How To Protect The Ocean

There are many coastal areas that have been degraded to the point that restoration is necessary, but restoration can be very expensive and is often focused on 1 type of habitat. Therefore, restoration specialists and conservationists are now focusing on restoring more than one type of habitat to increase the success of the coastal area.   In this episode of the SUFB podcast, I will be discussing h...

Everyone loves fashion and loves to look good when they go out. Many people follow the term "Look good, feel good." But today's fashion comes at an environmental cost/price and therefore, it needs to change to more sustainable options.   In this episode of the Speak Up For the Ocean Blue Podcast, I will be highlighting two types of ocean sources derived from an invasive species and the other from...

Protecting and conserving the ocean seems to take a back seat to other issues when talking about priorities. For example, in Canada, politicians want to protect the economy more than the environment because it has a higher priority. Often times the protection of the economy comes in direct conflict to protecting the environment. But what if the ocean had a say in this priority choice. What if the...

The last part of my 3-part series interviewing fishers from the East Coast of Canada takes me to a conversation I had with Gordon Beaton who has fished along Canada's East Coast for his entire life. His uncle was a fisher and his son is now a fisher. Learn what it takes to be a fisher in Canada.  Sign up to find out about the audio Ocean Conservation Careers members group: https://bit.ly/38ak7Z8  ...

I continue my series of speaking to fishers from the East Coast of Canada to get to know their challengers and why fishing is such a big part of their lives. Sign up to find out about the audio Ocean Conservation Careers members group: https://bit.ly/38ak7Z8   Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue: Website:  https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram:  https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG...

Happy Oceans Day!!! As promised in the last episode, here is the entire audio piece created by Michelle Amor. Enjoy!

I had the opportunity to sit down with Carl Allen to discuss what life was like as a lobster fisher in Eastern Canada.  Carl told me how young he was when he started fishing and how his life is all about fishing.  He also discusses the work he does with the fishing union.    Sign up to find out about the audio Ocean Conservation Careers members group: https://bit.ly/38ak7Z8   Facebook Group: https...

There seems to be a day for everything these days and the oceans have a day as well, June 8th. It's a time for us to think about why we love the ocean so much and how we can better protect. There are celebrations, conferences, announcements (big and small) where governments and organizations try to stand out from one another to tell you how they are committed to protect the oceans. But the announc...

There are many people that want to work in Marine Conservation, but not everyone has a degree in Marine Biology or another type of science degree; however, you don't need to be a scientist to help protect the ocean. There are many people who are working on Marine Conservation with business and arts degrees.   In today's episode, I am going to answer a question from a listener who wants to work in...

There are studies that have revealed that oil companies like ExxonMobil have spent billions of dollars on campaigns that involved misleading the public on Climate Change and one Attorney General brought charges against the oil company, but will the company have to pay for their misleading ways and what will the punishment be? We need to hold more fossil fuel companies accountable for the notorious...

Laws in Canada make sure that marine theme parks such as Marineland cannot acquire new cetaceans (Whales or Dolphins) and they were amended in 2019 to ensure that whales and dolphins do not perform in their entertainment shows, but evidence suggests that Marineland continues to conduct the whale and dolphin shows. Therefore, Canadian laws should work faster to ensure the safety and well-being of t...

There are many of you (including myself) that would like to help protect the ocean and we tend to fantasize ways in which we can help, but there are times when we are not focusing on the best ways we can all protect the ocean; therefore, I am going to go through the best ways that you can help save the ocean with minimal work even though it might not be the way you dreamed it would be.   In this e...

Sharks are an iconic ocean animal that can strike fear and wonder in anyone that sees them and they are one of those animals that everyone would like to protect; but, most shark populations around the world have experienced drastic declines in population over the past 50 years and many people do not know how to go about protecting them; therefore, Dr. David Shiffman wrote a book to help guide you...

Equity, diversity, and inclusion has been the focus of many organizations in marine science and conservation and outside of the field for a number of years and there has been some small steps in the right direction made, but there are many examples of BIPOC scientists and their teams that still face racism today. Therefore, it is important to highlight some of those racist examples to show people...

Climate change has been deemed the biggest threat in the world by many scientists, conservationists, industries, governments, and militaries around the world and countries have made international pledges in the form of treaties to curb greenhouse gas emissions and invest in more renewable energy, but the parties that form the government in democratic countries do not adhere to the treaties or list...

In the last episode, I talked about a new enzyme that can breakdown plastics in days instead of centuries and it seems very promising, but we know that it is not the complete solution and people will continue to use single-use plastics; therefore, in this episode, I offer three ways that we need to get a mass reduction of plastic use.   Sign up to find out about the audio Ocean Conservation Career...

A new enzyme that can break down plastics in a matter of days and not centuries is giving people hope that we can still use plastics and not have to worry about the reduction, but the solution will only take care of a small percentage of plastic pollution. Therefore, we need to continue the pursuit of reducing our single-use plastics.   In this episode, I will discuss why we need to stay the cours...

Marine science and conservation has proven to help the ocean in many cases when things are done properly, but not all of it works; therefore, methods need to adapt and build on past failures.   In this episode, I will be talking about two conservation experiments that people don't like but could lead to a better understanding and protection of the ocean. I am going to talk about the failed experim...

There are many issues that are facing this world that have science-based solutions that are not getting solved and it's because people are taking swipes at scientists in every field, but is it because scientists and conservationists don't seem accessible to the public; therefore, I am going to tell you about my favourite tool: podcasts are a great tool to reach the public.   In this episode of the...

Climate change consequences have been talked about for decades and people have been ignoring them, but know those consequences are happening and people are paying the price; therefore, it's time to talk about their impact and how we can move forward with better action.   In today's episode, I am going to be talking about the record low lake levels of the Lake Mead /Colorado River system and how th...

It is really difficult to find a job in marine science and conservation lately so many early career scientists search for internships before full time or temporary jobs, but is an internship in their best interest? I am a huge proponent of getting a job over an internship when possible.   In this episode, I discuss why early career scientists should focus on search for jobs instead of internships....

Science Communication is one of the most important parts of conservation as it is responsible for getting complex information to your audience, but people are used to simple sound bites rather than long explanations; therefore, SciCommers need to adapt and get their points across easily.   In today's episode, I am going to be discussing how to get your point across while holding your audience's at...

Everyone loves food, you can tell by the number of restaurants that are in a city/town/village. There is a food network with chef battles and mouth-watering dishes. Many cultures use food as a way to socialize and build relationships. But do you ever worry about how the future of our food will be secured in a time when the world will be changing? Stanford University's Center for Ocean Solutions is...

We own a lot of stuff and we love to buy stuff, but that stuff leads to a life of waste and builds on our impact on the oceans; therefore we need to move towards a net zero impact.   In today's episode, I am going to provide you with an example of an organization that is moving towards net zero...the Toronto Zoo, and how the entire organization is working together to get to net zero.   Wild For Li...

Earth day has come and gone. It's a day to reflect on how we treat the planet and many people, workplaces, and so forth work to do a clean-up in parks or other areas within their communities, but does that do the trick? Is Earth day enough to help get people to act for a better planet?   Today, you will be learning how you can leverage Earth Day to help the planet.   Building an online community t...