How To Protect The Ocean

It's been a while since I've done an episode where I told you the purpose of this podcast and why I recently made the business, Speak Up For Blue Media and Communications Inc., real! I also wanted to do this because there are many new users as of late and I wanted to make sure that all of you know what Speak Up For Blue (SUFB) is about and why I made it a business. You also find out where I want to take this business in the future. If you have any questions about the me, the podcasts or the company, feel free to connect with me via email (andrew(at)speakupforblue.com). Join our Patreon Community to help our company create more content and grow the company.

Japan has hunted whales in the South Pacific Ocean for decades killing hundreds of whales each year under the "scientific purpose" tag. We all know the tag is not true, but no country can do anything about the loophole in the International Whaling Commission's (IWC) policy. However, after the latest vote of maintaining a moratorium on whaling, Japan threatened to leave the IWC. If they leave, they will want to start whaling in full force, but will there finally be legal action to take on Japan's whaling efforts? Some people in Australia think so and are pressuring their government to try and stop Japanese whaling whether or not Japan remains part of the IWC. Find out how by listening to the podcast. Do you think Japan will leave the IWC? Share your answer in the Facebook Group. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Support the Speak Up For Blue Mission by joining our Patreon Community.

Two people were bitten by sharks in Australia within a 24 hour period. I don't even know what the chances of having a shark bite within the same bay in 24 hours are; however, the right thing to do is not kill sharks. We know it doesn't reduce the incidents of shark bites. Politicians think that it helps solve the problem. Take a listen to the episode and let me know what you think in the Facebook Group. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Support our mission by joining our Patreon Community and help protect the Ocean.

There are so many marine parks that hold marine mammals in captivity in Asia. It's ridiculous!!! It seems that the marine mammal theme park in Asian countries is thriving, except maybe it has hit a bit of a downturn. A marine park just outside Tokyo, Japan closed its doors due to low attendance. The problem is that the owners LEFT THE ANIMALS AT THE PARK!!!! Fish, penguins and a lone dolphin named Honey was left behind with only a few people to take care of there well being. This is just a small problem with the lack of accountability of these types of theme parks. The Rick O'Barry Dolphin Project team was allowed to visit the dolphin to check on its well being. The team reported that the dolphin was in water that was below standard and that it didn't swim around the entire 2 hours of the visit. How can anyone leave an animal abandoned like that is beyond me!!! You know how I feel, now let me know your thoughts in the Facebook Group. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Speak Up For Blue is bringing Marine Science and Conservation directly to its audience through podcasting. If you enjoy this programming, please join our Patreon Community to support our mission.

I took part in a discussion in a different Facebook Group that had to do with growing a Social Enterprise. The discussion was a question regarding Dead Zones in the Ocean. The question came up after I introduced myself in the group as a Marine Ecologist to which I usually get a reply regarding a question about the Ocean. The question of what is a Dead Zone in the Ocean was quickly followed up by someone saying they didn't think Scientists new the cause of the dead zone. As a Marine Ecologist, I had to step in. I told the person what they were, how they were caused and what we can do to decrease the spatial extent of these dead zones. I decided to reiterate what I wrote in the discussion here, on the podcast in case you hadn't heard of them either. Listen to the episode and let me know in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group whether you have heard of dead zones. Enjoy the Podcast!!! Do you like the Ocean Education in this episode? Please visit join our Patreon Community to support the sow and get more education on the Ocean.

PETA is spending some energy on a small Lobster Shell Company in New Brunswick, Canada as the company was in the news due to the smell coming from the plant. The smell was bothering neighbours. The company has since worked on rectifying the issue, but PETA has a permanent solution for the plant. You won't get a smell if you stop killing lobsters and other shellfish. However, the are some problems with that way of thinking. Firstly, the people who work at the plant or even in the shellfish industry would be out of work. How would they earn a living when they are only trained as fishers and fishing has been in their family for generations. Secondly, the company recycles the unused shells of lobsters, crabs and shrimp to grind them into a powder for export to asian markets for the bio-medical industry and fertilizer. The process uses the wasted parts of the shellfish, which is great because now the entire animal is put to great use. PETA wants all people to convert to a vegan diet as it will keep animals alive; however, they lose credibility when they equate lobsters as people. Their campaigns are aggressive and show no compassion for the fisher, in this case. It's all or nothing for PETA and that isn't how conservation works. Take a listen to the podcast and let me know in the Facebook Group if you agree/disagree with me. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Join our Patreon Community is you want to support our mission and help Speak Up For Blue Grow!

The Trump administration is holding a set of public listening meeting between August 31st and November on the topic of allowing commercial fishing in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). You might be asking "why would anyone allow commercial fishing in MPAs that are probably designed to protect habitats from overfishing?" And you are completely right. There really is no reason for this type of deregulation. The reason the Trump administration is using is because of the country's seafood trade deficit. The Seafood trade is measured based on the value of the country's exports vs the country's imports. I take the time to run through why Dr. Martin Smith form Duke University says the US should have a Seafood Trade deficit. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Do you think the US should run a seafood trade deficit? Let us know in the Facebook Group? Do you like our mission for Speak Up For Blue? Consider supporting us by joining our Patreon Community.

There is a BIG problem in the Marine Science and Conservation field and it goes with how the science and research is shared. Science in itself is supposed to be freely shared amongst the public; however, that is not the case. Journals hold the vital research methodologies and results behind a paywall that is only available to people who can afford the annual access of a set of journals that could equal upwards of $5 million. Over a number of episodes, I will be speaking with today's guest, Nick Wehner from OCTO (Open Communications For The Ocean) about the ins and outs of the journal field that holds one of the biggest problems in sharing information. Enjoy the Podcast!!! Check out MarXiv that allows authors to share their pre-print papers in Marine Science and Conservation. MarXiv Twitter OCTO Twitter If you have a view on this issue, let me know what you have to say in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group.

The Southern Resident Orca population is a terrible shape. The Orca known as J50 has recently disappeared causing concern for scientists, conservationists and advocates in Canada and the US. There are now only 74 Orcas left in that population. The major contributing factors to the situation with the Orca population are the lack of chinook salmon and the increase of ship traffic along the West Coast of North America causes risk of ship strikes and underwater noise. There are a number of organizations that do not think the Canadian Government is doing enough to protect the Orcas, so they decided to sue them. I discuss what they want the Government to do and why during this episode. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Do you think the organizations should sue the government for the action that is rarely used? Let me know in the Facebook Group. Patreon Community: http://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon

Overfishing is putting a dent in the oceans seafood supply; however, it is difficult to quantify what damage has been done. Scientists are trying to determine the damage from overfishing by trying to determine the amount of the ocean we are fishing. There are a couple of labs that used a global fishing dataset to assess the amount of ocean is taken up by fishing. The two labs have come to very different conclusions based on one particular difference in the analysis. I cover the difference and discuss the ramifications of those differences for managing the future of our ocean's fish stocks. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Let me know in the Facebook Group which method you think is correct. Consider joining our Patreon Community to listen to more content and support our mission to build a Podcast Network for Ocean Awareness and Action.

A juvenile Tiger Shark was caught off the coast of Nova Scotia surprising researchers and the public. Some commenters were worried about the fact that tiger sharks may be present in Canadian waters. However, it doesn't seem likely that Tiger Sharks will be plentiful in the cool, temperate waters of Canada. Not yet anyway. I take time during the episode to explain two possibilities as to why a tiger shark might be present in temperature waters. Enjoy the Podcast!!! Let me know what you thought of the show in the Facebook Group. I like explaining some Ocean process and think I might do more in the future. Join us in our Patreon Community to learn more about the Oceans and support the Speak Up for Blue Podcast Network.

A student was bitten by a shark in the shallow waters off a popular beach in Cape Cod. The student, from Brazil, was boogie boarding with his girlfriend's brother when the shark bit him. He lost his leg and later died of his wounds at the hospital. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends during this tragic time. During this episode, I comment on the way the news depicts the event and go over how to avoid get bitten. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Do you have any tips on how you can avoid a shark bite that I didn't cover here? Let me know in the Facebook Group. Join the Patreon Community to help support the podcast and the mission I am trying to build to help you live for a better Ocean.

Hurricane Florence came through North Carolina, South Carolina and parts of Virginia whirling 105 mph winds and ocean waves recorded as high as 80 feet. Rains, winds and floods have taken the lives of 17 people in the states and causing an estimated $22 Billion. The hurricane is moving north towards New York and New Jersey after it moved back out to sea where it is now classified as a Category 2. Now we discuss getting people safe and looking to the future on how to put people in office that will provide regulations to help their state adapt to climate change safely. Source Flooding Areas Update Enjoy the Podcast!!! Do you live in a hurricane state? Let me know in the Facebook Group what your thoughts are on the damage and the lack of management in certain states. Join our Patreon Community to help support our mission to build Awareness of Marine Science and Conservation and inspire Action to live for a better Ocean.

The second portion of my conversation with Dr. Austin Gallagher goes a bit deeper into what behaviour is expected and required for Oceanpreneurs. Remember, these tips are based on our experience. You may have different experiences based on your entrepreneurial path. We would love to here what your tips would be in our Facebook Group. Enjoy the Podcast!!! What to help Speak Up For Blue's Oceanpreneurial journey? Join our Patreon Community to support our business.

I have had the opportunity in life to pursue a business idea that I feel will leave a legacy in Marine Science and Conservation. I wanted to do it because I felt that the ideas that I had could not be done with any other organization, government department or company as I have a vision as to how it would move forward. I became an Oceanpreneur and I am not the only one out there. There are more people everyday seeking a way to innovate and create an new path to conduct Marine Science and Conservation. Dr. Austin Gallagher is one of those people and he contacted me last week with an idea for a show. The idea was to offer 10 tips for Oceanpreneurs as a way to share our experiences and lessons learned over our careers. This episode consists of tips 1-5 (the show is longer than our regular intervals...sorry, but we had a lot to say) and tomorrow's episode will consist of tips 6-10. If you are, or thinking about becoming an Oceanpreneur, listen to this episode and let us know what you think in the Facebook Group. Austin's Information: Website: Beneath The Waves Twitter Instagram Enjoy the Podcast!!! Consider joining the Patreon Community to support our show and check out what we are doing with Speak Up For Blue, after all, I am a self proclaimed Oceanpreneur.

Coral Reefs all over the world have been plagued by increasing temperatures due to Climate Change over the past 100 or so years. Researchers, conservationists and the rest of the world are concerned about the well being of one of the most diverse habitats in the world. Coral Reef habitats have been around for millions of years as they build their skeleton with symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae, which are microscopic algae that conduct photosynthesis in the coral skeleton and whose byproducts allow the coral to build it's skeleton. Increasing temperatures in the Ocean cause the zooxanthellae to leave the coral as the temperatures are too warm. The result is a white coloured coral that could die if the algae does not come back to the coral. The term for this process is known as coral bleaching. Bleaching is occurring everywhere and as long as temperatures continue to rise, bleaching will not stop; however, there may be a solution that lies in the diversity of the zooxanthellae. Many of the species that we know today have a narrow temperature range, but there are some species that tolerate higher temperatures. These species could carry some corals into the new temperature ranges that we are seeing today. Check out the episode for more information on this topic and let me know what you think in the Facebook Group. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Support our mission by joining our Patreon Community and listening to new shows that we are testing including The Deep Dive and Dugongs and Seadragons.

The California Governor has signed the bill to halt the Federal Oil and Gas expansion. The Bill is in response to the Trump Administration's heavy push to expand fossil fuel development to drill in every ocean surrounding the US. The governors of the Western States have protested the expansion, especially California where they have suffered through 2 oil spills since 1969. The people of California do not forget the economic troubles they had after the Santa Barbara spills. The governor of California does not want to put his citizens through that ordeal again. So California has made a stand. Will it be enough? Let me know what you think in the Facebook Group. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Join the Patreon Community to listen to our new show called the Deep Dive and support our mission.

A crazy story emerged out of Kuwait recently where a fish market was shutdown because it pasted googly eyes on its fish that it was selling. I am not lying...this actually happened. Insane...right?!?!

Sharkwater was responsible for the inspiration of thousands of people to become shark advocates, film makers and conservationists. The movie exposed the lucrative and destructive industry of shark finning. Rob Stewart's new movie, called Sharkwater Extinction, was released by the his family and friends after the director/film maker passed away in a diving accident. The movie is designed to inspire more people to work to protect sharks. I had the opportunity to attend the Movie Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff). Angelo Villagomez invited me to attend the movie with him as he received an invitation from Rob's family (Angelo was close to Rob). I wanted to share my thoughts with you on the movie during this episode. Enjoy the Podcast!!! Let me know in the Facebook Group if you plan on attending the movie when it's released. Join our Patreon Community to check out our shows that we are testing in the community and support our mission.

The New Zealand Government realized that its Department of Conservation's Wildlife Act does not have the authority to provide permits to dive operations that offer Shark Cage Diving Tours as it goes against the Wildlife Act. A court of Appeals recently ruled that the Wildlife Act has the authority to manage whether animals can live or die based on a permitting system, but not as a tourism focus. The decision arose as the Paua Industry sued the government for giving permits to Shark Dive Tour Operators as they claimed it caused the sharks to get used to approaching humans for food (conditioned to approach the cage). I feel bad for the operators as it will hit their income hard; however, managing the Ocean needs to include all stakeholders. The Stakeholders are users that may have a conflict with one another. I talk more about this during the episode. Have a listen and let me know what you think about in the Facebook Group. Enjoy the Podcast!!! Join our exclusive Patreon Community to hear podcast episodes from our other podcasts that haven't been released yet and support our mission.

The Great Barrier Reef Foundation recently received a whopping $443.3 million to help the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) adapt to climate change. Climate Change has taking its toll on the GBR destroying close to 90% of the reef through mass bleaching events. The Australian government trying to protect the reef by investing in its protection. However, there are some critics that believe the GBR Foundation is not capable or qualified to use/distribute the money. Dr. Peter J. Mumby, who is an esteemed expert in Coral Reef Management in the face of climate change, was recently appointed as part-time chief scientist. He wrote an article in The Conversation, where he justifies why the foundation is well suited for this project. Take a listen to the podcast as I discuss his reasons and why I feel better that Dr. Mumby is involved in this project. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Did Peter Mumby make you feel better about the fact that the Great Barrier Reef is in charge of the money? Share your thoughts in the Facebook Group. Help us continue to build an Ocean Awareness and Action platform online by joining our Patreon Community. You can help us test out shows and listen to what we are up to next.

How do you get rid of an invasive species (lionfish) that has reeked havoc on coral reefs along the east coast of the US and in the Caribbean? You build a killer robot of course!!! Students from the Worecester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)have creator an autonomous underwater vehicle that can identify lionfish, spear them and float the fish to the Ocean surface. Pretty cool, right? Check out the podcast to find out how it's done. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Do you think the robot will help eliminate invasive lionfish? Let me know in the Facebook Group. We are building an inline podcasting network to encourage Ocean Awareness and Action. If you like what we are doing, you can join our Patreon Community to support our mission.

When 100 seals were found in August (2018), researchers were concerned that there is something in the water that is causing the mass die off. The data shows that this is an above average mortality rate, which is normally 38 (10-year average). Unfortunately, researchers still don't know the cause. Susan Shaw a marine mammal biologist that specializes in contamination hypothesizes that the die off is due to PCBs in the water. More information is in the episode...take a listen. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Let me know what you think is causing the mass die off of seals. Go to the Facebook Group. Join our Patreon Community to support our mission of building an online platform of podcasts and videos to support Ocean Awareness and Action. Are you looking for Speak Up For Blue Swag? Check out our online store here.

The High Seas take up most of the Oceans, but they are not governed by any one entity. The lack of governance opens the High Seas to plundering of fish and allowing more pollution that is unregulated. There is a meeting taking place this week at the UN in New York City this week with the goal for countries to sign a treaty to protect the high seas and manage its resources better. Not all countries are interested though. It could be a tough sell. Check out the episode and let me know in the Facebook Group whether you think all of the countries will sign on to the treaty. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Do you like Speak Up For Blue's Podcast Network? You can join our Patreon Community to help us build the network more! Looking for some swag? Check out our store.

It's my 40th Birthday!!! I don't normally say much about my birthday, but since this is my 40th...it's a big deal. As I get older, I want to make sure that I take care of my health to avoid any health problems in the future. I am also more aware about the types of food that eat to make sure they are sustainable. Ensuring food is sustainable is not easy. In this episode, I talk about an article in the Guardian that discusses some of the common misconceptions in the health & sustainability food industry. Source Want to be more sustainable? Order a Speak Up For Blue Travel Mug from our store. Click Here. Enjoy the Podcast!!! How do you makes sure you live sustainably? Let me know if the Facebook Group. Do you like how we are building our platform for Ocean Awareness and Action? Consider supporting our mission to provide more information on the Ocean through podcasting and videos (videos coming soon).

The fight against Climate Change can be a difficult battle, at least when you look at it from the Canadian Government's perspective. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been trying to get a pipeline approved that will run from the tar sands in Alberta to the coastline in British Columbia. However, the Canadian courts have a different viewpoint. The court ruled that the approval process for the pipeline expansion was flawed in that in did not consider increased shipping traffic in the environmental assessment and the government did not consult properly with Indigenous people. It's a complicated story, so I explain it in this episode. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Let me know what side you fall on in the Facebook Group. Also, join our Patreon Community to check out two of our new shows: Deep Dive and Dugongs and Seadragons.

Kelp habitat is one of the riches and most diverse habitats in the Ocean. It's why most governments will do their best to protect them. Scotland is one of those countries. It anyone in Scotland wants to get a permit to use kelp in their business, they would only be able to cut the tops to allow for regrowth. That makes sense...it's sustainable. However, there is a company called Marine Biopolymers, a biochemical company, that would like to dredge swaths of kelp beds for its own use. Not very sustainable. I don't really understand why the company would choose to dredge the kelp forests when they could farm it. Check out the episode to find out more. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Do you think the company should start farming the kelp? Let me know in the Facebook Group. Consider joining the Patreon Community to check out more Marine Conservation Shows.

A collaboration of researchers and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute discovered an 85 linear mile swath of deep sea Coral Reef off the Atlantic Coast of the US. The discovery comes after the Okeanos had mapped a number of deep sea mounds. The coral reefs can house a diverse array of species and attract predators such as the swordfish that was observed by Woods Hole's ROV, Alvin. The reef could become a protected area as it would be important for fisheries and it would prevent oil and gas develop that is earmarked for the Atlantic Ocean. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Do you think the deep sea coral reef will become a protected area? Let us know in the Facebook Group (it's free to join!!!). Do you like Dungeons and Dragons? Check out our Dugongs and Seadragons played by a number of Marine Conservationists in our Patreon Community.

A huge Marine Conservation win today as the State of California passed a law that would ban the use of drift gillnets for the swordfish licenses in state waters. There are less than 20 swordfish permits in the state and compensation will be offered to those who retire their nets and/or permits early. Source Enjoy the Episode!!! Tell us your thoughts on this huge win in our Facebook Group. Don't forget to check out the Deep Dive show in our Patreon Community.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are wonderful tools that can help replenish fisheries and maintain biodiversity within their boundaries; however, MPAs are quite expensive. Funding of each MPA can determine whether it will function properly as operational costs, such as enforcement, matter to the sustainability of the MPA. I have the pleasure of interviewing John Bohorquez, a PhD student at Stony Brook University, who is studying finances of MPAs. I talk to him about how MPAs are financed and how the areas areas are funded. Enjoy the Podcast!!! What did you think about the financing of MPAs? Let me know in the Facebook Group. Do you want to learn more about John's Career and his thoughts on crowdfunding MPAs in the future? Check out his Deep Dive episode in the Patreon Community.

My wife and I went to New York City with two other couples to celebrate our 40th birthdays together. I've reflected a lot over the past year on my 40th year on this planet, especially how I can make it better. With that in mind, I now notice many things about the environment when it comes to how we utilize containers, straws and other single-use plastics. I noticed a few things in New York City that I discuss in this episode. Enjoy the Podcast!!! Do you live in New York City? Do you agree with me about what I said? Let me know in the Facebook Group. Join our Patreon community to listen to our new shows Deep Dive and Dugongs and Sea dragons.

No matter how you feel about who is causing climate change, the housing market is aware that sea level rise is playing a part in the price of homes that are along vulnerable costs. Homes that are prone to flooding due to storm activity, increased sea level and low elevation are losing value to their homes every year. A new study by the First Street Foundation showed homes within 8 states along the East Coast of the US lost more than $14 Billion between the years 2005 and 2017. Source Let me know in the Facebook Group if you would buy a home along the coast with this information. Check out The Deep Dive, where Brooke Tully and I talk more candidly about conservation marketing and how it applies to the Ocean.

Humpbacks are a great conservation story because their populations have rebounded since they were almost hunted to extinction in the early 1900s. Their population rebound around the world provides optimism inside and outside the marine conservation field; however, the humpback whale still faces dangers such as fish gear entanglement, ship strikes and oil spill pollution. The humpback population along the Pacific Coast of North America is doing well, but it is still on the Endangered Species List. The Endangered Species List designation comes with certain protections, especially for critical habitat; however, the humpback's critical habitat was not being protected by the federal government. Three organizations got together to sue the federal government to ensure they protected the humpback's critical habitat. Guess what, they won!!! Find out what the result was by listening to the episode. Source Let me know your thoughts on this conservation win in the Facebook Group. Check out The Deep Dive, where Brooke Tully and I talk more candidly about conservation marketing and how it applies to the Ocean.

Nutrients are playing a huge role in disrupting our coastal ecological stability. We have blue-green algal blooms that are so think it smells like dead people. We also have red tides that kill everything in its path for short (lately longer) periods of time. These algal blooms are popping up all over the world causing heaps of trouble. Unfortunately for Florida, the two types of algal blooms mentioned here are present at the same time and they are reeking havoc along the Southwest coast. Nutrients that fuel the algal blooms come from the coastline. The nutrients are derived from industries and sewage treatment plants. You and I contribute nutrients to our sewage treatment plants; therefore, it would be good if we could reduce our nutrient input through more eco-friendly products. I talk about some of those products in hops that you will go out and try some. Here is a link to some available Laundry Detergent products from this Amazon search. Let me know your favourite eco-friendly products in the Facebook Group. Want to hear more form Brooke? Check out The Deep Dive, where Brooke and I talk more candidly about conservation marketing and how it applies to the Ocean.

Brooke Tully joins me again on the podcast to discuss the second part of the interview that we started yesterday. Today, we are discussing how to create a conservation movement. I thought it would be good for you, the audience, to understand how a movement is put together, starting with the purpose. It's important to realize that a movement usually ends with a specific action or behaviour change. The campaign for the movement is based on creative marketing purposes hopes to results in a behaviour change of a certain group around an Ocean Issue. Brooke works with conservation organizations to create campaigns that will help groups conserve the Ocean with a specific behaviour change. Enjoy Part 2 of 2 episodes on Conservation Marketing with Brooke Tully. Check out her work here: www.brookes2cents.com Brooke's You Tube Channel Enjoy the Podcast!!! Want to talk about it? Join our FREE Facebook Group to discuss the Oceans with Ocean-minded people. Want to hear more form Brooke? Check out The Deep Dive, where Brooke and I talk more candidly about conservation marketing and how it applies to the Ocean.

I used to think that Ocean Awareness was the only component needed to get the public to not only understand the issues facing the Ocean, but it would also give them enough information and inspiration to conserve the Ocean. Unfortunately, the behaviour change needed to conserve the Ocean for a particular issue does not happen just through Ocean Awareness. Behaviour change leads to action for conservation, which happens through marketing campaigns. Brooke Tully joins me on the show today to discuss how to bridge the gap between Ocean Awareness and Ocean Action. She is a conservation marketer with a background in Creative Marketing. She drops a lot of knowledge around this subject. So much knowledge that I had to divide her show into 2 parts to make sure it fit our new shorter episode model. Enjoy Part 1 of 2 episodes on Conservation Marketing with Brooke Tully. Check out her work here: www.brookes2cents.com Brooke's You Tube Channel Enjoy the Podcast!!! Want to talk about it? Join our FREE Facebook Group to discuss the Oceans with Ocean-minded people. Want to hear more form Brooke? Check out The Deep Dive, where Brooke and I talk more candidly about conservation marketing and how it applies to the Ocean.

Whale Sharks are a huge and iconic species that are found to have migrated long distances; however, there is still much to be discovered about the species. For instance, do juvenile Whale Sharks travel the same long distances as the adults? The answer is yes...and no. A recent study found that juvenile Whale Sharks swam a large distance for the 126 day study period (2,580 km); however, the sharks stayed within the same islands in the Philippines where there was plenty of food. So they same quite a bit, but didn't move to across an ocean like some of the adults. They stayed within specific regions. Mongabay covered the story and did a great job and hitting some interesting facts, which I discuss in this episode. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Want to talk about it? Join our FREE Facebook Group to discuss the Oceans with Ocean-minded people. Want to listen to new shows that we are testing? Check out The Deep Dive, where I talk to our guests about their careers and Ocean issues/topics about which they are passionate.

"Everyone loves Marineland" is what I grew up listening to the Marineland commercial. Ask anyone that grew up in Southern Ontario, Canada and they will know the saying; however, not everyone loves Marineland anymore. There have been some major problems with the marine theme park over the past few decades as they have been cited under the Ontario SPCA Act for the way they mistreat their animals. A former trainer at Marineland has been speaking out against the park since 2012 after being sick and tired of the mistreatment of the animals. Phil Demers quit in 2012 and has since been a strong advocate in fighting Marineland over their lack of care of their animals. Tune in to the episode to find out why Phil is worried about belugas and walruses lately at Marineland. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Want to talk about it? Join our FREE Facebook Group to discuss the Oceans with Ocean-minded people. Want to listen to new shows that we are testing? Check out The Deep Dive, where I talk to our guests about their careers and Ocean issues/topics about which they are passionate.

I remember learning about marine ecology with a popular example of the relationship among the sea otter, sea urchin and kelp forest. Sea otters eat sea urchins and sea urchins eat kelp. A decrease in one population could give rise to another. A lack of sea otters caused sea urchin populations to increase, which fed on the kelp, severely decreasing its coverage. The reintroduction of the sea otter along the Pacific Coast decreased the sea urchin population allowing the kelp forests to flourish. What I didn't realize is that there is a new factor in the otter-urchin-kelp relationship that has an affect on the system. That organism is the sea star. New research from monitoring before, during and after the sea star wasting disease event that nearly wiped out sea stars revealed a dependence of kelp of the sea stars for keeping the sea urchins in check. Check out the episode to find out how. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Want to talk about it? Join our FREE Facebook Group to discuss the Oceans with Ocean-minded people. Want to listen to new shows that we are testing? Check out The Deep Dive, where I talk to our guests about their careers and Ocean issues/topics about which they are passionate.

The Coelacanth is one of those fish species that could easily be my favourite fish. It's prehistoric history and evolutionary importance fascinates me. The manner in which the pelvic fins move is captivating. As you can see, I am very passionate about coelacanths. Unfortunately, the coelacanth is critically endangered with only 30 left in the population off the coast of Africa. The species is also facing some trouble that could wipe them out if there is a major problem in the future. An Oil company, called Eni, is vying to start exploring and drilling in the region. Eni conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that had little mention of the potential problem an oil spill might have on the critically endangered species. We've heard that promise before. Check out the rest of the article by clicking below: Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Want to talk about it? Join our FREE Facebook Group to discuss the Oceans with Ocean-minded people. Want to listen to new shows that we are testing? Check out The Deep Dive, where I talk to our guests about their careers and Ocean issues/topics about which they are passionate.

I covered something different than I am used to over the past week. I talked about businesses that benefit the Ocean. The businesses are usually Social Enterprises, companies that have a triple bottom line for profit, environmental and social change. There are many profiles in the news about specific Ocean Start Ups that have had success and received extra training, but I wanted to ensure that you know something about entrepreneurship. It is something that I learned over the past 7.5 years. Entrepreneurship is hard!!! Entrepreneurship is not for the faint at heart. It's for people who like to hustle and take risks. The people that realize the risk could lead to failure in a business or they need to pivot their business. I talk about my experience with Entrepreneurship and the challenges that I faced over the past 7 years as an example of how hard it is to own a business that helps protect the Ocean. Enjoy the Podcast!!! Want to talk about it? Join our FREE Facebook Group to discuss the Oceans with Ocean-minded people. Want to listen to new shows that we are testing? Check out The Deep Dive, where I talk to our guests about their careers and Ocean issues/topics about which they are passionate.

The water along the beaches in San Diego are known for it's surfing and majestic sea life. The waters are also cooler as the Californian Current is influenced by the Alaskan Current and Northern Pacific Current; however, the global heat wave has raised the temperatures of the water to a point where researchers are worried about the affect this change could have on sea life in the area, particularly local coral reefs and kelp forests. Coral Reefs and Kelp Forests are stationary habitats (they can't move if they don't like the conditions) that have a narrow range of ocean variables that helps them grow and be stable. An increase in sea surface temperatures could degrade the habitats that are home to a diverse community of species. Source Check out why the stability of coral reefs and kelp forests are important by listening to this episode. Want to talk about it? Join our FREE Facebook Group to discuss the Oceans with Ocean-minded people. Want to listen to new shows that we are testing? Check out The Deep Dive, where I talk to our guests about their careers and Ocean issues/topics about which they are passionate.

Yesterday, I introduced you to some start ups that were going to be part of an accelerator program for an Impact Investing Program. Today, I speak to the CEO and Founder of Katapult Ocean, which is a new Impact Investing firm that is focused on searching and investing in start ups that help make the Oceans more sustainable. Maren Hjorth Bauer is our guest. She defines Impact Investing and tells us about the Accelerator Program they are launching in January 2019 to help Start Ups scale their business. Enjoy the Podcast!!! Let me know what you think of this program in our Facebook Group. Maren is also in the Facebook Group, so feel free to ask her any questions you might have about Impact Investing. Check out our Deep Dive show in the Speak Up For Blue Patreon Community.

Talking about Ocean issues everyday can get a little tiring, so I've been doing some research to see what is being done about solutions. There are some organizations such as Conservation X Labs that help engineers, innovators and entrepreneurs to create prototypes that will provide conservation solutions and scale their business. There are also impact investing firms that are trying to incentivize start ups who are helping the Ocean and create programs to help them scale their business to have a wider reach. I talk about some of the start ups that were announced for the Sustainable Oceans Solutions' "Ocean Solutions Accelerator Program." Check out some of these companies and the positive impact they could have on the Oceans. Source Let me know what you think of these companies in our Facebook Group. Check out our Deep Dive show in the Speak Up For Blue Patreon Community.

I keep talking about the Ocean Clean Up Project because I get angry at the fact that there has been little criticism about the project in the mainstream media. So when I found this story, I had to talk about it on the podcast. This article really dives into the problems with the apparatus. I wanted to go through it because it's good to have criticism. I should get one thing straight. I do support start ups that help the Oceans; however, not if it will affect wildlife. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Check out our new show on Patreon called Deep Dive.

The Southern Resident Orca Population are considered a Schedule 1 Endangered Species by the Canadian Species At Risk Act. The main reason for the decline of the Orca population which only has 75 individuals left is because of the lack of Chinook Salmon, this according to Dr. Naomi Rose. Dr. Naomi Rose is our guest on the podcast today in the second of a two-part interview where we discussed the endangered Orca population. Naomi describes some of the biggest barriers (physical and policy) that are creating such a low level population of the Orcas' only food source. There are some quick fixes that will help Salmon and Orca populations increase...and no, it's not a sea lion cull. Enjoy the Podcast!!! Check out our new Deep Dive show where Naomi discusses why an increase in SeaWorld business is proof that the Blackfish Effect is working!!!

We have our most popular guest on the podcast today, Dr. Naomi Rose. She is a Marine Conservation Advocate who works for the Animal Welfare Institute where she specializes in Whales in Captivity. Naomi came on the podcast to discuss the plight of wild Orcas of the Southern Resident Population; however, we first got on the topic of Marine Conservation Advocacy and discussed it for a while. It was such great advice and content that I thought I would divide the interview into 2 parts: Today's interview focusing on marine advocacy when it comes to Orcas; and, tomorrow's interview focusing on what is causing the depletion of the Southern Resident Orca population. If you ever wanted to know what it was like to be a good marine advocate, or an environmental advocate in genera, then this is the episode for you. Check out the episode and let me know what you think about advocacy in our Facebook Group. Want more of Naomi? Check out her thoughts on why she hopes that SeaWorld does well under a new business model in our new episode of the Deep Dive.

There is a big United Nations meeting that is going to happen in New York City soon that some researchers say will dictate the long term survival of the Ocean. The meeting has been in the works for years with countries expected to sign on to a pact that will manage the high seas over a number of issues from water quality to fisheries. Scientists have published on the way the high seas (ocean areas that are not governed by any country) have been treated in the past and have been outspoken on the need to better protect them. Some researchers say the oceans will be in trouble if countries do not sign on to protect the high seas at this meeting. Do you think that is true? Do you think Accords such as the Paris Climate Change Accord will help reduce climate change impact? Let me know in the Facebook Group. Source Enjoy the Podcast!!! Check out our new shows that we are testing: Deep Dive and Dugongs and Seadragons (Coming soon)

Marine Conservation can be a tricky business at times. This episode covers one of those tricky times and it has to do with the porbeagle shark. The porbeagle shark is a "mini-great white" that only feeds on fish. It's population on the east coast has dwindled to 10% of its initial population. The Canadian government has put them on the Species At Risk list to help protect them; however, the shark crosses the Canadian-US border where it is not protected and it is fished and allowed to be taken. Researchers in Canada are worried after they have seen an increased amount of social media posts with dead porbeagle sharks that were legally caught. What would you do in this predicament? Enjoy the Podcast!!! Source Check out our new show were are trying out called The Deep Dive, where you get to hear more from our guests about their passions, careers and opinions on various Ocean topics.

There is a report that was released by the Ocean Conservancy that states over 80% of the marine debris that enters the Ocean comes from 20% of the countries, primarily in the Asian Region of the world. Most of it could be attributed to lack of a waste management infrastructure. Since then, the focus of marine debris has been on those countries, but over in North America, we are not perfect. The lack of perfection was highlighted after a story came out that a Canadian Mall's food court staff had managed to reduce the number of garbage bags by 117 bags/day. They now throw out 3 bags of garbage per day. How did they do it? You will have to listen to the episode to find out! Enjoy the Podcast!!! Source Check out our new show were are trying out called The Deep Dive, where you get to hear more from our guests about their passions, careers and opinions on various Ocean topics.