How To Protect The Ocean

Originally, I was going to do an entrie episode on the State of the Ocean in 2019, but I was worried it would be too depressing. Therefore, I decided to add the outlook of the Oceans for 2020 in the same episode to inspire hope.  Do you agree with my assessment of the Ocean in 2019 and my outlook for 2020? Let me know in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group . C...

Every year, I review the 5 episodes that you, the audience loved so much. I always like to see which episodes you liked the best as it helps me plan content in the future.  The episodes included zero waste stores, touching sharks, looking for sharks at fish markets, reducing plastic waste, and communicating science from Antarctica. What was your favorite episode of 2019? Share in the Speak Up For...

I thought I would name some ways that you can take climate change action at home so that you know you are living for a better Ocean. In this episode, I talk about reducing/eliminating single-use plastic; buying second-hand clothes; and, buying inexpensive technology to reduce your home energy demand. Do you have more tips? Share them in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforbl...

Australia is undergoing an unprecedented Heat Wave and it is causing mass fish kills along the Western Australian Coastline. Air Temperatures above 50C are occurring for over 5 days, which has never happened in this region since they started monitoring air temperature in 1993 via satellites.  Higher temperatures do occur during the summer, but not until mid-summer in February. Higher temperatures...

I love hearing from the audience on how the podcast has affected you in different ways and/or what you thought about the podcast/episode. I decided to talk about a message I received from a listen about how the podcast has affected her life. I love positive stories like this. I also discussed feedback from another listener on Monday's episode (episode 941), where I used eating lifestyles as an exa...

Fighting Ocean Plastics, Implementing a NEW and IMPROVED Fisheries Act, and adding more Marine Protected Areas in Canada are just some parts of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Mandate Letter to Minister Jordan for the Fisheries, Oceans, and Coasts Guard Ministry.  It is wonderful to hear of the new steps the government will take over the next few years to help secure Canada's Ocean Enviro...

Often times, science communicators are trying to undo the damage caused by a documentary or a certain President that spews utter garbage that is wrong on a specific environmental subject.  Science communicators need to work at getting ahead of specific subject matters to ensure that the proper information backed by scientific evidence gets out to the public before other people manipulate the scien...

I was listening to an episode of a podcast called Oppo (it's a Canadian political podcast that I listen to on a regular basis), where the main topic was on Nuclear Energy. The conversation quickly turned to other forms of energy such as renewable energy, fossil fuels as well as nuclear energy.  Link To Oppo: Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/2Pe6nkg Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2LLAdtY Listening to the...

Four NFL Athletes are using the program called "My Cleats, My Cause" Initiative to spread awareness of Ocean Issues by wearing custom-designed cleats to show their love for the Ocean. I LOVE this cause as the NFL is arguably the biggest sport in the US, North America, and maybe even the world (the Superbowl is the biggest sporting event in the world).  Listen to how happy I am to be able to talk a...

Research has shown that Oxygen levels are declining in the open ocean and along the coasts all across the world. This research does not paint a pretty picture for the future of our oceans as deoxygenation is going to negatively affect biological and biogeochemical ocean processes.  Link to Article: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/359/6371/eaam7240.long The result? We need to step it up! We...

I had a thought about science communication the other day. I noticed that it's always the same people that speak up for conservation. The people who speak up are great, but it's always the same people. I feel as though we need new people to start speaking out.  Great Thunberg is relatively new to the game and she has done a great job in speaking up for doing something about Climate Change. In Janu...

Indonesia is known for its beautiful beaches and clear ocean waters that are visited by millions of people every year. They are also known for blowing up boats who fish illegally in their waters, or so they used to be...maybe...we aren't sure yet.  A new Fisheries Minister is contemplating the rule of blowing up boats is they are caught fishing illegally and replace it with boat seizures that are...

I had the wonderful opportunity to create a podcast segment for my friend and fellow podcaster, Clay Groves who hosts the Fish Nerd Podcast. It is a podcast for Recreational Fishers to share fishing stories, have some fun, and discuss conservation.  Clay took part in National Podcast Posting Month (NaPodPoMo), where he posted a podcast episode every day during the month of November.  Clay asked me...

We had a slight problem that we never encountered here on the Speak Up For Blue Team: We were asked to take down an episode because our guest's boss was worried that the information that was discussed briefly on an episode was going to affect the future funding from a grantor.  We didn't agree with the boss, but we didn't want our guests to be put in a more difficult position than they were alread...

Taylor Swift does not get fully paid for all of her past songs that she wrote, recorded, and performed all over the world. Someone came un and bought the publishing rights to her songs and is now richer for it.  A similar situation happens every day in fisheries and transferable quotas are to blame. Listen to the episode to find out more. Do you think governments should get rid of transferable quo...

Researchers have found that rabbitfish that normally occupy coral reef habitats are moving to cooler waters with kelp forests in which they are eating all of the kelp. Researchers are worried that the fish will leave the forests barren and ruin the habitat for other species. Links To Articles: https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/coral-reef-fish-are-now-moving-temperate-k...

Educating the public on how to change their behaviour from using single-use plastics to using more sustainable alternatives is the key to reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in the Ocean.  We keep seeing articles about people trying to clean up the Oceans. There are even companies that are built off of this premise; however, cleaning the Ocean is our last ditch effort and does not mean the...

Climate Change is rearing its ugly head in Venice, Italy as the city is entirely submerged in about 5 feet of water. The tide level has broken records three times in one week whereas it would only get high once or twice a year.  I discuss what the flooding means for Venice and how we need to act now for a better future. Link to Article: https://www.thestar.com/news/world/europe/2019/11/17/hip-wade...

Are you using your best talent in your Marine Conservation Job? Do you even know your best talent? I know I didn't until recently. It took me almost 20 years to figure out why I wasn't happy at my jobs in Science and Conservation. I am now 40 and working two jobs (one full-time job and one business) to realize what I am good at.  In this episode, I identify my talent and give you tips on how to id...

My life is changing, in a great way, but it will affect the publishing frequency of this podcast. Take a listen to the episode to find out more.  Fill out the poll on how often you listen to this podcast in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group . Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app . Speak Up For Blue Inst...

Invasive species pose a problem to many coastlines across the globe and managers/researchers are always trying to find ways to get rid of them. Researchers at the University of Maine are trying to build are market for high-valued Invasive Green Crab products in the Maine area to help manage the invasive species.  I discuss the various products that are being developed and the challenges that make...

You may have seen a plethora of articles and political announcements on tree planting to mitigate (reduce) climate change by absorbing more Carbon Dioxide. As news broke about the destruction of the Amazon Rainforest a few months ago, scientists reiterated the need for trees to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) that contributes to Climate Change. However, trees aren't the only pl...

There was a great article in The Conservation written by Charlotte Eve Davies about her research on a Spiny Lobster Disease called PaV1. The virus kills lobsters that are infected; however, evidence shows that the virus is contained in algal and seagrass meadows as it doesn't affect adult spiny lobsters.  Listen to the episode to find out more about the virus and the influence of seagrass meadows....

New restrictions by the Department of Marine Resources in Maine that are designed to help Northern Right Whales are causing the Maine Lobstermen's Association to worry about the negative effect it will have on their industry.  I provide you with a description of how the whales are affected by the lobster fishery and how the restrictions could improve the whale population. Link to Article: https://...

When I speak to people about their Marine Conservation Careers, I try to recommend specific actions they should take to increase their chances of getting a job and starting/continuing their career. One of my most popular suggestions tends to be looking into the Coastal Environmental Management Program at Duke University. Today, I am posting my interview with two students from the CEM program to of...