Ask Blue Planet transcript
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| This event took place Wednesday 19th September 2001 |
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Blue Planet
Series Producer Alastair Fothergill and Researcher Dr Penny Allen of the second programme in The Blue Planet series chatted in depth and answered your questions live online.
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Question from Lee Nolan: Will you be releasing "The Blue Planet" series on DVD of Video?
The Blue Planet Team: Yes, there's a video and a DVD. You can get details from the BBC shop. The video comes out on the 24th. The DVD will follow.
Question from Paul McDonald: What is the deepest depth that man has ever reached and are there deeper locations?
The Blue Planet Team: Man has reached the deepest point of the ocean the Marianas trench - that was in the 60s and they haven't been back since.
Question from David Booth: Of all the new discoveries, what was the most exciting for you?
The Blue Planet Team: Penny says the dumbo octopus is such an extraordinary looking creature, and we think it may be a new species.
Question from Jen Yates: Did you have any problems with the submersibles?
The Blue Planet Team: No!
Question from Lee Nolan: Can you eat any of the deep sea fish?
The Blue Planet Team: Some deep sea fish are already in our shops - black scabbard for example - but we know almost nothing about these populations so it's not a great idea to eat them.
Question from Ian Kennedy: Were there any computer generated photographs in Blue Planet?
The Blue Planet Team: The 3d animations of the deep sea floor were created by computer. It's obviously impossible to film massive landscapes like the mid oceanic ridges, that are not lit by sunlight.
Question from Phil Chave: What are the chances of discovering new medical cures from deep sea fish?
The Blue Planet Team: From fish we don't know, but there are certainly studies on deep sea sponges which show some promise for cancer cures.
Question from Tom: Didn't your lights have an effect on the fish, seeing as they live in total darkness?
The Blue Planet Team: No, we hope they were completely unaffected. Many have very poor eye sight. They are, however, very sensitive to vibration.
Question from Mark Taylor: Were there any film sequences you wanted for the series that you just couldn't get?
The Blue Planet Team: Yes, the giant squid. Despite a five week expedition using a submersible, we failed to film it. It's never been seen alive by anyone.
Question from Melanie Horrigan: Who names all these animals that have never been seen before?
The Blue Planet Team: The scientists who discover them.
Question from Al Shaw: What was your most exciting moment?
The Blue Planet Team: Alastair: For me it was going down in the Johnson's sea link submersible and filming the tripod fish.
Question from Arthur Bard: What type of cameras do you use are they mini DV or Pro, one or 3 chip and what do you record onto.. tape or film.
The Blue Planet Team: Digibeta, or hi definition cameras recording onto digibeta tape.
Question from p b: What sorts of sounds may you hear at that depth, from the environment itself and the wildlife?
The Blue Planet Team: It's eerily quiet but you could hear the six-gilled shark eating the tuna.
Question from Jason Dale: Were there any moments when the crew were worried for their own safety in the Subs, or by any creatures they were so close to - a nosey shark for example?
The Blue Planet Team: Alistair: The only worrying time, is when the submersible is near the sea bed and there is a risk of getting snagged.
Question from Eve: How were you able to calculate the age of the 200yr old tubes?
The Blue Planet Team: The scientist Chuck Fisher made marks on the tubes and measured how much they had grown when he came back a few years later.
Question from Dean: Are there any plans to submerse into the "lake of salt"?
The Blue Planet Team: It's impossible, the water is too dense and the sub won't get through.
Question from Mark SparX: Have we seen the best or is there better to come?
The Blue Planet Team: There's an amazing amount still to come in the series- particularly watch out for next week's open ocean show. It's full of extraordinary spectacle.
Question from Phil Drake: How long did it take this series to be filmed? Years?
The Blue Planet Team: Five years from initial research to transmission.
Question from Nella Beevor: Did you actually follow the sperm whales in the sub?
The Blue Planet Team: No we didn't - the sperm whales can swim down far faster than any submersible.
Question from Sarah Lowe: How many undiscovered species did your team find? What was your favourite and why?
The Blue Planet Team: We found two species, working with scientists - the hairy angler and the dumbo octopus.
Question from Susan Monaghan: Was there any need for decompression after deep sea dives?
The Blue Planet Team: No because you're diving at atmospheric pressure in the sub.
Question from Ray Millar: I would like to thank you for bringing us such fantastic pictures, who would you thank for their help?
The Blue Planet Team: The series would have been completely impossible without enormous amount of help and advice from marine biologists all around the world.
Question from Simon Farnell: Are the 'chimneys' actually active volcanoes?
The Blue Planet Team: Yes they are hydrothermal vents - mini underwater volcanoes.
Question from Kathy de: Are the camera men also trained marine biologists?
The Blue Planet Team: Yes the majority are.
Question from Natalia Aggiano: Is there any women who are on your team?
The Blue Planet Team: Penny says - yes I am and at least half the production team are female.
Question from Nathan Wren: How large would an average hairy angler be?
The Blue Planet Team: About the size of a football.
Question from Kathy de: The ears on the dumbo octopus (cute name!) - are they really fins?
The Blue Planet Team: Yes they are.
Question JJ Spreij: Can you record sound at all at those depths?
The Blue Planet Team: Yes you could but you need special microphones and the noise of the sub motors makes it difficult to home in on what you want.
Question from Mike Tyson: Would the 6 gill shark be dangerous to humans?
The Blue Planet Team: It might be if we ever came into contact with them, but they live so far down that that's highly unlikely.
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