National Geographic Channel (DStv 260) is producing a new TV show, Wicked Tuna, which will be seen in America from around April and in South Africa and the rest of the world later this year, following the real-world exploits of blue-fin tuna fishermen in Glouchester, Massachusetts.
Wicked Tuna, produced by Pilgrim Studios, follows the captains and crews who invest in catching the elusive, yet valued, fish for sale on fish markets. Wicked Tuna will follow the crews of Tuna.Com, The Bounty Hunter, Hard Merchandise and Odysea with Craig Piligian as executive producer.
''Commercial tuna fishing is brutally competitive.With its limited season, the intelligence and prowess of the fish, and the sheer fact that they're worth so much, the livelihood of each vessel's crew can be made or broken in a month,'' says Craig Piligian in a statement announcing the new National Geographic Channel show.
''Pairing that kind of pressure with the harsh environment of Gloucester makes this one of the most intense and compelling series Pilgrim Studios has ever produced.''
''As a huge fan of the movie The Perfect Storm, I have always wanted to make a series that captured the raw authenticity of the characters in that movie,'' says Howard T. Owens, National Geographic Channel president. ''The tuna crews in this series immediately draw you in to their struggles and triumphs as they fight to make a living. One fish can literally be the difference between feeding your family or filing for bankruptcy.''
