by Thinus Ferreira
National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarSat 220) has cancelled its reality show Wicked Tuna after 13 seasons.
The reality fishing series which started in April2012 was filmed in Gloucester, Massachusetts and followed commercial fishermen and their intense work trying to catch tuna, and led to a spinoff series, Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks which ran for 8 seasons between 2014 and 2021.
Wicked Tuna was produced by the Pilgrim Media Group for National Geographic, with Mike Nichols, Craig Piligian, Lynn Sadofsky and Michael Cascio as executive producers.
National Geographic's axing of Wicked Tuna is part of a massive Disney downsizing and cost-cutting process, negatively impacting National Geographic's programming output, as well as its staff, with another 60 workers at National Geographic who got fired by The Walt Disney Company at the beginning of this month.
"After thirteen seasons on the high seas and more than 200 incredible episodes, the long-running series Wicked Tuna has concluded its run on National Geographic," National Geographic says in a statement.
"The series celebrated one of America's oldest industries since first premiering on National Geographic in 2012 and made internationally recognisable stars out of the intrepid commercial fishermen who brave the unrelenting North Atlantic waters to catch the elusive bluefin tuna."
"As we reflect on 13 great seasons and 200+ episodes, our appreciation for our production partners at Pilgrim Media Group, our cast and crew, the Gloucester community and the show's dedicated fans is hard to put into words. It has been an incredible journey together and there are only two words that seem to fit the moment: Thank You."
