How To Protect The Ocean

We strive to live for a better Ocean because it makes our planet healthier. We eat nutritious food because it makes us healthier. Can we have both? Sure. We just need to make a few changes and that can be more difficult than it sounds.  Joining me on today's episode (and the next two episodes) is Cait Mizzi, who is a Functional Nutritionist and the host of the NOSH Podcast, to discuss sustainable...

Baikal seals in Russia using baleen-like teeth to eat small crustaceans called amphipods to account for 20% of their diets in the freshwater lake, Baikal Lake. Register for the Mindful Conservation Conference:  https://www.absolutelysmashingllc.com/mindful-conference Want To Talk Oceans? Join the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group . Speak Up For Blue Instagram: h...

This is the second part of my two-part interview with Jasmine Sanders, Executive Director of Our Climate, an organization that mobilizes youth to speak to elected officials about science-based, climate policy for a livable world.  Policy is an important tool to fight the growing contributions to Climate Change. Each person and community feels climate change in their own unique fashion. Certain peo...

Jasmine Sanders is the Executive Director of Our Climate, an organization that mobilizes young people to educate elected officials on science-based, equitable climate policy solutions that build a livable world, and she joins me on today's podcast to discuss how her career led her to this position.  This interview is a two-part interview. In part 1 (today's episode), Jasmine tells us about her car...

In my quest to become more sustainable, I've discovered companies that are registered B-Corporations. These corporations strive to be socially, economically and environmentally ethical with their business. The businesses usually use their mission to drive something special such as providing clothes for the needy or protecting the environment. People buy from these companies because they believe in...

Have you ever looked at your dog and wonder "How would you ever survive in the wild?!" I know my dogs are super spoiled and would not survive long in the wild even though they still have their predator instincts. Imagine what the circumstances must have been like when the first wild dogs were domesticated by humans. It was such a long time ago that it would be interesting to see how that would hap...

When I found out that cow burps were partly responsible for climate change, I wasn't happy at all. I love my steak dinners and beef tenderloin. However, over the past few years, I have been transitioning towards a more plant-based diet to avoid the use of meat and do my part to reduce climate change.  I should mention that I still eat meat, but a lot less. I grew up eating beef 2-3 times per year...

This week was #BlackInMarineScienceWeek and it was a wonderful week to be introduced to marine scientists from all over the world who are black. These marine scientists may have felt excluded from the traditionally white, male-dominated field in the past, but this week was to increase the visibility of black marine scientists, showcase the great work that they do in various parts of the field with...

In the second installment of my interview with three black marine scientists (and co-organizers of #BlackInMarineScienceWeek) join me and their Moms to discuss how they grew up wanting to be Marine Scientists.  This part of the interview focuses on advice the Moms would give other parents of black children who would like to become Marine Scientists. Monica (Carlee's Mom) Leslie (Camille's Mom), an...

This week we are celebrating Black In Marine Science Week so that we can show that there are many Black Marine Scientists who need to be recognized and identified.  On today's episode of the Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast, I am joined by Carlee Jackson, Dr. Camille Gaynus, and Alex Troutman and their mothers. We discuss what it was like for these marine scientists to grow up to follow a caree...

Sometimes you need a little help if you are an Ocean predator that is always seeking food. The Ocean can be a hard place to find breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Some animals are able to find their meal on their own. Others will latch themselves on another animal to feed off of them. And in the case of today's episode, some animals turn to stalk another animal in order to drum up some food.  A resear...

My recent adventure with trying to get my Provincial Government from taking away powers from Conservation Authorities to protect floodplains and protected areas from developers made me realize that I had the ability to help my local environment by becoming a local advocate.  As I feel inspired to become a local activist, I wanted to provide you with some key advice that helped realize my potential...

We all know, love, and sometimes fear sharks for their predatory nature; however, we never really feat a swordfish. We tend to be in wonder and ah when with see this fish in the wild. Maybe it is because we only see them when they are being caught by recreational fishermen when they go deep-sea fishing. Swordfish are predators and they are quite effective predators with their unique bill.  Swordfi...

On Monday, I published an episode about how the Ontario Provincial Government was about to pass a bill to take powers away from the province's Conservation Authorities on making decisions as to who can build on floodplains. Currently, A Conservation Authority can deny any developer from building on a natural area due to flooding practices. The new bill will allow developers who do not like the ans...

The Southern Resident Orca Population is considered endangered in the US and Canada with less than 75 individuals left in the population. The reasons for this low number vary from being caught for marine theme parks such as SeaWorld in the 1960s-70s, the lack of salmon as the Orca population only eat salmon, and water pollution (including plastic pollution) that cause a build-up of toxic chemicals...

I saw a recent change to a regulation in my home province of Ontario recently that got me very frustrated because the decision was so short-sighted. The Government of Ontario will be taking away some of the powers of the Conservation Authorities to make decisions on whether developers can build on flood plains.  The change will allow developers to appeal decisions made by the Conservation Authorit...

There has been a breakthrough in the Lobster Fisheries conflict between the Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Fishers in Nova Scotia, Canada. A conglomerate of Mi'kmaq Nations have purchased the largest seafood corporation in Atlantic Canada for a 50% stake in the company. The Mi'kmaq Nation had a partner in the deal, a company based in British Columbia called Premium Foods. The company owns a number...

Now that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the President-Elect and Vice President-Elect, respectively, we are going to expect some change in Environmental Regulations in the US. A change in Climate Change policies including rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement will have environmental impacts around the globe. Most of the changes will happen at the Federal level, so how can you help make sure these...

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have won the US 2020 election as it was made official on Saturday that the electoral college will elect them as the 46th President and the First Woman Vice President in US History. And with the election comes Environmental Change...as promised. Joe Biden made it clear during his victory speech that he will make Climate Change a priority after the US officially pulled ou...

Marine Scientists, Volunteers, and the Navy were responsible for saving 120 pilot whales that were found stranded earlier in the week (on Monday). The stranding marked the largest mass stranding ever recorded in Sri Lankan history. The response was swift and successful as the Navy deployed small vessels that towed the whales out from the surf into deeper water where they could recover and swim out...

Russia and China voted against approving 3 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) on the East Coast of Antarctica this past week thwarting another attempt to implement more MPAs in the region. 5 Years ago, the same 26 member committee that manages Antarctica, which includes Russia, China, the US, and others, approved the largest MPA in the Ross Sea. The vote against the 3 MPAs is disappointing, but not all...

We know very little of the Deep-Sea, including many of the habitat-forming species that provide a place for other species to find food and shelter. These Deep-Sea habitats are crucial for animals as we know that this area of the Ocean can be hard to find any habitat at all. This is why we need to do more exploration and mapping of the Deep-Sea.  Dr. Danial Wagner (who I interviewed for SUFB 1060)...

An underwater Seamount (Mountain) that is 1.5 times the size of the Eiffel Tower was discovered within the boundaries of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The Seamount is teeming with life in the form of vast coral reef systems that sustain a diverse population of underwater life such as gorgonians, cuttlefish, and large sharks to name a few. The discovery boosts the diversity and health of the...

The Antarctic is a very special place and boasts some of the most fascinating species on the planet. It's also special because it's a place where 24 countries manage the land and coasts together, as one nation. The US, Chile, Australia, Russia, and China are just a few of the countries that get along in the South Pole but can be bitter enemies in other locations on the planet. These countries mana...

Seal and Sea Lion culls have been added as a proposed method to the table to bring back the salmon and herring fisheries along the West Coast of Canada. The proposed method wants to cull 50,000 harbor seals and 25,000 Stellar sea lions, which is the most that have ever been proposed. The cull, as proposed, would kill have of the current population in the area.  The cull is backed by a professor em...