0:00:18 > 0:00:20- Hi, I'm Luca.- And I'm Felix.
0:00:20 > 0:00:22- BOTH:- Welcome to our island.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26We live on this beautiful island in the middle of the South Pacific,
0:00:26 > 0:00:28surrounded by coral reefs.
0:00:28 > 0:00:33Having a lot of marine life around where we live is really fun.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35I love swimming with the whales.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38They come near to our island to have their calves.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41Under the water is just an entirely different world.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44But although it looks like the perfect place to live,
0:00:44 > 0:00:48the island has just had its worst storm in over 100 years.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51And our coral reef may be damaged.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55- So how was it?- There's not a lot of healthy coral.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57'If nothing is done to save the reef,
0:00:57 > 0:01:01'it and the wildlife that lives here could be destroyed.'
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Because it eats all the algae, and has destroyed beautiful reefs.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09Join us as we fight to protect our island home.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13A piece of rubbish. They could just pick it up and put it in a bin.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17We'll show you what life in a desert island is really all about.
0:01:24 > 0:01:25This is the island of Fofoa,
0:01:25 > 0:01:30our home and our own personal adventure playground.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33My name is Luca. I'm ten years old.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36I'm Felix. I'm 11,
0:01:36 > 0:01:40and I live on an island in Tonga, which is in the South Pacific.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43We have lived here for nine years, and it's full of wildlife,
0:01:43 > 0:01:51such as colourful birds, sand crabs, lots of fish, whales, dolphins.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55'I've got a few non-human friends on the island too.'
0:01:55 > 0:01:57So, this is Robin.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01I actually obviously don't know why they're called a sea hare,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04because they actually should be called a hippopotamus slug.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08They have a big nose, sort of same eyes.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11When they feel threatened,
0:02:11 > 0:02:14purple ink comes out from that hole there...
0:02:16 > 0:02:19..which I don't want to demonstrate, because he's a good friend.
0:02:22 > 0:02:28'Having a lot of marine life around where we live is really fun.
0:02:28 > 0:02:33'And it's exciting, because things that you don't see a lot of,
0:02:33 > 0:02:38'if you just walk along the reef, and then you see one and, yeah,
0:02:38 > 0:02:40'that's something to do over there.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43'There's never usually a usual day.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46'There's no sort of routine that we have.'
0:02:46 > 0:02:50We just see what looks fun on that day, and do it.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56These leaves, which you can stick on your faces...
0:02:58 > 0:02:59..and they'll stick.
0:03:04 > 0:03:09We're here to see the local medicine cabinet.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12These are both very good for cuts,
0:03:12 > 0:03:15cos the Aloe Vera is good for cleaning out the cuts.
0:03:15 > 0:03:20And then these, when you roll them up and crush them,
0:03:20 > 0:03:24it's good for, like, healing cuts to make them grow over.
0:03:24 > 0:03:29We don't have Wi-Fi, so mobiles and iPads aren't much use here.
0:03:29 > 0:03:34We do a lot of stuff together as a family, playing games.
0:03:34 > 0:03:35This is our dad, Boris.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38We never fall out seriously in this game.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41We tease each other, but no, no fall-outs.
0:03:47 > 0:03:48That's our mum, Karen.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52- Do you want to hit that one first? - Oh, great.
0:03:54 > 0:03:56CHEERING
0:03:58 > 0:04:00And don't forget Lulu the dog.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04We never trained her to hunt, erm...
0:04:04 > 0:04:08fish, but she sort of just does it anyway for fun.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11'As our family are the only people who live full-time on the island,
0:04:11 > 0:04:13'we have to make our own fun.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15'But that's not a problem for us.'
0:04:15 > 0:04:19Most of the things we use, we've made.
0:04:19 > 0:04:24These are probably one of the coolest toys that my dad has made.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32We have showers, and we have the sea as a big bath.
0:04:32 > 0:04:37But if we want, like, a bath bath, then this is sort of what we use.
0:04:38 > 0:04:39Ah!
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Just a seed.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57So where one coconut goes, a coconut tree...
0:04:57 > 0:04:58planted.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00- Do you want to drink this?- Yeah.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06It doesn't taste like anything I know -
0:05:06 > 0:05:09it just tastes like coconut water.
0:05:09 > 0:05:10Sort of...
0:05:10 > 0:05:14in between sweet and non-sweet.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16- Felix, do you want to open that? - Yeah.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24Opening the coconut like that, he's using the blunt side of the knife.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27It's not that dangerous that I've got a machete,
0:05:27 > 0:05:29cos I know how to use one.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32'But you have to be careful with it.'
0:05:32 > 0:05:34Coconuts are great - coconuts give you everything, really.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37Water, food, shelter, firewood.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40Well, a whole house, really.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42We built our house ourselves,
0:05:42 > 0:05:45made from things that you can find on the island.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48The home-made table - it's all made out of cedar.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54And then all of these posts everywhere are all coconut wood,
0:05:54 > 0:05:55all from our land.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59This is our measuring pole.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02Which is how...
0:06:02 > 0:06:03well, tall we are.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07That was me when we first started, and...
0:06:08 > 0:06:10That's me when we first started.
0:06:10 > 0:06:11But now...
0:06:11 > 0:06:14We haven't done this yet, but I'm pretty sure I'm here.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18Yeah, I'm around there at the 16th of May.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20I was only 18 months when I moved here,
0:06:20 > 0:06:23so this island and the stuff you can do here
0:06:23 > 0:06:25is pretty much everything I know.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27- RADIO:- 'Good morning, everyone.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29'I'll be your net controller for this morning.'
0:06:29 > 0:06:31This is the VHF.
0:06:31 > 0:06:36It's what we use to stay in contact with other islands and the mainland.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40Every morning at 8:30, there's what we call the net,
0:06:40 > 0:06:42which is kind of like the news, only you don't watch it,
0:06:42 > 0:06:44you just listen for it.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48- Hello, Mum.- Hey, boys!
0:06:48 > 0:06:50The cat's on the back of the bed, but look,
0:06:50 > 0:06:54there's actually a stray hermit crab that you can return, please.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56Before he comes and bites my toes.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06Our island is in the country of Tonga.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10To get here, it takes three days' travel from the UK.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15In the holiday season, we get tourists coming to stay here.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18This is our main house, which we call Happy Appi.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20We park our boat at the front.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22The guests stay in the beach house.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26The island is surrounded by coral reefs.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30The family business is that we have a guest house,
0:07:30 > 0:07:32but it's not on all the time,
0:07:32 > 0:07:37because there's a season for when customers come,
0:07:37 > 0:07:41because they only usually come when there's whales.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43The reefs in Tonga are so special
0:07:43 > 0:07:46that every year, whales come here to have their young.
0:07:46 > 0:07:48It's one of the only places in the world
0:07:48 > 0:07:50where you can swim with them,
0:07:50 > 0:07:53and it's a really special moment in the year for us.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57When I'm about to go swimming with whales, I feel very excited,
0:07:57 > 0:08:01because under the water is just an entirely different world
0:08:01 > 0:08:04of entirely different species,
0:08:04 > 0:08:07and it's just so exciting to see such big mammals
0:08:07 > 0:08:08just move so gracefully.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11Can you see the reefs under the water?
0:08:11 > 0:08:14They are so important to the whales, as this is where they come
0:08:14 > 0:08:19to give birth, because it is warm, safe and calm.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21Being in the water with a whale,
0:08:21 > 0:08:26it feels really magical, because it's such a big,
0:08:26 > 0:08:30intelligent creature that feels like...
0:08:30 > 0:08:33it's knowing what you're trying to do.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35But our reef is in danger.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39If it gets too damaged, the whales will lose their birthing place,
0:08:39 > 0:08:41and that would be a disaster.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Coral reefs are really important,
0:08:44 > 0:08:47as they help house thousands of marine species,
0:08:47 > 0:08:50from large sharks to small fish.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53Coral needs tiny plants called algae to survive.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55The algae is the breakfast,
0:08:55 > 0:08:59lunch and tea for the coral, and gives it this pinky colour.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03The rising water temperatures and tropical storms in the area
0:09:03 > 0:09:05are causing the coral to shed their algae,
0:09:05 > 0:09:07turning them completely white.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11This is known as coral bleaching, and is very dangerous,
0:09:11 > 0:09:14as the coral is more likely to catch disease and die.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17We're really worried about the coral around our island,
0:09:17 > 0:09:20but don't know enough about how to help it.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24So Mum asked her friend, Karen, a marine expert, for help.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26- Pleased to meet you, you must be... - Luca.- Luca, excellent.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29- And you must be...- Felix.- Excellent. Very happy to be here.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33Karen tells as that one way we can help is to do a survey
0:09:33 > 0:09:36on our island beaches and surrounding coral.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39So what we're doing, we're going to look at the ocean temperatures,
0:09:39 > 0:09:41you see that blue line, well, you're going to read off of that.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44So let's just put it into the ocean.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47And you can see there, it's 28 degrees.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50What does 28 degrees mean?
0:09:50 > 0:09:54So, 28 degrees is the highest water temperature
0:09:54 > 0:09:55before corals get stressed.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58It's to do with climate change and global warming.
0:09:58 > 0:10:04It's from users of fossil fuels, more cars, less green forests,
0:10:04 > 0:10:08less coral reefs and mangroves to store the carbon dioxide,
0:10:08 > 0:10:10so as much a part of it as natural,
0:10:10 > 0:10:14a lot of it is accelerated by man-made practices.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16What are we looking for when we survey the beach?
0:10:16 > 0:10:19So, a couple of things, one is that there's no rubbish around,
0:10:19 > 0:10:24especially plastics and plastic bags that can float into the ocean.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27The other is just to make sure that there's no big eroded areas,
0:10:27 > 0:10:29like, your sand's not disappearing.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32But if you're noticing any dramatic changes,
0:10:32 > 0:10:35you should note it down and then bring it in and let us know.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37Karen tells us that if the stress continues,
0:10:37 > 0:10:39then the coral will eventually die.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43We need to learn how to survey the reef properly,
0:10:43 > 0:10:45so we can keep it healthy.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47So we'll be recording everything that we see,
0:10:47 > 0:10:50any groupers, any turtles,
0:10:50 > 0:10:52and then when we come back, we'll be adding that up
0:10:52 > 0:10:55to see what the total number we found was.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58We'll also be looking for the crown-of-thorns.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00The crown-of-thorns starfish is a big threat.
0:11:00 > 0:11:05It eats the algae on the coral, and slowly kills off the reef.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07They have large spines on them
0:11:07 > 0:11:09and those spines have sort of toxin in them,
0:11:09 > 0:11:11so you don't want them poking you,
0:11:11 > 0:11:14and if we see a crown-of-thorns, we want to try and remove it
0:11:14 > 0:11:16without damaging any coral around it.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20They can destroy a metre to a metre and a half of reef within a day.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23So if they're left without doing some management,
0:11:23 > 0:11:26they can really destroy large areas of reef.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30And remember, the biggest and most important thing is always spit well
0:11:30 > 0:11:32into your mask to stop it from fogging up.
0:11:38 > 0:11:43I'm hoping to see groupers, turtles and eels.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45'But we'll only see them if the reef is healthy.'
0:11:45 > 0:11:48I'm very excited to survey this reef,
0:11:48 > 0:11:50so I can know what to touch and what not to touch.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53So when we're swimming, we signal to each other by saying, "OK,"
0:11:53 > 0:11:55and we signal back, "OK."
0:11:55 > 0:11:56So let's go!
0:11:56 > 0:11:58Yay!
0:12:00 > 0:12:03Under water, we see a few different species, which we take note of.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09We notice some small fish, but no large fish or turtles,
0:12:09 > 0:12:11which you would expect to see on a healthy reef.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14The coral reef isn't very colourful,
0:12:14 > 0:12:19so we're really devastated to see how unhealthy it all looks.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22The good news is we see plenty of sea cucumbers.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24They feed on tiny bits of waste on the ocean floor,
0:12:24 > 0:12:27and help keep the reef clean, which gives us hope.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31Not a lot of healthy coral, but...
0:12:31 > 0:12:34there were a few patches and a lot of sea cucumbers.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37'Karen leaves us with some homework, desert island style -
0:12:37 > 0:12:41'to survey another part of the reef to build a bigger picture
0:12:41 > 0:12:46'on how healthy it all this, and get the results to her next week.'
0:12:46 > 0:12:48I think the survey will go great.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50I think they've really want to do their bit
0:12:50 > 0:12:53to help out and to help get some of these reefs protected.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59Healthy reefs bring whales, and whales bring tourists
0:12:59 > 0:13:01to stay on our island.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04When we have a lot of guests staying, we have to stay in camp,
0:13:04 > 0:13:06which is real outdoors living.
0:13:06 > 0:13:07This is the refrigerator.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14Then there's also the other pantry, which is that.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21'All our water comes from rain, and it's collected in these tanks.'
0:13:21 > 0:13:23We need a lot of rain,
0:13:23 > 0:13:28and this tank is half full, same as this one,
0:13:28 > 0:13:31and this is all the water we have on our island.
0:13:36 > 0:13:41This long drop is the camp toilet,
0:13:41 > 0:13:44which is one of the most disturbing things we have to do
0:13:44 > 0:13:45when we stay up here.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51The thing that's really annoying about this toilet is, obviously,
0:13:51 > 0:13:53cockroaches would like it under there.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56Sometimes a cockroach crawls out.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59The weather changes so quickly,
0:13:59 > 0:14:03it can be sunny one minute, and then stormy the next.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06'Good morning to you all. I'll be starting with the weather forecast.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11'Cloudy periods with occasional showers. Heavy at times.
0:14:12 > 0:14:17'A heavy, damaging cloud warning remains in force for the Vava'u,
0:14:17 > 0:14:22'plus some very rough seas, a heavy, damaging east-to-south-east swell.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25'That is our weather, and we'll be moving out to our prediction...'
0:14:25 > 0:14:28'But despite the rain, we've got work to do.'
0:14:28 > 0:14:32'We're halfway through building our new guest house,
0:14:32 > 0:14:35'Coral Cottage, so we don't have to move out of our home
0:14:35 > 0:14:36'when guests stay.'
0:14:36 > 0:14:38Yeah, you know what this wood is for, guys?
0:14:38 > 0:14:40- Coral Cottage.- Yeah, Coral Cottage.
0:14:40 > 0:14:41Some is for the new deck,
0:14:41 > 0:14:44and some is for actually building the wall frames.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46So the thin stuff is the deck?
0:14:46 > 0:14:49Yeah, and you guys can take that, cos it's actually not that heavy.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53HEAVY RAIN
0:14:53 > 0:14:57I kind of enjoy the work with my dad,
0:14:57 > 0:14:59because I like watching a building sort of just
0:14:59 > 0:15:01grow into its full structure.
0:15:02 > 0:15:10Now we are making the deck here at Coral Cottage, and the wooden frame.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12Living in the middle of the Pacific Ocean
0:15:12 > 0:15:14means we get tropical storms.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Three months ago, Cyclone Winston hit our home -
0:15:17 > 0:15:20the worst storm in over 100 years.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23The first thing that came off the entire house
0:15:23 > 0:15:27was the tin at the top of this roof.
0:15:27 > 0:15:33Then this part came off, as well, and that part, and all this stuff,
0:15:33 > 0:15:36which is attached to the roof,
0:15:36 > 0:15:38and when that came undone,
0:15:38 > 0:15:41then the whole roof just flipped back that way.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43And...yeah, it was in front of the door,
0:15:43 > 0:15:47so in the morning it was pretty hard to get out.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51But after a lot of hard work, we get things back to normal.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58Today, we've come to the mainland to pick up supplies.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05Our parents come into town usually once a week,
0:16:05 > 0:16:08but Luca and me prefer to stay on the island,
0:16:08 > 0:16:11so we come in only if we need to.
0:16:12 > 0:16:13Right now, we're at the market,
0:16:13 > 0:16:17which we come to pretty much every time we come here,
0:16:17 > 0:16:20because it's where all the fruit, vegetables,
0:16:20 > 0:16:22and just all the healthy foods are.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25Boys, do you want to pick some?
0:16:25 > 0:16:28- The whole thing?- Yeah, just two.
0:16:28 > 0:16:29Yeah, sorry.
0:16:31 > 0:16:32Perfect!
0:16:34 > 0:16:38Yeah. That's it. Alors.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42One of the best things about coming into town is collecting any parcels
0:16:42 > 0:16:44or letters that have been sent to us.
0:16:48 > 0:16:54Luca's upset because my parcel has arrived and his hasn't.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56The parcel's come from England.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58It was sent by my nanny.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02It's going to look smart, Felix.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05Whatever this is.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08I think that's yours, Mum - that looks like a dress.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11- No, those are your trousers. - Oh, right.- To go with your suit.
0:17:11 > 0:17:12And to go with your jacket.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15'I wouldn't wear a suit every day.'
0:17:15 > 0:17:18The only reason I like a suit is for special occasions,
0:17:18 > 0:17:22like Christmas or something like that.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24That way you've got something good to put on.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27So, Luca's feet,
0:17:27 > 0:17:28because he's never worn shoes,
0:17:28 > 0:17:30cos he was that much younger when we got here,
0:17:30 > 0:17:33so he's got really, really wide feet,
0:17:33 > 0:17:36and my mum has a thing about really wanting them,
0:17:36 > 0:17:39whenever we're back in the UK, to have a smart pair of shoes.
0:17:39 > 0:17:41Well, any shoes, actually.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43So we go to the shoe shop, get measured,
0:17:43 > 0:17:46but guaranteed they never have any that's going to fit him,
0:17:46 > 0:17:50because he's just proportionately too wide for the height,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53so, yeah, it's quite difficult to find you some shoes, isn't it?
0:17:53 > 0:17:56And then as soon as you get them on, you just insist on taking them off.
0:17:56 > 0:17:59- That's why I don't wear shoes. - I know!
0:17:59 > 0:18:02Just one more thing to do before we go back to the island.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15We have our homework to do that Karen set us - the big reef survey.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19We're going to survey our reef, and find out how badly damaged it is.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22On the practice survey, I was kind of concerned
0:18:22 > 0:18:23about the health on our reef,
0:18:23 > 0:18:27so hopefully the next part of the reef will be a lot healthier.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29We're going to be getting there on the boat,
0:18:29 > 0:18:32because this one's a lot further out.
0:18:32 > 0:18:37I hope we'll see some parrotfish, grouper, sharks, turtles...
0:18:37 > 0:18:41all of them are a very important part in the reef's food web.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47'We need to make a note of all the marine species that we can spot.'
0:18:53 > 0:19:00I have seen seven parrotfish and four surgeonfish so far.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03We see a rare sight - a sea turtle in the distance.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08The reef seems a lot more colourful than the reef closer to shore.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15But then, Felix spots something.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18We just found a crown-of-thorns on the reef.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21We've got to be very careful to not break the crown-of-thorns,
0:19:21 > 0:19:24cos if you break them, they multiply, and it gets worse.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29It's really difficult to remove,
0:19:29 > 0:19:31and I'm worried I won't be able to get it.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36But eventually, determination pays off.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39Well done, Felix.
0:19:39 > 0:19:45It's very good if we remove this starfish from the reef,
0:19:45 > 0:19:48because it eats all the algae, and just destroys
0:19:48 > 0:19:52lots and lots of beautiful reefs.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57Back in the water, we manage to remove a few more,
0:19:57 > 0:19:59which is excellent news for the reef,
0:19:59 > 0:20:01but there's still lots of work to do.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04The second part of our survey is to look at the health of our beach,
0:20:04 > 0:20:09and clean up the rubbish that gets washed ashore or left by tourists,
0:20:09 > 0:20:11before it damages the environment.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14If kids are on a beach and they just come across any tiny...
0:20:14 > 0:20:17Even just a bottle cap or a piece of rubbish,
0:20:17 > 0:20:20they could just pick it up, and put it in a bin.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23'Even though the ocean has washed the rubbish clean,
0:20:23 > 0:20:26'it can still be toxic to reefs and sea life.'
0:20:26 > 0:20:28These won't fit you, there're huge!
0:20:28 > 0:20:30They won't fit me!
0:20:31 > 0:20:37I've found this, which is one of the most annoying, cos it breaks up.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39And then it becomes lots of different separate pieces,
0:20:39 > 0:20:42and is very poisonous.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44Well, that looks a lot better now, doesn't it?
0:20:44 > 0:20:46When we get back,
0:20:46 > 0:20:49we find Mum has a plan to get rid of the crown-of-thorns starfish.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52Oh, there you are. I've already started.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55- Who's going to take over?- Felix, do you want to finish digging the hole?
0:20:55 > 0:20:56Yeah, I can do that.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00So, although we only got three out of the five we would have liked
0:21:00 > 0:21:02to have got, that's made a huge difference to that reef.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05We've just got to go back and see if we can get the others another day.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11- Good compost. So, who's going to close the hole?- Me.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13So, do you remember how much damage Karen said
0:21:13 > 0:21:15that these things can do in just one day?
0:21:15 > 0:21:18- Yeah, one metre.- Yeah. A day.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26So much of island life is spent on the water and just living.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31I come fishing with my dad as long as I have the chance,
0:21:31 > 0:21:33and if there's room on the boat.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40Yeah, that's it. And then you start winding.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42There you go.
0:21:42 > 0:21:43Yeah, but I just can't do everything fast.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47Hey, you start practising, and then it'll come.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54Tuna, wahoo, mahi-mahi...
0:21:55 > 0:21:57Anything that we will eat, basically.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Sashimi. It tastes like sashimi.
0:22:08 > 0:22:09Sashimi's raw fish.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17I don't really like killing the fish, but it's, you know,
0:22:17 > 0:22:19it's like, part of the cycle of life.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28Some of our best ingredients come from right here on the island.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30Here's some chillies.
0:22:30 > 0:22:38So, we're collecting these chillies because we are making a hot sauce,
0:22:38 > 0:22:41and these are the hottest chillies there are.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45Though they're very small, they're...
0:22:46 > 0:22:47..boiling hot.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53- Bon appetit, everyone! - Bon appetit.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00A few days later, we head to the mainland
0:23:00 > 0:23:04to let Karen know what we found on the second reef that we surveyed.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07All the information we have collected will be given to
0:23:07 > 0:23:11the Government, and we hope it will encourage them to give our reef
0:23:11 > 0:23:13protected status.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15It was much better. It had much more colour in it.
0:23:16 > 0:23:21I mean, the other one, it was mainly just brown and grey.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23It sounds like it's a much more balanced reef.
0:23:23 > 0:23:24And what did you see?
0:23:24 > 0:23:27We saw a lot of parrotfish,
0:23:27 > 0:23:29and unfortunately, a lot of crown-of-thorns.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31Did you manage to get any of the crown-of-thorns?
0:23:31 > 0:23:32Well, we saw five,
0:23:32 > 0:23:35but they were juvenile, so I'm guessing there's many more,
0:23:35 > 0:23:37but we got three. We used it as compost, actually.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41Oh, that's a brilliant idea - helping the garden at the same time.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43The data that you've collected here,
0:23:43 > 0:23:47we'll be able to use to help get some changes in the law
0:23:47 > 0:23:50to get some of our reefs protected.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52'Karen asks us to keep checking the reef every month,
0:23:52 > 0:23:54'and report back the findings.'
0:23:54 > 0:23:58My biggest goal for this reef would probably be for its data
0:23:58 > 0:24:02not just to affect our island, but the whole of Tonga as well.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08After months of work, Coral Cottage is finally finished.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11Tourists are arriving to swim with the whales,
0:24:11 > 0:24:13and we get some great news about our survey.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17Hey, boys, I just got an e-mail from Karen from VEPA.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19- You want to come and hear what she has to say?- Oh, yeah!
0:24:19 > 0:24:21So, it's written to all of us.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24She says,
0:24:24 > 0:24:27"We want to say a heartfelt thank you
0:24:27 > 0:24:29"for the commitment that Felix and Luca have shown
0:24:29 > 0:24:31"towards the coral reef in Fofoa.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33"It is great to hear that Felix and Luca
0:24:33 > 0:24:35"are continuing the monthly monitoring.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37"Thank you so much, Felix and Luca,
0:24:37 > 0:24:39"and we look forward to continuing to work together
0:24:39 > 0:24:41"for our oceans and coral reefs.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43"Best wishes, Karen from VEPA."
0:24:43 > 0:24:46- What do you think?- Awesome.- Yeah!
0:24:47 > 0:24:50'It's great news that our survey results
0:24:50 > 0:24:54'are helping towards protecting our reefs for the whales to return.'
0:24:54 > 0:24:57We have seen a few whales swim by the island so far this season,
0:24:57 > 0:24:59but as the water has been really choppy,
0:24:59 > 0:25:01we haven't managed to swim with them yet.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05It's amazing to think that these humpbacks
0:25:05 > 0:25:09have swum over 5,000 miles from Antarctica to our warmer waters
0:25:09 > 0:25:11to have their young.
0:25:11 > 0:25:15A female whale, known as a cow, can weigh up to 30 tonnes.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17That's as much as 20 cars.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21Newborn calves are usually three to five metres long.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25They produce a lot of sounds known as whale songs.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29A male's song can be heard over 1,000 miles away.
0:25:29 > 0:25:30Now that the weather is calmer,
0:25:30 > 0:25:33we go out to see if we can finally swim with them.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36We're really looking forward to hearing a whale song.
0:25:36 > 0:25:42Listening to a whale sing is one of the wonders of the ocean world.
0:25:42 > 0:25:43All your hair tingles.
0:25:43 > 0:25:49The first thing we see isn't a whale, but a shark.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51Luckily, it's harmless.
0:25:51 > 0:25:56We also find a sailfish, which comes right up to us.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00And then, what we've really been hoping for - a whale song.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02Can you hear it? It's amazing. FAINT WHALE SONG
0:26:02 > 0:26:04We finally get up close to them.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07WHALE SONG
0:26:07 > 0:26:10When there's a single whale around, you can feel it.
0:26:10 > 0:26:14You can feel the singing vibrating straight all across your body,
0:26:14 > 0:26:17so you sort of vibrate yourself.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21Being in the water with a whale feels really magical,
0:26:21 > 0:26:25because it's such a big, intelligent creature.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27If the reef died off,
0:26:27 > 0:26:29that would mean the whales wouldn't come,
0:26:29 > 0:26:32because they want to have their calves on a healthy reef.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40I want to see this island be shining very, very bright.
0:26:40 > 0:26:46In its beauty, and so it is in a golden line.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50Swimming with a whale is absolutely epic.
0:26:50 > 0:26:55And I'd be completely devastated if the whales never came back.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58- So, boys, how was that? - Crazy.- Absolutely insane!
0:26:58 > 0:27:01It looked fantastic on our viewer.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03- What did you see?- We saw a sailfish.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05There was about four humpback whales.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09- Wow!- Saw a shark! - A shark as well? Cool!
0:27:09 > 0:27:13So we've seen loads and loads of false killer whales.
0:27:13 > 0:27:14Oh, wow!
0:27:14 > 0:27:16Amazing!
0:27:16 > 0:27:18Well done, mate.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21Yeah.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24If people wouldn't be wasteful,
0:27:24 > 0:27:28then the world would live on a lot longer.
0:27:28 > 0:27:30I think it's very important
0:27:30 > 0:27:34that this island and the reefs stay healthy.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38I'd say it's a very good thing, what we're doing,
0:27:38 > 0:27:41so for future generations, say in 40 years' time,
0:27:41 > 0:27:44people can enjoy what I once enjoyed.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47WHALE SONG