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The Power of the East

Episode 3 of 4

Documentary series exploring the seas surrounding Great Britain. The team sets out to investigate the waters off the eastern coastline of Britain.

This time on Britain's Secret Seas, the team set out to explore the waters off our eastern coastline, which are constantly pounded by the raw power of the waves. These are the shallowest waters off our shores but over the centuries they have been some of our most productive, providing oil and gas as well as fish for our tables. But things are changing in the North Sea and our team discover a sea full of surprises.

On the Farne Islands, they come face to face with England's largest colony of grey seals to find out what makes them such extraordinary divers and successful hunters. Grey seals can dive for over forty minutes on a single breath - the team find out how they do it and why they seem to be coping with the changing conditions on the east coast far better than the harbour seal.

Elsewhere, Frank looks at the newest form of energy in the North Sea, at a wind farm off the Norfolk coast, and Tooni examines what effect the wind turbines are having on marine life. Paul uncovers the intriguing history of light vessels among the sandbanks of the Thames Estuary, and Tooni gets to the bottom of a bumper lobster harvest in the port of Bridlington.

Paul dives with a shoal of fish that soon transform into a school when he starts to behave as if he were a predator. To find out how they are able to achieve such synchronised motion and why they suddenly change direction, he joins a scientist who has created a plastic imposter - Robofish.

59 minutes

Clip

Music Played

  • Mark Mothersbaugh

    Ping Island/Lightning Strike Rescue Op

  • Nick Drake

    Three Hours

Credits

RoleContributor
PresenterPaul Rose
PresenterFrank Pope
PresenterTooni Mahto
ProducerTom Sheahan
DirectorTom Sheahan
Series ProducerSophie Todd
Executive ProducerGary Hunter

Broadcasts

  • Sun 22 May 201120:00
  • Sun 22 May 201121:30
  • Sun 22 May 201123:45
  • Tue 24 May 201119:00
  • Thu 26 May 201101:20
  • Sat 28 May 201118:30
  • Tue 7 Jun 201119:00
  • Tue 5 Jul 201102:25
  • Sat 9 Jun 201217:00
  • Sat 18 Feb 201710:00
  • Wed 1 Aug 201816:15
  • Sat 21 Sep 201919:00
  • Mon 6 Jul 202009:00
  • Sat 26 Nov 202212:30
  • Sat 16 Sep 202310:00