The program was a "docufiction" or mockumentary produced by as a sequel to Mermaids: The Body Found . It used a blend of real-world phenomena and fabricated narratives to create a persuasive story:
While the storytelling in was convincing enough to break ratings records, the "evidence" it presented was entirely fictional. Mermaids: The New Evidence
: Characters like Dr. Paul Robertson, portrayed as whistleblowers, were actually played by actors. The program was a "docufiction" or mockumentary produced
: The show heavily relied on the Aquatic Ape Theory , a real but controversial evolutionary hypothesis, to provide a sense of "intellectual possibility" for the existence of mermaids. portrayed as whistleblowers
The program included a brief disclaimer in the end credits identifying it as a work of fiction, though critics argued it was too brief and easily missed by viewers.