How To Protect The Ocean

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was photographed while meeting with some teenagers in his home riding with a bag of plastic cutlery after announcing, just 2 weeks ago, a proposal to ban single-use plastic by 2021. Did he buy the plastic? Probably not; however, the optics are not great and opponents are on the attack.  We all get caught up in a destructive and wasteful society because that is what we...

An article in the New York Times is highlighting some good news for a subpopulation of Loggerhead Sea Turtles, whose population is rebounding after being considered Endangered almost 10 years ago.  Find out why the population is rebounding by listening to this episode. Share your thoughts in the Facebook Group ( http://www.speakupforblue.com/group ) on how other projects similar to this one in Geo...

I sat down with Ryan Lindsay as he was sitting in his car getting ready to travel with his young family (18-month-old daughter, wife, and dog) to educate retailers and potential customers on the benefits of regenerative agriculture. His primary goal is to create a better world for his daughter to inherit while his secondary goal is to sell some products.  Check out the advantage of how regenerativ...

We discussed Whale Sea Side Sanctuaries in previous episodes ( Episode 190 ) but at that time there was never any reason to believe that captive facilities would ever give up any of the Cetaceans to a Sea Side Sanctuary. However, times have certainly changed.  Merlin Entertainment has created a company policy of no Cetacean captivity. When Merlin bought an aquarium in Shanghai, they immediately ma...

The mating between a Beluga Father and Narwhal Mother over 30 years ago gave way to a hybridization called a Narluga . The mixing of species sounds great and fun to see the mixing of two species that give features of both parents. However, hybridization could lead to a decrease in adaptive genes that make it easier for Arctic animals to survive in a harsh environment.  Check out the episode and sh...

An unfortunate incident happened along a shoreline within the past week, where a teenage girl was bitten by a sea lion . Video captured the incident as it showed the girl dancing in ankle-deep water as the sea lion bit her. The incident seemed to be unprovoked.  The girl is okay; however, she is understandably frightened of sea lions.  The animal was tested for diseases and was identified to have...

Melissa Marquez (host of the ConCiencia Azul Podcast ) wrote a great article in Forbes about the sighting of a potential mating event for Whale Sharks .  Whale Sharks are a majestic and mysterious species that researchers are trying to research to help conserve the species as it is now listed and an IUCN Red List "Endangered" Species.  Check out why I think the species needs to be researched more...

I am joined by Jenny Roberts and Alicia Wood from the Pacific Whale Foundation to discuss their new campaign to get their audience to ReTHINK their use of single-use plastics.  One of their strategies in the campaign, which I absolutely love by the way, is a video published once a week to discuss ways you can ReTHINK your use for specific items ( Click here for the link ).  Pacific Whale Foundatio...

Ghost nets are a huge problem in the Ocean. Fishing nets that are discarded in the Ocean continue to catch fish, sea turtles, marine mammals, and seabirds in numbers in the hundreds of thousands.  It is estimated that half of the marine debris in the Ocean is made up of Ghost Nets. We have to make sure that we don't put any more nets into the sea, but it would also be great to get rid of some of t...

The Canadian Government declared a climate emergency one day and approve the expansion of a pipeline the next. Can you really reduce climate change when you invest in oil and gas? The answer may seem simple, but it is more complex than you think. Share your thoughts on the way Canada and other governments are approaching the fight against climate change in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Page: http...

A larger group of divers, 633 divers to be exact , got together last weekend to clean the seafloor along Deerfield Beach. The group beat the previous record of 614 set in the Red Sea a few years earlier.  These events are great for people who want to do more for the Ocean and/or they get more inspired by their actions that they include their friends in the next event that will inspire others.  Hav...

A number of authors wrote an article in the Conversation about the poo problem that has hit the increasingly populated Australian Coastlines. The descriptive article compares a number of cities that have experienced an increase in the human population, which has increased the amount of sewage that needs to be treated before it goes out to the Ocean. I discuss some of the effects of "poopy" water o...

I had the pleasure to sit down and chat with Nick Wehner about something different other than Open Access Journals! We talk about Nick's career in Marine Conservation, and more specifically, Nick's experience in Marine Conservation as a member of the LGBTQ Community.  One thing that I realized with Nick is that he works to serve other people, whether it is in Marine Conservation or being the Presi...

I had the pleasure of interviewing James Nikitine for this episode. James is a Marine Conservationist with a specialization in Marine Policy and Science Communication.  James and I discuss how he got to where he is today and what his production company, Manaia Productions, is going to do for marine conservation. He also discusses his recent move with the family to New Zealand and how this will hel...

There is a video that is making rounds on Canadian Social Media feeds that attacks the proposed bill on a Canadian-wide ban of single-use plastics by 2021. While the rest of the world is rejoicing at the thought of the ban, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's opponents say the bill should not matter because Canada does not produce most of the plastic pollution as compared to other nations. It is estim...

I sit down with Christine Figgener today to discuss #SeaTurtleWeek that started on June 8th and ends on June 16th. There is a coordinated effort by sea turtle practitioners all over the world to create awareness for the 7 species of Sea Turtles on the planet.  Christine tells us her story of how she became interested in Marine Conservation, specifically Sea Turtles and how she got into science com...

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a federal ban on single-use plastic to be implemented in 2021. There will be a list of items that will be banned; however, the list hasn't been fully created yet.  Trudeau also mentioned that the plan will include working with manufacturers to reduce the amount of plastic used in their packaging.  There is some criticism from the opposition party, but you wi...

I had the pleasure to speak to Dianna Cohen, CEO of the Plastic Pollution Coalition, a coalition of 750 organizations, businesses, and individuals.  During our conversation, we discuss how Dianna got into fighting Plastic Pollution, how the coalition started, why REFUSE is the fourth (and first R), and how you could like a plastic-free lifestyle.   Do you strive to live a Plastic-Free lifestyle? S...

I hope you have a wonderful World Ocean's Day. I have a little something for you to think about on this day and every day moving forward. Take a listen. What are you doing on Ocean's Day? Share what you are doing in our Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group . Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupf...

I had the pleasure to sit down with Sara Cannon to discuss her PhD work on how coral reefs in Micronesia respond to Human Impacts and Coral Reefs. Sara brings up a great point in the interview that some coral reef species are not better off in an MPA as they may not be good for MPAs, especially if they have a large cover. She adds that if those coral species are susceptible to climate change and a...

Two fishermen who recorded (yes, recorded) themselves mutilating a Greenland Shark at sea by cutting off its tail and throwing it back in the water and laughing as it tries to swim away. You can watch the video here, but I will warn you that it is graphic.  I focused my discussion on enforcement and how some agencies are using video recorded by idiots in this story that mutilate animals on the Oce...

Dr. Chris Parsons, Director Of Science Content for Speak Up For Blue, interviews Jen Sewada of the PEW Charitable Trusts on how they are working with partner organizations to get Mako, Guitar, and Wedge Sharks protected in the CITES list.  Find out what CITES is and the strategy used to get other sharks on the list by listening to this episode. What are your thoughts on CITES? Share them in the Fa...

Dr. David Shiffman wrote a great article for Scientific American based on a science journal article about the management of protected species. The journal article in Ecology and Evolution looked at the interactions of one protected species, the great white shark, with another protected species, the sea otter. Both species are conservation success stories; however, the great white sharks are killin...

There was a great write up on Medium.com about how nature documentaries may focus too much on the beautiful nature and not enough on the behavior change that is necessary to solve the issues facing nature.  I would like to hear your thoughts on nature documentaries and their role in conservation. Share them in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group . Want to get...

In yesterday's episode, I mentioned that working to live an Ocean-Friendly life can lead to a change in mindset in each individual that could lead to bigger changes. I explain it all in this episode and I think it will help you when someone tells you that doing stuff as an individual doesn't do anything for the environment.  Do you agree with me? share your thoughts in the Facebook Group: http://w...