How To Protect The Ocean

A listener reached out to me a couple of weeks ago and asked if I could bring someone on the show that has experience working internationally. It just so happens that I do have someone that fits that description and his name is Dr. Mark Tupper.  Dr. Mark Tupper and I talk about what it's like to get a job abroad and what you should think about if you decide to follow the same path. Do you have an...

I am a little nervous today to publish this episode as it is the first time that I am part of a podcast where it is highly produced. I am a producer on a great podcast called the Salish Shes Podcast hosted by Raye Evrard and Beth Pike.   We launched a series recently that explores how the Orcas of the Salish Seas became Endangered over a short time period (60 years).  In this episode, Raye and Bet...

Members of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) met to discuss a number of marine topics for managing the Antarctic. Unfortunately, a Marine Protected Area that would protect 1 million square kilometres of the East Antarctic was not agreed upon because some member nations did not agree with the lack of a research monitoring plan (which is normally imple...

There are a number of countries that have either banned or plan to ban single-use plastics as their citizens are demanding that we stop adding plastic pollution to the Ocean. Consumers are also demanding that manufacturers create more options for less waste of their products such as refill stations; however, some manufacturers are not quite sure if their consumers are ready for refill stations bas...

This is the last of our series from the St. Petersburg Science Festival where Dr. Craken McCaic and Dr. Scarlett Smash from the Marine Conservation Happy Hour interviewed marine scientists and educators on various Ocean features and issues.  In this episode, the MCHH crew speak with Professors at the University of South Florida about how microplastics are influencing marine species.  When did you...

The MCHH crew (Dr. Craken and Dr. Smash) continue their St. Petersburg Science Festival Series by speaking with Denise Clem from NOAA about Sea Turtle Recovery and how it relates to the Shrimp Fishery in the Gulf of Mexico.  The Shrimp fishery has been shown to trap Sea Turtles in their trawl nets in the past prompting scientists and fishers to work together to create Turtle Excluder Devices.  Lis...

Dr. Chris Parsons and Dr. Ashley Sitar (the Marine Conservation Happy Hour) continue their St. Petersburg Science Festival series discussing Marine Conservation. In this episode, the MCHH crew speak with some folks from NOAA about the biology and conservation of the Endangered Sawfish.  Have you seen a sawfish in the wild? Share your experience in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.s...

Dr. Craken McCraic and Dr. Scarlett Smash from the Marine Conservation Happy Hour (MCHH) are back on the show with another recording at the St. Petersburg Science Festival. In this episode, they speak to Maria Lewis, Executive Director of the Green Diver Initiative from NAUI, where she educates students and adults on how they can help save the Ocean.  Links:  http://www.nauigreendiver.org/ Which o...

Dr. Chris Parsons and Dr. Ashley Sitar continue to discuss Marine Conservation with various professionals at the St. Petersburg Science Festival. Alison Cody, a Marine Educator at Mote Marine Laboratory,  sits down with the MCHH Crew to discuss coral reef restoration that she taught to students on the day of the recording. Links:  Mote Marine Laboratory:  https://mote.org/ Have you ever visited th...

The MCHH Crew (Dr. Chris Parsons and Dr. Ashley Sitar) attended the St. Petersburg Science Festival and recorded some of the interesting conversations that they had at the festival to keep you informed.  On Today's episode, the Crew discusses Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality with Alex Muir, who demonstrated how the technology works for students who attended the festival. Have you seen AR or V...

It's amazing when the science community announces the discovery of a new species, especially when it's a new beaked whale. I mean, how can you miss a beaked whale?  This opportunity of discovery came during the grim event of stranding of 6 beaked whale species. Some of the whales seemed shorter than others and were a different colour, which prompt researchers to investigate further.  Find out more...

A Senator calls a scientist into questions after she makes a false statement that coral bleaching is a natural event. The Scientist fires back a proper answer but doesn't sway the politician. I talk about why it's so important to vote for politicians that have a good sense of the scientific method. Link To Article:  https://www.9news.com.au/national/coral-bleaching-happens-naturally-hanson/e966eec...

The Election results are in for the Canadian Federal election 2019 and the Liberals will have a Minority Government.  I talk about why this election was one for Climate Change and the message that Canadians sent to the political parties.  Do you think Canadians were voting for Climate Change Policies? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group...

The Canadian Federal Election is today. In my opinion, this vote will be a vote for the protection of the Canadian Environment. I break down my thoughts and give you a description of how politics in Canada could help reduce climate change and increase Marine Protected Areas.  This episode will be of interest to more than just Canadians. Anyone with an interest in how policy drives protection of th...

Marine Conservation Jobs are really hard to get, but they are even harder to get if you don't have initiative and/or self-motivation. Having this ability will help you get jobs, get extensions on contracts, help you retain your job, and help you get promoted in the Marine Conservation field. Listen to the episode to find out what I mean. Do you have initiative? Share the abilities that you think w...

As I reach my mid-career point, I often reflect on how my career has impacted the Marine Conservation community. Did I help solve some problems for people? Did I provide the resources that I thought were important for people to succeed in Marine Conservation? These are the questions that I probably should have asked myself 20 .years ago when I was starting my career. I don't have regrets in my car...

I created a poll in a Facebook Group that has been growing like crazy in members lately and I thought I would share some of the results with you. I asked what the members thought was holding them back from building their Marine Conservation Career. The top answer so far was "Getting My Foot In The Door After College." I had some initial thoughts about the answer so I recorded it. What do you think...

I had a great conversation with Dr. Diva Amon where she gave me an update on the situation with Deep Sea Mining. Diva spoke about being part of the research team that collected baseline data in a Deep Sea Mining Lease Area in the Pacific Ocean. The diversity she and her team found was shocking! Take a listen and hear it all for yourself. Link To Diva's Article: https://newint.org/features/2019/10/...

The City of Del Mar, California is working on a plan to adapt to Sea Level Rise caused by Climate Change. City planners must get the plan approved by the California Coastal Commission in order to implement the plan; however, the Coastal Commission and the City do not agree on the way Del Mar should adapt to Sea Level Rise.  Del Mar does not think a managed retreat (where the City would buy propert...

In the last episode, I talked about the update from the Ocean Clean Up Project which stated that their prototype was able to collect plastic; however, it also caught a number of ocean animals.  The project has received some criticism and with that, there is a lot of bickering going on among conservationists. I think I need to say something about the people behind the Ocean Clean Up Project or any...

The Ocean Clean Up Project has released an update that their prototype is catching plastic in the Pacific Ocean Gyre. Great news! Unfortunately, Dr. Rebecca Helm noticed that the prototype wasn't just catching plastic. It was catching small animals too. Just as was predicted by many scientists.  Rebecca mentions that the animals being caught are part of a neuston ecosystem that she describes as a...

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet up and speak with Kara Muzia, Marine Biologist and host of the "So You Want To Be A Marine Biologist" podcast. Kara's podcast is all about helping you get a job and build a career in Marine Science and Conservation. I always like to connect you with podcasters that are trying to help you become better Marine Conservationists, whether you want to do it as a c...

Today's episode is focused on an interaction that a friend of mine had on social media recently. Someone said that my friend was not a true scientist if she wasn't collecting data in the field or in a lab. This claim simply isn't true and has no bearing on the issue about which my friend was posting.  The fact of the matter is that running an effective Marine Conservation project often requires pr...

I have the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Andrew Thaler on the podcast today to discuss his take on the Evolution of Social Media for Environmental Communications. We talk about his high hopes for Social Media in the past and his "Battleground" outlook for it in 2019.  Andrew will be teaching a Course on Social Media For Environmental Communications for the 7th year to help Non-profits, NGOs, and go...

I was invited to give a talk yesterday at a private school for grades 7 and 8 students. They had a project that included the topic of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fisheries, an important and delicate issue in the Oceans.  After the talk, I thought that it would be important to discuss IUU Fishing on the podcast because the issue is so important. I talk about 8 reasons why you should care a...