How To Protect The Ocean

Lionfish have invaded most, if not all, of the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and parts of the Southeast Atlantic Ocean. They have become a huge problem for fishing communities and tourist industries.  There are many people, organizations and governments who are trying to eradicate Lionfish from their regions promoting them as a fishery for seafood. My guest today is Phil Karp, who is spearhead...

Dr. Judith Weis and I got to sit down face to face at IMCC5 to discuss an ongoing conversation we have had for about a month online. The conversation centred around plastic pollution and the way we are trying to deal with the waste we produce with it.  During the conversation we talk about the meetings and groups with which Judith is involved on plastic pollution management on the ocean and we dis...

This is Part 2 of the COMPASS "The Art Of Story Telling" Workshop at IMCC5, where 9 people attended a pre-conference workshop on how to communicate their own science and conservation to the public.  I talk to more of the workshop attendees about their experience and how they will use the skills they gained in the future work. Enjoy the Podcast!!! Donate to the Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award to...

COMPASS is a communication organization that helps scientists tell the public their research through engaging ways. They held a 2-day pre-conference workshop at IMCC5 with 9 delegates. I had a chance to sit down with some of the delegates to discuss their experience with the workshop and how they will continue to use what they learnt in the work going forward. Enjoy the Podcast!!! Donate to the Ja...

Alex Deghan, Founding Director of Conservation X Labs , joins me on the podcast at IMCC5 in Kuching, Malaysia. Alex uses Conservation X Labs to create competitions in different parts of the world to put ideas into practice that solve conservation challenges.  He brought his team and some of the best engineers, innovators and entrepreneurs to help solve 5 conservation challenges that face the Ocean...

As I continue to post from IMCC5, I had the chance to sit down with Nina Bohla (UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre) and Lance Morgan (Marine Conservation Institute) to discuss the IUCN Marine Protected Area (MPA) Standards.  Both guests tell us their excitement about the MPA Standards and how their organizations have incorporated into their work. Enjoy The Podcast!!! Donate to the Jairo Mor...

The IUCN has launched a new document about Marine Protected Area (MPA) Standards to help redefine what an MPA is. Why is this important? It's because the world needs to protect 10% of biodiversity by the year 2020 according to the member countries who signed on to the Convention on Biological Diversity.  The MPA Standards document was launched here at IMCC5 during the keynote presentation by Dr. J...

Today's episode of the Speak Up For Blue Podcast has me talking to 3/4 of the Project Seagrass Team. We discuss all things seagrass and how the team is trying to get Seagrass part of the Conservation Conversation. Seagrass are important ecosystems as they hold a huge amount of the biodiversity and abundance of important fisheries species in coastal systems around the world. The Project Seagrass te...

The International Marine Conservation Congress is known for having great exhibitors that have booths in the main hall of the conference. It gives a chance for each organization to discuss the great things that they are doing and connect with others who are interested in their work. In other words, they get great exposure. I interview 3 of the exhibitors (From Malaysia, Bangladesh and the UK) today...

I welcome back Patrick Goff to the podcast to discuss why and how the International Marine Kids Conference is happening. We talk about what the kids will do during this week and how they will be integrating with scientists this week. Patrick also talks about the fun filed trips in which the kids will take during the conference. Enjoy the Podcast!!! Donate to the Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award t...

I am very pleased to present the first episode for the International Marine Conservation Congress in Kuching, Malaysia.  Everyday until June 29th, I will be publishing a podcast summarizing the highlights of the day as well as some other interesting events happening at the conference. Today's episode is the day before the opening day of the conference. Three hosts, myself (Speak Up For Blue), Dr....

As you are listening to this episode, I am just arriving to Kuching, Malaysia for the International Marine Conservation Congress (5). I have to admit that I am getting pretty excited for the trip and to see great friends and meet new ones.  I always set some goals that I would like to accomplish while I am at the conference. I want to network and meet new people while maintaining my relationships...

Sarah McAnulty joins me on the podcast to continue with Cephalopod Week and discuss her research interest of Squid and Bacteria. Sarah is not only interested in the marine science and conservation of squid and the rest of Cephalopods. She is also interested in science communication.  I had the opportunity to ask Sarah about Cephalopods, Squids and Science Communication.  We also spend some time ta...

Three stories for today include lobster trade wars between US and China , Ecotourism money for an Australian Cuttlefish Community and Asking Whether MPAs are effective . Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast to get updates on IMCC5 happenings at the end of this week and next week. Donate to the Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award to Fund 5 more brave Marine Conservationists Become par to the Spe...

It's Cephalopod Week (June 15th to June 22nd) so Speak Up For Blue will focus this week on all things Cephalopod.  In this episode, we chat with Thomas Clements, who just passed his defence for his PhD, about how Cephalopods were different millions of years ago compared to today's species in the group.  Thomas also goes into wonderful detail about how fossils are formed. This will be a great episo...

I focus on how businesses are approaching Marine Conservation in this episode. our three stories cover different ways businesses are adapting to changing times. Our first story is about two businesses who make it easier and more cost effective for oil companies to drill in Alaska (The Bad). Our second story involves companies like IKEA, Royal Caribbean and SeaWorld (yes, even SeaWorld!!!) leading...

Three stories I'm covering today: 1) Caribbean Coral Reef Being Mapped By Integrated Technology ; 2) UK Expands Protected "Blue Belt" Without Management Plans ; and, 3) Belize Revokes Super Fish Trawler's Registration After Multiple Infractions of Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) Fisheries . Enjoy the Podcast!!! Donate to the Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award to Fund 5 more brave Marine C...

Please consider supporting the award by clicking here or going to http://www.speakupforblue.com/jairo Over 100 people working on the conservation of animals and the environment are killed around the world every year just for doing their job. Many more work under the threat of harm, persecution, or death. Jairo Mora Sandoval was one such person. He worked tirelessly to protect sea turtles in Costa...

The Project Seagrass Team has a purpose to map the world's seagrass distribution. Not an easy task, so they are asking for your help as well as everyone else to help achieve their goal.  They developed a tool called the Seagrass Spotter. It's a website and an app for iPhone and Android devices with the goal to empower you to identify the presence of seagrasses wherever you live/travel around the w...

This episode I discuss how 33 environmental and civil society groups want Canada to propose to the G7 Countries suggestions for an international agreement to go plastic free in an effort to be Plastic Waste Free by 2030 . I also discuss an opinion piece written on CNN's website about how people will adapt to Sea Level Rise and whether governments should be investing in adaptation without investing...

I originally had a plan to have the Marin eConservation Happy Hour Crew, so we did a Facebook Live in the Speak Up For Blue Group; however, we had a problem with the audio recording and none of it could be used.  So I re-recorded it for you so that you could have something on this Friday. My apologies.  This recording is a summary of what the Marine Conservation Happy Hour Crew discussed during th...

Dr. David Shiffman stops by the podcast to discuss something that is very important to him and to sharks in Florida State Waters. He talks to us about Land based shark fishing in Florida and how the State is considering policy changes to the laws to ensure sharks are adequately protected.  David also talks about how enforcement of the current laws are lacking to the point where one man, who volunt...

Ocean Update is back again with 2 stories and an opinion! There is quite a bit of material to go over today spanning from Fisheries to Climate Change to Marine Mammals. Once you listen to the episode then you can speak up in the Facebook Group.  Here are the stories: 1) The Trump administration cancels marine mammal and sea turtle protections proposed by fisheries industry; 2) Can the media start...

It's Ocean Talk Friday where I record live in the Facebook Fan Page and Group so that people can take part in Speaking Up For Oceans. On today's episode, I talk about the following articles: 1) Sand Cloud, an apparel company, wants to create shirts out of recycled plastic, is that a good thing? ; and, 2) We need to increase diversity within the Marine Science and Conservation field to increase the...

No guest today (apologies), but we do have some news and a special preview of a new Patreon Incentive as part of my way of raising money for the Speak Up For Blue Network of Podcasts.  I first talk about the dangers associated with Kilauea's lava reaching and touching the Ocean for the first time. I provide you with a preview of a new Patreon Feature called Daily Ocean Talk, where I discuss other...