight
- Over 680 kg (1,500 lbs)
- Diet
- Herrings, mackerel, sardines, squid, and crustaceans
- Thermal Regulation
- Endothermic (warm-blooded)
- Conservation Status
- Critically Endangered to Vulnerable (varies by species)
Lore & Background
Described as 'the first ever comprehensive series on the natural history of the world's oceans', each of the eight 50-minute episodes examines a different aspect of marine life. The series took almost five years to make, involving nearly 200 filming locations. The executive producer was Alastair Fothergill and the music was composed by George Fenton. A sequel series, Blue Planet II, was aired on BBC One in 2017.
In Their Own Story
The series attracted some criticism when it was revealed that some of the footage was filmed at an aquarium in Wales. The series producer, Alastair Fothergill, said that around 2% of the whole series was filmed in tanks at aquariums. A BBC spokesman argued that it would have been unethical to actually disturb the breeding process of wild lobsters for one of the scenes, which was why they made the decision to use the aquarium footage.
Reader's Guide
The series was sold to over 50 countries. In the United States, it was shown as The Blue Planet: Seas of Life with the episodes in a different order, the first one being retitled 'Ocean World'. The series was shown on the Discovery Channel. The narrator for the US broadcast is not specified in the source.
Did You Know?
- The series won a number of Emmy and BAFTA TV awards for its music and cinematography.
- Over 12 million people watched the series when first transmitted on BBC One.
- In 2018 a newly-discovered species of phytoplankton (Syracosphaera azureaplaneta) was named in honour of the programme.
- The series was available as a 3-disc DVD set released 3 December 2001.
More in Endangered Species
Elsewhere in the Living Planet universe
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