Eccentric, down-but-not-out oceanographer Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) and his motley crew -- Team Zissou -- find themselves in troubled waters when they attempt to track down the mysterious "jaguar shark" that ate his partner while filming a documentary of their latest adventure. Adding to his nautical nightmares, Zissou must contend with a beautiful journalist (Cate Blanchett) assigned to write a profile, and a new member of the team who might possibly be his long-lost son (Owen Wilson). The unsinkable Zissou faces hilarious complications trying to keep his expedition afloat while bailing out from budgetary woes and a host of other challenges (including a close encounter with marauding pirates).