How To Protect The Ocean

Drones in Marine Conservation is quite the hot topic these days. They provide Marine Scientists and Conservationists with so many advantages when studying the marine environment at a much lesser cost than the traditional means of monitoring trends in marine species. For example, the grey seal population off Cape Cod can be counted using video and images collected from a drone compared to scientist...

There are two protected River Sharks in the Adalaide River in the Northern part of Australia, the Speartooth Shark (Critically Endangered) and the Northern River Shark (Endangered). A new study has revealed a potential conservation issue in the river with the sharks and the interactions with recreational anglers who are targeting another fish called the Barramundi.  Researchers have some important...

I am doing a solo Ocean Talk Friday as I wrap up a busy week. In this episode I cover a great article on Coral Reef Restoration from Mongabay News and a new paper out on Why Conferences Matter co-authored by a number of friends of the Speak Up for Blue Podcast.  Enjoy the Podcast!!! Let me know what you think of the episode by  joining our Facebook Group for the Podcast. Support Speak Up For Blue'...

Sharks are a diverse type of animal with over 530 species with more being found and identified every year. Dr. Dave Ebert is a shark scientist who has been responsible for discovering and naming over 40 species with his team. I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Dave for this episode on all of his experiences finding sharks, good and bad, as well as how he was able to secure a PhD in South...

Sharks are a diverse type of animal with over 400 species with more being found and identified every year. Dr. Dave Ebert is a shark scientist who has been responsible for discovering and naming over 40 species with his team. I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Dave for this episode on all of his experiences finding sharks, good and bad, as well as how he was able to secure a PhD in South...

Brexit negotiations are underway for the break up of the UK from the European Union. Fisheries has come to the forefront of the media hype surrounding the negotiations. A recent article in NBC News identifies the hopes and concerns of various players within the UK fishing industry and how the potential reality may look for each component within the industry. For example, the UK fishers are looking...

Nathan Johnson is back again to chat with me of all thing Ocean. We had some great topics today. Here they are: 1) 5 Ways Underwater Drones are Helping Protect the Oceans ; 2) The Federal Government is Opening Comment to Allow Oil and Gas Exploration in Marine Sanctuaries ; 3) A Shark Beer to Help Protect Sharks ; and, 4) Scientists Discover a New Shark Species . Enjoy the Podcast!!! Let me know w...

Tourism in tropical areas that are based on Ocean services such as beaches, swimming, diving, snorkelling, fishing, and more are very popular in many places around the world. One such area that has benefited from tourism is Quintana Roo, Mexico. The area has seen an explosion of its tourism industry over the past decade as it has become a hot spot for North Americans and Europeans. However, the fa...

A shark being dragged across the water while tied to a boat surfaced in an Instagram video about a week ago. The video quickly went viral to the point where the abusers were identified along with where they lived. The abusers now seek extra police protection because of death threats they received via social media. Many people think they deserve the threat. I just want to see them charge with some...

Marine Science Communication has to be done properly to gain trust of your audience and inspire them to do more for the Ocean. I talk about an example where Marine Conservation communication was misleading and could cause damage to the efforts of Conservation. Listen to the episode to find out how you can make better strides in Ocean Conservation. Enjoy the Podcast!!! Let me know what you think of...

Dr. Judith Weis spent a good part of her career working on Salt Marshes as a Professor and Researcher at Rutgers University. She is here to talk about Salt Marshes, their importance and how we need to manage them in the face of Climate Change. Judith literally wrote the book on Salt Marshes (with Coauthor Carol Butler). I wanted to have her on the program so she can share how salt marshes play a r...

Did the race of Phelps vs a Great White Shark do Marine Conservation some good? That is the question that many people asked before the premiere of Shark Week 2017. Discovery debuted its annual shark week with an episode pitting Olympic Great, Michael Phelps, versus a Great White Shark. Some say that this was a pointless exercise as sharks are way faster than humans. Others thought that Phelps was...

Nathan Johnson is back for Ocean Talk Friday to discuss nutrients in the Bay of Bengal past the tipping point, the United Nations International Treaty of the High Seas and Our Thoughts on Chasing Coral the Documentary. Here are the links to the articles we discussed: 1) Run-Off from Fertilizers has made Bay of Bengal Reach 'Tipping Point', say experts 2) New Rules Urgently Needed to Protect Our Oc...

Plastic Pollution in the Ocean inspired my guest, Claire Hughes, to clean up beaches on Grand Cayman Island and start a movement. Claire is a teacher and mother who is done with plastic pollution and is helping raise awareness of the ill effects plastic has on our society. Claire is a great example of how the ocean can inspire people to do great things!!! Enjoy the Podcast!!! Let me know what you...

Researchers have reviewed several hundred studies to find the best way people can reduce their Climate Change Footprint. There is one way that had the biggest reduction impact, but are you ready to do it? I also talk about the importance of science and how many people are still fighting against science. Some people are trying to confuse people in the confidence in science results and the interpret...

Dr. Lyne Morissette is back on OTF to talk about what she's been up to and where she's been (hint: she's been to some amazing places). During the podcast, we discuss the following: 1) Lyne's Canadian Coast to Coast to Coast Scientific Cruise; 2) Lyne's trip to Reunion Island and the major issue of shark conflicts with human users; and, 3) A New Brunswick man dies trying to rescue a Right Whale fro...

Josh Laughren, Executive Director of Ocean Canada, joins me on the podcast to discuss why there shouldn't be a fishery for cod opened just yet. In 1992, a moratorium on cod fishing was implemented that changed Newfoundland and Labrador forever. Gone were the days of teaching the next generation to fish for cod and here were the days of hard financial times and leaving their "Rock" for more opportu...

Imagine a terrestrial animal changes its diet in order to survive along the rugged coast of British Columbia. Scientists have discovered have genetically differentiated population of wolves, dubbed Sea Wolves, that derive 90% of the diet from the sea. Is this just a way of survival from their inland wolf cousins or do these wolves just enjoy the sea that much more?!?!? Also in the program, a PhD s...

Ed Hind-Ozan joins us on the show to talk plastic pollution, ocean oaths, climate change maps our future and can we fish cod again. It's always great to have Ed on the show to give us his perspective from a Social Science point of view and the point of you from a UK perspective. That's right...we are going across the pond for this episode.  Worldwide perspective matters!!! Here are the articles th...

Climate Change adaptation can be a complex beast to understand, once you get past whether there is a debate that it is caused by humans. There are two major aspects on how we need to deal with Climate  Change: 1) How can we reduce the factors (Carbon) that cause Climate Change; and, 2) How do we adapt to its consequences.  There were two reports released by climate scientists and economists recent...

Does it make sense to allow Oil and Gas Exploration within the boundaries of a Marine Protected Area and still call it protected? Trudeau's government thinks it does. I break down how this situation doesn't necessarily depict a Marine Protected Area, but it does describe a management area within a Marine Park. Perhaps the government of Canada is going about designating MPAs the wrong way?  Take a...

We have a special guest named Kyle Massie joining us on Ocean Talk Friday as part of our Patreon Campaign Contributor rewards. Kyle and I are going to go through the top articles of the week in Marine Science and Conservation so that you can be updated on what's happening in the Ocean. Here is a list of the articles that we decided to pick: 1) Update on the restoration of the Indonesian Reef (cove...

Melissa Marquez joins us on the podcast today to really ignite the show. We talk about shark conservation, women in science, science communication and entrepreneurship in the Marine Science and Conservation Field. We talk about how Melissa started a shark education organization during an undergraduate course, which expanded into 50 states and got transplanted to multiple countries; how she and her...

Do you think Celebrities should be Advocates for the Ocean? The question came up off of a story I wrote about involving a woman celebrity being objectified while doing a documentary to raise awareness for sharks. In other News: Rick Perry went before a US Senate Committee to discuss energy and climate change. Senator Al Franken asked Perry about his thoughts on Climate Change to which Perry replie...

Nathan and I chat about growing mangroves to protect coast, problems with MPA process in Canada, Zombie Worms and Mussels and Sponges break down oil   Enjoy the Podcast!!! Let me know what you think of the episode by joining our Facebook Group for the Podcast. Support Speak Up For Blue's Efforts to build a platform to raise awareness for Marine Science and Conservation and help you live for a bett...