>> TODAY ON EARTH FOCUS, MENHADEN MAYBE THE MOST IMPORTANT FISH IN THE SEAT, BUT THEIR SURVIVAL IS THREATENED.

AN AWARD WINNING STUDENT FILM CAPTURES THEIR STORY.

IT IS THE TALE OF A FISH MOST PEOPLE HAVE NEVER HEARD OF.

COMING UP ON "COURT FOCUS."

-- "EARTH FOCUS."

>> THIS IS THE STORY ABOUT A FISH, A FISH THAT MOST PEOPLE HAVE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF.

BUT THOSE WHO GREW UP WITH THIS FISH, WHO RELY ON IT FOR THEIR LIVELIHOOD, IT GOES BY MANY NAMES.

>> SOME CALL THEM LY, BUT THEIR NAME IS MENHADEN.

>> THIS IS THE STORY ABOUT MENHADEN, THE PEOPLE LOVE THEM, AND THE PEOPLE WHO MAY BE LOVING THEM TO DEATH.

>> IT IS A SNEAKY LITTLE FISH THAT HARDLY ANYBODY GIVES ANY CREDIT FOR.

YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO EAT IT.

IT TASTES TERRIBLE.

IT IS OILY.

BUT IT IS THE MOST INTRICATE PART OF OUR ENTIRE SYSTEM.

EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS LITTLE STINKY CORRIDOR CALLED MAHAGAN.

>> THEY ARE A BIG -- THIS STINKY CRATER CALLED MENHADEN.

>> THEY ARE A BIG FISH.

THERE ARE A FORG OFFICIAL NRA FILTER FISH.

THEY FILTER WATER AND MAKE IT CLEANER.

THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY USES IT PRIMARILY FOR THE OMEGA 3 OIL.

I JUST HAD TO USE -- TO MAKE A FILM ABOUT THIS STINKY LITTLE OILY FISH THAT NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT, INCLUDING ME.

>> I STARTED OUT COMMERCIAL CROWDING, FISHING.

I HAVE BEEN LIVING OFF THE WATER AND MAKING A LIVING OFF OF THE WATER MY ENTIRE LIFE.

I USE MENHADEN FOR BAIT.

WE GRIND IT UP FOR JOB.

WE ADDED TO THE WATER AND ATTRACT THE FISH IN.

IT IS LIKE USING FRENCH FRIES.

AS THE FISH SMELL IT, THEY COME FROM FAR OUT.

THEN THEY WILL COME AND LOOK FOR THAT BAIT.

THEN WE'VE GOT THEM.

>> IT'S ON, FIRST DESHAWN.

>> IT MAKES EVERYBODY LOOKS GOOD.

>> A ROCKFISH, THE FAVORITE MEAL AND A WHOLE WORLD IS MENHADEN.

MY FAVORITE MEAL AND A WHOLE WORLD IS A ROCK FISH, SO WE GO TOGETHER REALLY WELL.

IT IS FUNNY HOW A STINKY FISH LIKE A MENHADEN CAN MAKE THIS FISH TASTE SO GOOD.

PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT MENHADEN ARE EATEN BY SO MANY FISH.

IT IS THE MAIN DIET FOR TROUT, DRUM, ROCKFISH, BLUEFISH.

THEY DON'T REALIZE THAT.

WHAT ARE YOU GRINDING UP FOR TSHAMBA -- IT IS MENHADEN -- WHAT ARE YOU GRINDING UP FOR CHUM?

IT IS MENHADEN.

IT JUST WORKS SO WELL.

>> MAHAGAN IS A SMALL, SCHOOLING FISH PIER BASED ON OFFSHORE AND THEN GO INTO ESTUARIES TO FEED AND NURTURE.

THIS IS THE BIGGEST NURSERY FOR MENHADEN ON THIS COAST.

THEY ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO THE CHESAPEAKE ECOSYSTEM AND, REALLY, THE ECOSYSTEM OF THE ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS.

THEY ARE THE BASE OF THE FOOD CHAIN.

THEY FEED ON PLANKTON AS FILTER FEEDERS AND AND THEY ARE FED ON BY A WIDE RANGE OF OTHER FISH THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO WAS ECONOMICALLY, BUT ALSO TO THE FOOD THEMSELVES.

>> FOR MANY PEOPLE, MENHADEN ARE A VALUABLE SPECIES.

BUT TO HISTORIAN AND AUTHOR H. BRUCE FRANKLIN, THEY'RE THE MOST IMPORTANT FISH IN THE SEA.

>> IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME BASED ON PERSONAL EXPERIENCE ON THIS ONE FISHING TRIP TO BEGIN WITH WHERE I SAW WHAT THE MENHADEN INDUSTRY WAS DOING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

AND BY DESTROYING NAGIN, THEY WERE -- DESTROYING MENHADEN, THEY WERE ESSENTIALLY PULLING OUT THE KEYSTONE OF THE WHOLE ECOLOGY OF THE ATLANTIC COAST PREPARE LIKE A GIANT VACUUM CLEANER SUCKING ON THE ENTIRE BAY, ALL TYPES OF PHYTOPLANKTON.

EACH INDIVIDUAL MENHADEN FILTERS FOR GALLONS OF WATER PER MINUTE.

MENHADEN PLAYED A HUGE ROLE JUST BY CLARIFYING THE WATER, ALLOWING SUNLIGHT TO PENETRATE DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND STIMULATE VEGETATIVE GROWTH THAT WE VEGETATIVE GROWTH THAT WE ABSOLUTELY NEED IN THE ECOLOGY.

WITHOUT THIS -- WITHOUT THEM, THE FOOD CHAIN SIMPLY COLLAPSES.

>> WHAT I ENJOYED ABOUT THIS PROJECT IS BEING ABLE TO USE ANIMATION AS PART OF THE STORY RATHER THAN FLASCH OR ICING AFTERWARD.

IT HAS WORKED TO DRIVE THE STORY FORWARD.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING IS THAT IT WORKED VERY NICELY TO TELL A STORY IN A UNIQUE WAY.

>> MENHADEN ARE NOT BEING FISHED IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

THAT IS A TOTAL ECOLOGICAL DISASTER.

WE ARE DOWN JUST IN THE PAST 10 YEARS.

WE HAVE LOST BETWEEN 80% TO 90% OF THE POPULATION OF MENHADEN.

>> THE MENHADEN REDUCTION >> THE MENHADEN REDUCTION FISHERY WHERE'VE THEY REDUCE THE FISH, PROCESS, WE CALL IT THE INDUSTRIAL FISHERY.

UP AND DOWN BECAUSE THERE WERE PROBABLY 50 PLANTS OPERATING TO DO THAT, BUT NOW IT IS JUST ONE IN LOUISVILLE, VIRGINIA.

>> AND LOCATED IN VIRGINIA'S NORTHERN NECK, OF REEDVILLE IS A SMALL TOWN WITH A RICH FISHING HERITAGE.

>> MENHADEN PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR MY FAMILY.

FOR MY PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

WHEN I WAS A YOUNGSTER GROWING UP AROUND HERE, JUST ABOUT EVERY HOUSEHOLD HAD SOMEONE DIRECTLY WORKING FOR THE MENHADEN FISHERY.

IT HAD A LOT OF IMPACT DOWN HERE AT REEDVILLE.

WHEN I WAS A PILOT, I ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH.

IT WAS VERY COMPETITIVE TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAD TWO MAJOR COMPANIES FISHING IN THE BAY.

EACH COMPANY HAD ITS FLEET OF BOATS, ITS OWN PROCESSING PLANT, A SPOTTER PILOT FOR EACH COMPANY.

EACH COMPANY -- EACH DAY YOU WERE COMPETING AGAINST THE OTHER COMPANY TO SEE HOW MANY FISH YOU COULD CATCH.

IT WAS IMPORTANT AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT YOU TOOK THE TALLY TO SEE YOU DID THE BEST.

IF YOU HAVE A BETTER DAY THAN THE OTHER COMPANY, YOU FELT PRETTY GOOD.

IF THEY BEAT YOU, YOU HAD TO DO BETTER THAN NEXT DAY.

>> I KNOW THAT IS A LITTLE WARNING.

>> I KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING.

>> I KNOW YOU'VE GOT TO DO WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO DO, BUT I'M LOVING IT.

>> IT WAS QUITE COMPETITIVE AND YOU GET A LOT OF THINGS TO GET THE BEST CATCH.

WE EVEN WENT TO SCRABBLED RADIOS SO THE COMPETITION COULD NOT HEAR YOUR FISH REPORTS TO YOUR VOTES.

>> IN 1957, THE COMPETITION ENDED.

300 PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS WHEN THE TWO COMPANIES CONSOLIDATE INTO ONE COMPANY.

IT IS STILL THE ONLY PRODUCTION IT IS STILL THE ONLY PRODUCTION COMPANY OPERATING ALONG THE EAST COAST.

IN 2010 ALONE, BUT THEY BROUGHT IN OVER 460 MILLION POUNDS, ALMOST ALL OF IT MAHAGAN.

-- MENHADEN.

-- MENHADEN.

BUT WHAT DOES ALL MAY GET DO WITH ALL OF THAT MAN HAGIN?

-- MAHAGAN?

>> ONLY ONE COMPANY KNOWS THE TRUE PROMISE OF WHAT THIS FISH HOLDS.

WE ARE OMEGA PROTEINS, THE WORLD'S LARGEST PRODUCER OF OMEGA 3 RICHARD FISHER WELL, AND THE WORLD'S LARGEST PRODUCER OF FISH SOLUBLE.

WE SEE THE POSSIBILITIES AND THEY ARE WIDE OPEN.

>> YOU WILL NOT SEE A LOT OF RETAIL PRODUCTS THAT SAY OMEGA PROTEIN.

BUT BASICALLY, IT IS IN FARM RAISED SALMON, A SALAD DRESSINGS, AND IN HUMAN NUTRITION FOR AQUACULTURE USES AND SWINE AND DAIRY.

YOU'LL NOT SEE IT AT THE BASIC BEARISH RESTORE EVERY DAY.

-- AT THE BASIC GROCERY STORE -- AT THE BASIC GROCERY STORE EVERY DAY.

>> WHAT OMEGA PROTEIN REFERS TO AS THE REDUCTION INDUSTRY, IT IS REDUCTION BECAUSE THEY HAVE REDUCED MANY BEEN BY FORCING REDUCED MANY BEEN BY FORCING THEM AND BLINDING THEM AND TURNING THEM INTO INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS.

THE THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT THESE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS IS THESE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS IS THAT THROUGH ITS ENTIRE HISTORY, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A PRODUCT MADE FROM AN HAGIN THAT WE COULD MADE FROM AN HAGIN THAT WE COULD ONLY GET FROM NANNIE AIDAN -- MAHAGAN.

>> THIS IS THE SADDEST FACT, THEY ARE AT THE LOWEST POINT ON RECORD.

IT IS A 50-YEAR LONG RECORD.

THEY'RE DOWN TO LESS THAN 10% OF WHAT THEY ONCE WERE.

WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A SPECIES THAT IS SO IMPORTANT ECOLOGICALLY, TO HAVE THEIR NUMBERS DOWN THAT MUCH, IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR THE COAST.

>> WHILE OMEGA OF PROTEIN IS THE ONLY PRODUCTION COMPANY ON THE EAST COAST, THERE ARE MANY WHO CATCH MENHADEN AND SELL IT TO COMMERCIAL FISHERS AND CRABBERS.

>> THAT IS HOW WE PAY THE BILLS, CATCHING CRABS, AND WE USE MENHADEN TO DATE -- TO BEAT THE CROWDS.

YOU HAVE TO USE THE RIGHT BAIT.

YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO CATCH IT AND MYSELF, WE USED IN THE TRIPOD.

MY FATHER WAS A CRABBER.

WE'RE ALSO RESPONSIBLE.

WE DO NOT WANT TO PLEAT -- DEEPLY -- TO DEPLETE IT.

HAVING IT IN A HEALTHY STATE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AND ANYONE CRACKS IN THE COURSE OF THE FILM, ONE OF THE TURNING -- >> IN THE COURSE OF THE FILM, ONE OF THE TURNING PLACES FOR ME WAS SARAH AND I WERE ACTUALLY MEETING UP WITH A COUNTER AND WE COULD NOT MEET UP WITH HIM AND WE WERE JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WE SAW THIS AS A GENTLEMAN WITH -- IN A LARGE FIELD MENDON IS ENORMOUS NET.

WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND STARTED TALKING TO HIM AND IT TURNS OUT HE IS THE FORMER CAPTAIN OF A MENHADEN FISHING BOAT.

WHY -- BY TALKING TO FREDERIC ROBERGE, WE LEARN SO MUCH ABOUT HIM AND HIS FAMILY HERITAGE AND THE FISHING INDUSTRY.

IN THAT MOMENT, YOU JUST START CONNECTING WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND IT CHANGES THE WAY YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT THE ISSUE.

THINKING ABOUT THE ISSUE.

IT IS A SPECIAL ASPECT OF THIS FILM, AND A DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING IN GENERAL.

>> I WAS BORN IN 1926.

THE FIRST JOB I HAD WAS ON A MAHAGAN BOAT.

-- MAHAGAN -- MENHADEN BOATS.

THIS IS MY SON.

>> MY NAME IS FRED ROGERS III.

I HAVE BEEN OWNER AND OPERATOR OF THIS SNAPPER RATE FOR 22 YEARS NOW.

ON A GOOD WEEK, THE FACTORY GATES CAN CATCH THE SAME AMOUNT OF FISH IN ONE WE AS A THIS BOAT AND ANOTHER BOAT SIMILAR TO THIS CAN CATCH IN A WHOLE YEAR.

THE FISH WE CATCH IS A FRACTION OF WHAT THOSE OTHER GUYS CAN GET.

95% OF OUR FISH GOES FOR BAIT.

THE FACTORY BOATS CATCH 100% OF THEIR FISH FOR REDUCTION.

AND THERE'S IS USED IN COSMETICS AND ANIMAL FEED AND OMEGA 3 TILLES AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

-- OMEGA 3 SUPPLEMENTS AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> MY NAME IS WALTER RODGERS.

I AM A PALE THAT FISHERMAN.

>> IT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.

THE INDIANS USED IT.

RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE A FEW OF US LEFT.

PALE NAT IS BASICALLY A SERIES OF POLLS OR PILINGS THAT WE PUT IN THE BAY EVERY YEAR.

IT IS ALMOST A SERIES OF MAYSES WHERE FISH COME INTO IT BY HEDGEROW.

IT FORCES THE FISH TO THE DEEPER WATER AND WE HAVE A SMALL MAYS SAID UP WHERE IT FORCES THEM INTO A SMALLER POUND.

WE SET THAT UP IN THE SPRING AND WE PUT THEM IN THE SAME SPOT ALL YEAR.

HOPEFULLY, WE'VE PICKED A GOOD SPOT.

MENHADEN IS MORE THAN 50% OF THE VALUE OF WHAT I CATCH.

>> ALTOGETHER, BAIT FISHERMAN MIGHT BE ROGERS FAMILY -- LIKE THE ROGERS FAMILY NATALEE 20% OF THE REGULAR COAST FLY.

THE OTHER 80% IS HARVESTED BY ALL MAKE A PROTEIN.

-- OMEGA PROTEIN.

>> IN NOVEMBER, 2011, IN A MOVE TO PROTECT MANY AIDAN FROM OVERFISHING, THE ATLANTA -- PROTECT MENHADEN FROM OVERFISHING, THE ADVANTIC COAST COUNCIL MADE RESTRICTIONS.

COUNCIL MADE RESTRICTIONS.

>> I WOULD LIKE THE VIEWERS TO CONNECT WITH ECOLOGICAL ISSUES IN THEIR OWN TOWNS.

THIS IS NOT JUST A STORY ABOUT MENHADEN, BUT ALSO ABOUT THE SPECIES IN YOUR AREA.

IT IS ABOUT THE TOWN OF REEDVILLE AND HOW THEY ARE MANAGING AN AMAZING RESOURCE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH IN SO MANY WAYS AND WILL THEY BE ABLE TO MANAGE THIS RESOURCE IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY SUCH THAT THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO ABOUT -- TO REAP THE BENEFITS THAT SO MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO?

WE CAN FIND STORIES LIKE THIS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ALL ACROSS THE WORLD.

AND NOW WE CAN TRY TO FIND AND HOW TO ACT WITHIN OUR OWN COMMUNITIES TO HAVE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT SACRIFICING DOLLARS IN THE SHORT TERM, BUT ALLOWING THEM TO COEXIST WITH US.

THE CRACKS -- >> OMEGA HAS THE MUSCLE TO FIGHT AGAINST ANY REGULATION AGAINST CATCHING MANY BEEN AT ALL.

BUT WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE FISHERIES ARE GOING TO DO AS FAR AS REDUCTION, BUT ANY REDUCTION OF MENHADEN IS GOING TO DIRECTLY AFFECT MY PROFIT.

I SEE STICKERS THAT SAY "SAVE THE MAHAGAN" BUT NONE OF THAT SAY "SAVE THE FISHERMAN."

>> I SINCERELY THINK THEY DO NOT WANT TO BOTHER THE MOM-AND-POP BAIT INDUSTRY.

>> IT IS A CULTURE.

IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR GENERATIONS IN THIS AREA.

>> I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE POINT AT ME LIKE I'M AN EXTINCT PERSON.

THAT IS WHAT IT IS BECOMING.

IT IS MORE OF A TOURIST IT IS MORE OF A TOURIST ATTRACTION RATHER THAN SOMEONE OUT THERE WORKING TO MAKE A LIVING.

>> THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WORKING >> THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WORKING ON THIS FILM WAS BALANCING THE STORY AT IT.

WE HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT FOOTAGE FROM DIFFERENT GROUPS AND DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON WHY MENHADEN WAS IMPORTANT, BOTH WHY MENHADEN WAS IMPORTANT, BOTH ECOLOGICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY.

YOU NEED TO TAKE ON THE INFORMATION AND MAKE THE STORY MOVES FROM 1.2 THE NEXT.

-- FROM ONE PLACE TO THE NEXT.

FROM THE BEGINNING, THE EDITOR HAS TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE WATCHING AND INTERESTED.

IT WAS A CHALLENGE ON THIS FILM, BUT I THINK WE PULLED IT OFF, BUT I THINK WE PULLED IT OFF, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD SIX OR SEVEN DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT WE WERE INTERVIEWING AND FILMING.

>> ALL OF US THAT RELY ON THIS FOR A LIVING, THESE FISH ARE HERE BECAUSE THEY HAD FISH TO FEED ON.

NO FOOD, NO FISH.

NO FISH, NO LIVING.

>> WE KNOW THAT MAHAGAN HAS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE MARINE ECOLOGY.

YOU CANNOT LEAVE OUT AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE SYSTEM AND EXPECT THE SYSTEM TO WORK.

>> MAHAGAN IS WHAT I'VE GROWN UP WITH ALL MY LIFE.

-- MENHADEN IS WHAT I'VE GROWN UP WITH ALL MY LIFE.

>> IF THERE WERE NO MORE MEN HAGIN -- MAHAGAN -- IF MENHADEN IN THE DAY, IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING TO THE ECONOMY.

NEW HAVE TO HAVE A BALANCE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE BALANCE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE BALANCE, THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM WORKING TOGETHER.

>> I THINK THE STORY OF MENHADEN IS A STORY OF POTENTIAL.

IT IS EXCITING.

IF WE CAN BRING BACK THIS LEVEL OF THE FISH, OR INCREASE IT TO OF THE FISH, OR INCREASE IT TO WHAT WE HAVE USED IN THE PAST NUMBER OF YEARS, WE COULD LOOK BACK TO WHAT CHESAPEAKE BAY COULD LOOK LIKE.

IT WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST IT WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST FISHERIES IN THE WORLD.

AND AT A TIME WHEN WE ARE IMPORTING OVER 80% OF THE FISH IN THE U.S., THE POSSIBILITIES OF BRINGING THAT BACK TO LIFE IS INCREDIBLE AS COMPLEX AS THIS ISSUE IS, IT IS STILL SIMPLE IN RELATION TO THE ISSUE IS GOING ON.

WE COULD BRING THIS BACK AND WE COULD BRING THIS BACK AND THAT WOULD BE EXCITING.

I SEE THIS AS A STORY THAT COULD BE VERY EXCITING.

>> REEDVILLE IS IN A STRUGGLE.

IT IS ALSO IN A STRUGGLE FOR ITS CULTURE TO SURVIVE.

EVEN THOUGH ITS HISTORY IS MODERNIZE, A SMALL GROUP OF MEN IS DEDICATED TO KEEPING THE TRADITION ALIVE.

>> LET'S GO GET THEM.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> A LOT OF OUR MEN ARE OCCUPIED BY FISHING.

>> WHEN YOUNG MEN CAME OUT OF SCHOOL, OR QUIT SCHOOL OR WHATEVER, THEY EITHER WENT FISHING OR WENT INTO THE MILITARY.

WE ARE SINGING OUR THEME SONG.

IT IS THAT SONG THAT WE USED TO COORDINATE AND TOLD ANOTHER NET.

>> YOU HAVE SO MANY IN THE NET, IT ALMOST MAKES YOU CRY SOMETIMES.

BUT ONCE YOU START SINGING, THAT PUTS EVERYBODY IN COORDINATION FOR POLLING.

THEN YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE SOME MONEY.

NO FISH, NO MONEY.

YOU CAN SEE THEM COME AROUND IN THE NEXT AND YOU CAN SEE THEM GO BY.

EVERYBODY BE SCREAMING.

♪ ♪ >> SHANTY SINGERS, PALE NETTERS, CRABBERS.

IF WE TAKE THESE THE WAY, WE TAKE AWAY THE CULTURE HERE.

COMMERCIAL, REGULATORY, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND RECREATIONAL.

WHAT IS AT STAKE IS NOT JUST MENHADEN, BUT THE FUTURE OF ALL THE OTHER FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PEOPLE, WHO RELY ON THAT STINKY, OILY LITTLE FISH, THAT COULD VERY WELL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT FISH IN HIS SEAT.

>> IF WE SERIOUSLY PROTECT THE MENHADEN AND GO BEYOND THE STATUS QUO, BUT ACTUALLY TRY TO RESTORE THE MENHADEN TO ANYTHING APPROACHING THE HISTORICAL POPULATION, THEN WE'RE TALKING POPULATION, THEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS ENTIRE COAST HAVING A BOOM IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

>> I HOPE THAT VIEWERS OF MENHADEN TAKE AWAY THE FACT THAT IT MATTERS.

YOU WALK ALONG THE SIDEWALK EVERY DAY AND YOU CRUSH AN AUNT AND YOU DON'T GIVE MUCH THOUGHT TO IT.

MENHADEN ARE KIND OF LIKE ANTS.

EVERYTHING HAS A TINY LITTLE ROLE.

AND ALONG THE CHESAPEAKE BAY, MENHADEN HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THINGS YOU DO NOT IF YOU LOOK AT THINGS YOU DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT, MANY IN IS A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT.

LOOK AROUND.

SOMETIMES YOU WILL DISCOVER THINGS THAT ARE VERY SMALL.

>> WHEN JOHN SMITH CAME HERE TO DO HIS MAPS AND HIS EXPLORING, THE WATER WAS ORELLI.

EVERY PLACE HE WENT TO IT WAS ORELLI.

-- OILY.

CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW MANY FISH WOULD HAVE IN THE BAY LIKE THAT?

HOW CLEAN THE WATER WOULD BE?

THAT WOULD BE THE ALTERNATE.

-- THE ULTIMATE.

WE CAN'T GET BACK TO THAT, BUT WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪