The Water Brothers

Over 90% of the large fish in the ocean have been fished out. Thankfully, there are still a few remote places where the last remaining giants of the ocean thrive. Lying 550 km off the west coast of Costa Rica, Cocos Island is home to one of the richest marine habitats on Earth. The Water Brothers join a research expedition to this UNESCO World Heritage site to dive with the giants of Cocos Island and learn why it is so important for the ocean to have protected and thriving hotspots. Join the Brothers as they take viewers on an incredible journey.

The Water Brothers continue their journey at Cocos Island and turn their attention to the migration patterns of the sharks and sea turtles that frequent this undersea wonderland. Working together with a team of dedicated marine biologists, the brothers tag and track these animals’ movements to gather clues about their migration routes. The information gathered by the team will be critical in protecting these threatened creatures from fishermen lurking just beyond the parks borders.

The Jordan River has been reduced to a trickle. This iconic river that nourished the growth of ancient civilizations has become little more than a glorified sewage canal. The Water Brothers venture to Israel, Palestine, and Jordan to investigate the reasons behind the demise of this once mighty river. From the Sea of Galilee, to the site of Jesus’ baptism, to the massive sinkholes that surround the Dead Sea, Alex and Tyler speak with dedicated individuals who are living in this region mired in conflict and are leading the struggle for fair accessibility to the most essential resource of all – water.

The ocean is one of the largest, untapped sources of clean energy on the planet. Tidal and wave power are two of the most exciting marine renewable energy solutions that are already generating electricity right now. The Water Brothers get to the heart of this burgeoning industry by investigating the state-of-the-art technologies being deployed off the rugged coasts of Scotland and Northern Ireland. Their search takes them back to Canada to the site of the world’s largest tides – in the Bay of Fundy – where they go rafting on massive tidal bores and discover the true potential of this Ocean of Energy.

Fish stocks around the world are being depleted at an alarming rate, and yet growing populations are more dependent on these vital food sources than ever. The Water Brothers venture to the East Coast of the US and Canada to witness first-hand how overfishing has changed the local marine ecosystem and join fishermen who choose to catch their fish in a sustainable way.

As we burn fossil fuels, carbon dioxide is seeping into the oceans and creating an alarming, science-fiction scenario. It’s called ocean acidification. It could lead to a mass extinction of marine life, yet it is largely unknown to the public. In the Pacific Northwest, the Brothers meet scallop & mussel farmers who are already experiencing the impacts of this recent phenomenon and losing millions of dollars.

Most people associate NASA with exploring the vastness of space, but much of NASA’s research is directly related to water – both on and off our Blue Planet. The Water Brothers visit a NASA research centre to better understand how water is an essential component of every rocket launch and test out the water recovery system used on the International Space Station. Through interviews with astronaut Chris Hadfield, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and numerous renowned NASA scientists and engineers, the Water Brothers learn how space technology is advancing our understanding of water, both here on Earth and throughout the universe.