How To Protect The Ocean

Plastic pollution in the Ocean is a worldwide epidemic affecting water quality and the health of Ocean species more than we already know. Over 100,000 marine mammals (whales, dolphins), sea turtles, seabirds and fish are killed each year by marine debris including plastic pollution. Plastic pollution is an Ocean issue that is not debated as other issues are (climate change) as it has been documented by many organizations and advocates who travel out to the Ocean Gyres (5 of them) to witness, take photographs and video the evidence of plastic pollution and the ocean; however, plastic pollution is a HUGE issue in the Oceans. Plastics and other marine debris can be found on beaches and coastlines all over the world. They wash up from the ocean after floating around for years and they wash down the watershed from land-based sources eventually landing in the Ocean. In fact, nearly 45% of land-based trash comes from 5 countries in Asia; although, this doesn't mean that other countries such as the Canada and the US aren't adding to the plastic pollution problem. If this is such a big problem, then why do more people not know about it? There are many organizations out there such as Plastic Pollution Coalition, 5 Gyres, Environmental Defence Fund, Tangaroa Blue and the Ocean Conservancy that are raising awareness through research and awareness campaigns; however, it still seems that many people do not know of the problem with plastic pollution. A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine here in Burlington, Ontario (Canada) tagged me in a Facebook post with a video about the plastic pollution and debris that travels through the storm sewers and into Lake Ontario. It was one storm sewer, but probably a common occurrence with many other sewer outfalls as well. He asked me who people could call and I mentioned that this wasn't completely a government clean up problem (in Burlington, we have a sophisticated waste management system: compost, recycling and garbage with deleterious substances being thrown out at specific facilities). It's not a perfect system, but it's quite good in comparison to other cities around the world. I told my friend that the problem lies mostly with people and the way that we use and dispose of single use products. Plastic bags, plastic utensils, plastic containers, plastic water bottles are all part of the problem. These items are either dropped on the ground (people) or they are end up in the water from landfills (government). It's a problem that needs to be discussed within every community in every city. Government campaigns to make more people aware of the items that end up in their lake (or water body) and how they can reduce the use of those items coupled with regularly scheduled beach clean ups will help reduce the amount of plastic pollution in the lake and bring the community closer together. I did an interview with Heidi Taylor of Tangaroa Blue, an organization that not only cleans up beaches, but works with industry to find alternative sustainable solutions to common items found in their beach clean ups along the east coast of Australia. Heidi and her organization recruits a team of citizen scientists to work with her team to clean up and enumerate the items found on a beach and use the database to make informed decisions and change policies. There are some great organizations out there raising awareness, cleaning up beaches and working with government and industry partners to help reduce plastic pollution and other marine debris; however, more awareness is necessary. It's a good thing the Speak Up For Blue team is all about raising awareness and has a growing podcast out to help spread the world. We found the perfect person to interview to help us in our mission. Ocean Conservancy's Nick Mallos, Director of their Trash Free Seas Alliance program, sat down with me at the International Marine Conservation Congress to answer a few questions about marine debris and how we can reduce/eliminate it. Take a listen to the podcast and let us know what you think in the show notes. Join the Arbonne Blue Team http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue Instagram: @speakupforblue SUFB Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast SUFB Website: http://www.speakupforblue.com 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

The Jairo Mora award was announced at the International Marine Conservation Congress in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada last week to increase the support to people working in developing countries where their right to protection in their job where their well being may be threatened. The award is named after Jairo Mora, a sea turtle conservation biologist who worked in Costa Rica to protect eggs from poachers and the nests from developers and tourists that may destroy the sites. Jairo was brutally murdered at the age of 26 while 3 of his female colleagues were beaten and raped for their role in hindering something people wanted to put forward (it is not clear whether Jairo was murdered over a development or due to drugs). 7 people were acquitted at the first trial due to a technicality; however, 4 of the 7 suspects were found guilty and sentenced for their part in the murders and rapes. The Society of Conservation Biology researched the matter further and found a report by Global Witness that stated nearly 1,000 conservation biologists were murdered between 2002 and 2014. The report does not account for the conservation biologists who where harassed, assaulted, or threatened during their efforts to protect the environment. This is an important podcast because the number of people murdered is staggering and much of the world does not know that these incidents occur on a regular basis. Jairo's murder made news in Costa Rica, but it was because of the close nit Sea turtle Biologist community that news Jairo's murder was shared with the community. The news went mainstream being covered in National Geographic and other online publications; however, the Conservation community was shocked. Andrew Wright and Asha de Vos asked me if they could announce the Jairo Mora Award on the podcast because they wanted the Speak Up For Blue audience to know that the conservation community stands behind Jairo, his family, and all other conservation biologists who are threatened with harm, but continue to do their work because it matters to them and the environment. I love in North America where I have a right to protection; to do my job without worrying about being hurt. I realize now that my colleagues in developing countries do not share that right. The award announced at the IMCC is a step forward in recognizing the women and men who make sacrifices to follow the same passion that all conservation biologists have are able to do their jobs. Other steps need to be taken in order to show more "inclusivity" within the conservation biology field. Asha points out that there is a view of North American conservation biologists thinking they are better than their developing world colleagues because they have more funding and resources available to them; however, that is not the case and more communication needs to be done to ensure that all conservation biologists feel equal and worthy of pursuing their passion. This podcast episode is another step in the right direction; however, more needs to be done and it will be done with the help of us at Speak Up For Blue. Please listen to this podcast to find out more about Jairo and the work we need to do with this wonderful field of conservation biology. Join the Arbonne Blue Team http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue Instagram: @speakupforblue SUFB Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast SUFB Website: http://www.speakupforblue.com 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Whale captivity has been a debated issue since the first orca was captured off the coast of Washington State; however, efforts to free wild caught and captive-bred orcas, belugas and dolphins have not been discussed in great detail...until this year. Blackfish, a documentary film describing the multitude of problems Orcas face in captivity and the dangers it poses to humans, was a key catalyst in firing up the concept of releasing captive whales into Sea side Sanctuaries, but as of September 2015, the thought of Whale Sanctuaries was way in the distance. It wasn't until March of 2016 when the Conservation community truly thought that Whale Sanctuaries could be real. That was the time when Sea World stunned both the conservation community and the captive community when it said it would halt the breeding program in all of its facilities! The announcement meant that there would not be another new orca added to Sea World systems again. YAY!!! So what will happen to the orcas currently living in Sea World? According to Sea World, nothing... The public has another idea and want to see orcas and other marine mammals retired to the sea. In fact, a company called Munchkin, had an owner who was against whale captivity. So much so, that he decided to provide the seed funding for a Whale Sea-Side Sanctuary for captive orcas. Naomi Rose, who is a marine mammal biologist expert at the Animal Welfare Institute, returned to the podcast to give us the details on the propose Whale Sea-Side Sanctuary. If you want to know how the sanctuary will work, Listent.To.This.Episode! Join the Arbonne Blue Team http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue Instagram: @speakupforblue SUFB Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast SUFB Website: http://www.speakupforblue.com 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Nathan and I are finally here at the International Marine Conservation Congress where we will be networking with old and new colleagues, talking science, and interviewing scientists and conservationists who do everything they can to understand and protect the Ocean. We decided to talk about our first day at the conference and discuss the sessions we attended including how there was quite a bit of focus on social marketing for marine science and conservation. This focus was a bit of a surprise because you never hear about this type of work being presented at conferences. The common message of the talks were to choose a target audience and include emotion in messages to said target audience. Nathan wondered into a great session delegates were telling stories from the field on stage for other delegates and the public. It was quite interesting and entertaining. Our last session was to attend a poster session where there were over 50 poster presentations, along with food and drinks. It was a great way to engage with people from all over the world and talk about their projects. We plan on conducting some interviews throughout the week that we will be adding to our Interview Wednesdays for a while. It's a great way to meet new people! So stay tuned! Join the Arbonne Blue Team http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue Instagram: @speakupforblue SUFB Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast SUFB Website: http://www.speakupforblue.com 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Nathan and I are prepping for the International Marine Conservation Congress being held in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. We are super excited for this opportunity and were are looking forward to sharing all the wonderful things that we will learn at the conference. We will also introduce you to some people involved at the conference as well. Today, we are talking about the following BIG stories this: 1) Whales win big against Navy!; 2) New species of beaked whale discovered in Japan/Alaska; 3) The Vaquita will vanish if China's demand for Totoaba swim bladders continue 4) Seagrass, an important habitat for coral fishes and critters, are dying off in Indonesia due to harmful human activities; 5) Cosco Shipping, China's largest shipping company pledges to stop transporting shark fins from Hong Kong. Join the Arbonne Blue Team http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue Instagram: @speakupforblue SUFB Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast SUFB Website: http://www.speakupforblue.com 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Sea Turtles migrate great distances in every Ocean to complete their life cycle. They stop in different places to feed (forage) to refuel for the next leg of their amazing journey. There are some animals that literally hop on the sea turtle's backs (wow, that's lazy) and travel with them for the rest of their journey. These critters, or as we scientists call them: epibionts, can help researchers better conserve sea turtles. Barnacles, amphipods, diatoms and remoras are just some of the critters that tag along for the ride are able to tell researchers where the sea turtles have been hanging out during their voyage. Nathan Robinson is one of many researchers around the world participating in the project to help put the story of a sea turtle's journey together. Nathan can identify whether some sea turtles stay local throughout most of the year by the presence of barnacle, amphipod and other species on the backs of each individual sea turtle. I found this project to be so compelling because it can tell us some much about where the sea turtles go that I invited Nathan Robinson on the podcast to tell us all about the project and the potential research and conservation actions that can result from this larger project. Nathan has been on the podcast before, in fact, this is his 5th time on the podcast. Hi first time and third time on the podcast was to discuss his stories of pulling a plastic straw and plastic fork out of two individual Olive Ridley Sea Turtles. Nathan was actually conducting the field component for the epibiont project when he came across the sea turtles with the plastic items in their nasal cavities. Nathan tells us that he comes across turtles with other injuries, such as fish hooks in their mouths or on their bodies, and removes them as carefully as possible to free them of the pain, a bonus good feeling of providing direct help to sea turtles who need it. Listen to the podcast to find out more about this amazing project as Nathan and I geek out with some Marine Science. Join the Arbonne Blue Team http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue Instagram: @speakupforblue SUFB Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast SUFB Website: http://www.speakupforblue.com 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Marine Conservation Conferences are a huge part of working in the field of Marine Science and Conservation. Sure, there are was to connect with people online and make some great professional relationships; however, there is nothing like face to face conversations that really allow you to make a lasting impression on someone. I am preparing to go to the International Marine Conservation Congress in St. John's Newfoundland. It starts Saturday and I am hosting 2 workshops during the conference: One on how to build a career in Ocean Conservation and the other is how to start and grow a podcast in marine science. As I get closer to the flight date for the conference, I think about what I want to accomplish during my time in St. John's? Is there someone I would like to meet or is there a presentation I would really like to see? This week in really the time to make sure the goals that I set a while ago will be met. Tune into this episode to hear how I am planning for my conference and what I am expecting to get out of it. Join the Arbonne Blue Team http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue Instagram: @speakupforblue SUFB Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast SUFB Website: http://www.speakupforblue.com 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Nathan Johnson and I are back with another Ocean Talk Friday. Here are the stories that we are talking about today: 1) Dory has been captive bred!; 2) First Nations and Recreational Fishers fight over rights to fish; 3) There are some coral reefs that are doing better than expected; and, 4) How YOU can save the Ocean! Join the Arbonne Blue Team http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue Instagram: @speakupforblue SUFB Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast SUFB Website: http://www.speakupforblue.com 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Blackfish has caused a change in tide for the plight of captive marine mammals as the public is demanding for the release of Orcas and other marine mammals from captivity. Sea World was forced to stop its Orca shows, which had the whales do tricks in exchange for food and the entertainment of the crowd; however, they do not want to release the animals into their natural setting due to the wild being dangerous with pollutants and lack of food. As Sea World continues to deny the fact that these animals are better off in captivity, the National Aquarium of Baltimore announced that it will be releasing its 8 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins into sea pens in Florida or the Caribbean. This announcement flips the switch on releasing marine mammals back into the wild as I for one did not expect this conversation to progress into action. Releasing the animals won't be easy. Many of the individuals were born in captivity and are not used to fending for food. How do you teach a dolphin how to fend for itself? Does instinct kick in? Captive dolphins have been protected from predators, will they be able to avoid predators through instinct? There is also the debate of whether it's a good idea to release the animals vs keep them captive for their own good. Many people say it would be better that the captive marine mammals die in the wild trying to survive rather than suffer in captivity, secluded from their pods and kept from swimming 100s of kilometers per day. Take a listen to the podcast to hear Sea World's response to the National Aquarium of Baltimore's announcement. Instagram: @speakupforblue SUFB Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast SUFB Website: http://www.speakupforblue.com 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Drones are normally known for being used robots for destruction by the military as well as spying on other people. For the most part, people still think of drones as dangerous; however, that reputation is getting better as drones are being used for various business services. Real estate agents use drones for making videos of the properties for sale and videographers are taking spectacular videos of scenery and wildlife. Conservationists are using drones as a way to gather date on subjects where we couldn't get data before. Coastal areas, wetlands, swamps, bayous, salt marshes, rocky coastal areas and shallow coastal areas. We couldn't access them because they were impossible to get to without running the entire habitat. Drones are able to solve that problem by flying areas that were inaccessible to scientists previously. Conservation of these areas are critical, but we need to show people how much and how valuable these coastal habitats are to the oceans. There are so many drone applications for Marine Conservation that Andrew David Thaler, from SouthernFriedScience.com, wrote about at least 10 of them ranging from marine mammal monitoring to water quality sampling. The possibilities are endless and the limitations are few. Listen to the podcast to find out what Drones can do for Marine Conservation. Instagram: @speakupforblue SUFB Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast SUFB Website: http://www.speakupforblue.com 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Ocean Talk Friday is BACK! I am happy to say that Nathan and I were finally able to free up some of busy time to reunite for another wonderful episode! Today we discuss the following stories: 1) An Increase in Humpback Whale Sightings (Yay! But why?); 2) Ray Hilborn makes us think about how Fisheries Managers and Biodiversity Manager need to talk; 3) Do Lobsters live forever?; and, 4) Can you put a price tag on nature? By the way, check us out on Instagram and find out why we had 50 followers in 2 days. Let's build an online blue nation! Instagram: @speakupforblue SUFB Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast SUFB Website: http://www.speakupforblue.com 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Arctic Ocean animals such as the Polar Bear, Beluga whale, Narwhal whale and the Bowhead whale are some of the iconic species that are at high risk of being affected by Climate Change. These animals and their habitats are the exact reason why Susan R. Eaton, who was named one of Canada's top 25 Greatest Canadian Explorers by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, is leading an expedition of 12 women to the Arctic Ocean, called the SEDNA Epic Expedition. The team plans to SCUBA dive and Snorkel its was through the Northwest Passage documenting their trip and interactions with animals at every point. They also plan to do a 3000 km snorkel all the way through the passage, 24/7 to complete a world record. During their travels, the all women team plans to engage with the local Inuit and Inuvialuit communities and bring 12 girls on board with them to participate in the expedition learning how you snorkel, SCUBA and handle the remote operated vehicles (ROV) the will use to explore the habitats of the Arctic Ocean. Listen to the episode to find out why Susan chose an all female team to go on the epic journey with her and find out how she became a full time snorkeler, and prefers it for her interactions with ocean animals. SUFB Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast SUFB Website: http://www.speakupforblue.com 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you something about why I started and continue to pursue Speak Up For Blue. In 2010, the BP oil spill had devastated the Gulf of Mexico and anything in the path of the oil and the chemical used to disperse the oil. A number of marine biologists, advocates and conservationists flew down to the Gulf to show people what was happening. They dispersed the images through their social media networks like Facebook and Twitter. I saw how people reacted to the stories and I knew it made a difference. That summer I went to 2 conferences: 1 in the US and 1 in Canada. Both conferences were about how we can better protect the Ocean and both conferences concluded that scientists, advocates, conservationists and anyone else who gave a damn about the Ocean needed to do a better job at reaching the public because it was the public who can cause change. I started Speak Up For Blue 6 months later. Speak Up For Blue is based on changing the way we live to protect the Ocean. All of the things we do to harm the Ocean can be prevented by doing small changes to our lifestyle. It will take many people to effect change as they change their lifestyles, but I feel that over the past 5 years, people are moving towards changing their lifestyles by first changing things at home such as using less plastic, eating better and using healthier products that are better for themselves and the Environment, including the Ocean. Over the past 5 years, I have been busting my butt to educate you on what is happening in the Ocean and how we can change to implement solutions. During that time, I have been doing research on offering you a line(s) of products that would help you in that process. It wasn't easy, but I finally found a line of health and wellness products that is good for you and the Ocean. The line of products is called Arbonne. Arbonne is a European-based company which sells products in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Poland with plans to expand in more countries. I decided that Speak Up For Blue will become an independent consultant for Arbonne because I feel that this community is ready for these products that are good for your health and the environment. I want you to know that I would not be offering this product to you without also becoming a customer and trying out most of the things that I want to offer this community. I have been using many of the nutrition products for the last few weeks and some of the men's line (shaving cream and lotions). I wanted to ensure that I wanted this products for myself and my family. My point of selling Arbonne products is not to just generate revenue, but to generate revenue for ocean conservation. 10% of the revenue that I generate will go towards supporting Ocean Conservation and I promise to be absolutely transparent about it. The other portion of the revenue will go back into Speak Up For Blue to continue to support the Ocean Conservation Community through raising awareness of what is happening in the Ocean via our podcast, You Tube channel and other programs that will are bring forth in the near future. Arbonne is providing Speak Up For Blue with the fuel to protect the Ocean. You, through your purchases, are providing the fuel to support Ocean Conservation AND you are getting healthy products that are good for you, your family and the ocean! I want to be open and transparent with this process so I would like to answer any and all of your questions about Arbonne and the future of Speak Up For Blue. Please feel free to ask your question(s) in the comments below. I am proud to present a line of products that are not only good for you and the environment AND will be the fuel to help me further protect the Ocean! SUFB Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast SUFB Website: http://www.speakupforblue.com 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

When I was a kid, I always dreamed of going on an adventure as an explorer/marine biologist under water via SCUBA diving to discover new species and habitats and speak to the world...underwater. The imagination of a kid is amazing, right? I never thought it would happen until I came across one of the craziest stories I've ever read. There was a guy, a Canadian guy, who was going to defend his Masters thesis...UNDERWATER! How the hell was he going to do that? And why didn't I do that?!?!? Mike Irvine was that guy and he successfully defended his Masters thesis with his unprecedented method. He continues to speak to people underwater about the ocean and its species and habitats and recently broke another barrier by presenting an Oceans Day live dive in an IMAX theatre (my mind = BLOWN!). I got to chat with Mike on this episode of the Speak Up For Blue Podcast. Mike is a passionate guy who really enjoys teaching people about the Ocean and reconnecting them with the underwater. So much so that people are inspiring to dive to do their own exploration of the Ocean! Enjoy the podcast! SUFB Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast SUFB Website: http://www.speakupforblue.com 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

We all know the Government of Florida is the not most eco-friendly. Governor Rick Scott has mandated his staff to not say the terms "climate change" and "global warming" and now, due to his bad policy for taking away nutrient limitation, he has helped the worst environmental disaster in Florida's history! Lake Okeechobee receives nutrients from inputs such as Agriculture, Sugar companies and residential developments. It used to overflow in the spring and the run off would flow into the everglades to feed the habitats and build them up. However, Big Sugar companies wanted to buy the land south of the lake where the water would flow before it reached the everglades. The water is now diverted to the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean to avoid the water running into the sugar plantations. The everglades do not have the chance to absorb the nutrients before they hit the coast; therefore, algae blooms form along the rivers and become toxic as they are broken down in the water. The result means health problems for the local communities and loss to the local economy. Big Sugar still makes millions, which part of that money goes to fuel the campaigns for the Governor and Florida Senator Mark Rubio. We cannot allow big business to run our States, our environment, our health and our economy. It's time to SPEAK UP! and tell our government representatives who represent us to start working for us! SUFB Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast SUFB Website: http://www.speakupforblue.com 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

I've been watching Shark Week 2016 all week and reviewing an episode per day. Tonight, I will be reviewing the episode called "Air Jaws" because it's Great White Sharks leaping out of the water after seals and there is actually some science behind it. In the Air Jaws Episode, it seemed different then in the past as it focused on answering a number of questions related to the hinting strategies of the ultimate predator, the Great White Shark, at Seal Island, South Africa. The researchers asked questions such as "Do White Sharks hunt through vision or vibrations?" and "How do the White Shark Prey avoid their ambush predators?" The episode uses some great technology to detect White Sharks and their Seal prey in the pitch black of the dark night. Check out my review that I recorded on Facebook Live this time. SUFB Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast SUFB Website: http://www.speakupforblue.com 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Shark Week 2016 Marine Biologists Greg Stuntz, Matt Ajemain and professional Shark Tagger Keith Poe try to catch and tag a large Mako Shark called a Grander to find out how these animals behave and predate in the Ocean. there were two studies trying to locate and document movements and feeding behaviour of grander mako sharks, one on the California Coast and the other on the New England Coast. It was difficult to tell if both research teams were successful in locating a grander mako; however, one of the teams was not only able to locate one, but they were able to tag it and attach a front and back facing video instrument on the shark to document it's movement and behaviour. It was interesting to note that the large mako grander sharks would stay in the deep sea during the day and come to the surface to feed at night on crabs no less. Was this crab prey a normal meal for these large sharks or was this just something in the way that looked appetizing. Only more research will be able to answer that question! SUFB Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast SUFB Website: http://www.speakupforblue.com 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Shark Week: Day 2 follows 2 story lines of shark predators and their feeding behaviour that was believed to take place predominantly in the deep ocean; however, recent sightings make shark researchers think that the Great White Shark in Guadeloupe and the Hammer Head Shark in Bimini, Bahamas are hunting is shallow water. The episode determines why they are observing this behaviour. SUFB Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast SUFB Website: http://www.speakupforblue.com 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Shark Week 2016 has begun and discovery Channel is kicking it off with a great episode from University of Miami's Shark Researcher, Dr. Neil Hammershlag, who is trying to answer the question: "Why are there so many Tiger Sharks at Tiger Beach, Bahamas?" Listen in to heat about what Nathan and I thought about the first episode for Shark Week in 2016. Neil's Lab: http://www.sharktagging.com Ocean ARCH: http://www.ocearch.org/ Neil's Interview with Speak Up for Blue Shark Week 2015: http://www.speakupforblue.com/sharkweek2 Speak Up For Blue Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast

Nathan and I are back for another wonderful Ocean Talk Friday on the Speak Up For Blue Podcast! It's an exciting episode because we are on the cusp of Discovery Channel's 2016 Shark Week with a promise for the network of a more science-based program schedule. Last year, Discovery was under fire as it aired a number of fictional "mocumentaries" during it's 2014 schedule, which angered many people and critics were quick to demand for changes to programming to shift from fear based content to more interest based content. In 2015, the network hired a new President who vowed to bring back the Shark Week that we know and love and was reflected to a certain degree in the 2015 content. This year is looking even better with interesting content scheduled that documents researcher's studies on how sharks move and where are their important habitats. Nathan and I describe which shows we are looking forward to as well as other stories that came up this week, including: 1) Oceana - Canada provide a dismal report on Canada's current state of fisheries, but offer hope!; 2) All About Shark Week!; 3) How organic pollutants are harming apex predators; and, 4) Are aquariums teaching out children the wrong thing? 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Will Finding Dory cause more people to want a "Dory", the Royal Blue Tang, in their aquariums? That is what Ret Talbot is going to help us answer today on this episode of the Speak Up For Blue Podcast. Ret is a fisheries and sustainability journalist who has taken in interest in covering the issues in the Ornamental Fishing Industry. During our discussion, Ret reveals that data for this industry id deficient making it difficult to manage the fishery. He also reveals that the Royal Blue Tangs are all wild caught and many are caught using cyanide, which harms coral reef habitats. Our discussion calls for a Certification body that will regulate the Ornamental Fishing Agency made up of collectors, exporters/importers, retailers, scientists, and hobbyists to ensure that the industry is sustainable. This is an episode you do not want to miss. 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

I was very busy this past week, which is why I was only able to post all 3 episodes. I was able to post Ocean Talk Friday with Nathan, so we were still able to provide you with some great content. I wanted to take this episode to talk to you about how Marine Conservation really works because of two things that happened to me last week that I feel are extremely important to address with regards to Marine Conservation. The first has to do with a conference that I attended and helped organized called the Coastal Zone Canada Conference. I was able to meet a lot of people that work to conserve coastlines and zones and learn about the importance of communication among scientists and the public. The second event that inspired me to record this episode was an online debate that happened the day i recorded this episode. The debate has to do with the movie "Finding Dory" and the potential increase in pressure of people who want Royal Blue Tangs, the fish species of the Dory character. I am all about discussing facts to help the Conservation of Marine Species; however, there are certain people who are so passionate that they don't let anyone else have an opinion unless they are in agreement with them. Marine Conservation is about people coming together to manage the Oceans, not bullying people into trying to agreement. Take a listen to the podcast to find out how Marine Conservation can be successful. 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Welcome back to Ocean Talk Friday. I apologize that this episode is the only one for this week. I was at a Conference that I will be speaking about in one of the episodes for next week.So more on that next week. I was lucky enough this week to have Nathan join me again and we discussed Oceans Day, again. It's a big day and lots of things to discuss. Here is a list of articles that we discussed: Shell gives lease plots back to Canada to expand a Marine Protected Area; 5 Ocean Heroes that are doing great things for the Oceans; Invertebrate larvae are settling based on surroundings; and, China plans to create a Sea Lab 10,000 feet under the sea. 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

On this episode of Ocean Talk Friday, Nathan Johnson and I talk about World Oceans Day and how the Ocean affects us all. Every other breath you take is thanks to the Ocean providing us with Oxygen. We need to change the way we treat our Oceans by changing the way we go about our daily lives. We need to change the products we consume, the plastics we make and buy that get thrown away and end up in the Ocean killing hundreds of thousands of animals. It's not difficult, it's just a matter of doing the research. You already have a step up compared to the rest of the world because you listen to this podcast and educate yourself 3 times per week on the Ocean, its issues and the solutions to reduce/eliminate those issues. I wish you a very happy World Oceans Day and I hope that you stick with us 365 days per year so we can change the world together and make it a better place for the next generation. 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

The Australian Government once again overreacted to a shark bite incident last week after a surfer was bitten by a Great White Shark and later died from his injuries. The father of the surfer made a statement to the press expressing his disatisfaction with the choice of the government to cull (hunt) Great White Sharks and other large sharks as he said his son, Ben, would not want any shark killed due to him. I decided to do a quick search for science literature to find any articles on the ideas that sharks can be "rogue", i.e. once a shark bites a human that it would bite another human again. That would justify the killing of a shark. Only problem is: There is no science that justifies the existence of a "rogue" shark; and, Sharks do work that way. During this episode of the podcast, I describe how the idea of a rogue shark came to be and how it inspired the novel and movie "Jaws", which has perpetuated human fear of sharks. 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

A colleague of mine and the Facebook Group Manager of the Citizen Scientist for the Oceans group posted a couple of articles about Marine Conservation and Marine Protected Areas. In each article, the topic was how Marine Protected Areas were not as successful because they couldn't protect against 2 things: Local stakeholders (shark fishermen) who didn't have alternative livings to take care of their families; and, Couldn't protect coral reef habitats in the most complex and largest multi-use marine protected areas in the world from sea surface temperature increased- coral bleaching (due to climate change). MPAs work for that they are designed to do, protect habitats from human uses such as over fishing, tourism, oil and gas drilling, and mining. It does not protect against bad water quality (nutrients and sedimentation) and climate change. Listen to the podcast as to why this is so and what we need to do about it. 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

It's unfair that Harambe got shot because a 4 year old boy ended up in the Gorilla Pen and Harambe got a hold of him. Was he protecting the boy? Was he scared of the crowd and that is why he dragged the boy through the water trying to intimidate the crowd? Was was the boy allowed to get in the pen in the first place? Where were the parents? Killing Harambe was a tragic event from a messed up situation. What people need to do is stop focusing on writing death threats to the mother (by the way, why aren't people after the father too?) and focus their energy on learning about the species and how to better conserve them. I detail the events lead up to getting Harambe shot and what questions we need to ask to better protect zoo animals and humans (mostly from ourselves). I also describe the reason why this Lowland Western Gorilla is considered critically endangered by the IUCN. 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Last week, I recorded and posted a podcast episode (http://www.seapkupforblue.com/session162) about the upcoming move Finding Dori. In that episode, I quoted some excerpts from a Washington Post article which took information off the website of a non-profit organization that misrepresented data. This means that I helped spread the misrepresented data as well. I didn't do it on purpose. I just didn't do my due diligence and complete my checks on the organization to make sure the information stated in the article was true. I wasn't a good scientist at all! I found out that the organization was misrepresenting data in a Facebook post thread where a fisheries journalist and an expert in the field of ornamental fish called me out on what I did. I was angry at first for being called out, but I soon realized that I made a mistake because I didn't represent the true science. Well, I did some background research and I recorded what I learned on the podcast to give you the right information. Take a listen to hear the truth. 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Welcome back to another Ocean Talk Friday with myself, Andrew Lewin, and Nathan Johnson. There were some great, powerful stories out this week that we just had to talk about. Here they are: Study finds 5% of organizations get majority of the Funding and it hasn't been affective; Cephalopod populations have been on the rise since the 1950s in the face of a changing Ocean; A brewing company designed a six pack ring that is edible and biodegrable...it can save the Ocean Animals that eat it; and, Mexican Cartels are smuggling cocaine in the swim bladders of the endangered totoaba fish. The fish is caught using gill nets that also catch the nearly extinct vaquita (less than 100 individuals left). Listen to the podcast to find out all the details. 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Travelling is always difficult. You have to find a place to stay that is worth the money you pay, you want good food, you want a nice beach, you want great culture, and you want to friendly people. After you have all of that, you want to make sure you are protecting the Ocean and the Environment in general. That's a problem...that's always a problem because there is very little information on how to travel for ecotourism. Until now...Ecophiles is a website run by Namrata and Mitali, two long time friends and journalists who share a love of travel. They run the website to help fellow travellers travel free of worry about impacting the ocean and the environment. Take a listen to the podcast to hear their story. 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

I can't wait for the Sequel to Find Nemo entitled "Finding Dori." It's a great set of movies that are entertaining and full of marine conservation messages. However, Finding Nemo caused a bit of a surprised effect on will populations of Clownfish (the species of the Nemo and his father). Everyone wanted Nemo in their tanks at home. Currently, 1,000,000 clownfish are plucked out of the sea and exported around the world causing local extinctions in parts of the Philippines, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. Conservationists are now worried about the impact of Finding Dory on the Royal Blue Tang populations (the species of Dori) as the species are not captive-bred like the clownfish and are harder to care for in a saltwater aquarium setting. Karen Burke da Silva, associate professor at Flinders University in South Australia co-found the Saving Nemo Conservation Fund to help raise awareness of the pressure the Clownfish faces and avoid the same plight of the blue tang. There is a campaign to get Ellen DeGeneres' attention on the matter (she plays the voice of Dory and is a strong Ocean Advocate), to raise awareness of the impact on collecting this beautiful species can have on its population around the world. Check out the podcast for more information on how you can help using the hashtag #fishkiss4Nemo. 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

There were a number of articles that we could talk about this week, but Nathan and I narrowed it down to 4 important topics for Ocean Talk Friday: Alternative Fisheries Management Necessary; Greenpeace goes after a prominent Fisheries Professor (a little petty if you ask us!); Shell spills oil in the Gulf of Mexico near Louisiana and no one is talking about it; and, Palau increases its No-Take Marine Protected Area coverage from 20% to 80% to support sustainable diving industry. 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

I am so happy to be bale to provide this interview for you with Jillian Morris. She is a great biologist, videographer, educator and conservationist. Jillian tells us how she got to where she is today from childhood playtime in the ocean and seeing her first in-person shark when she was 8 to filming them at close range to change the perspective of shark behaviour in kids all over the worlds. We also discuss how she started Sharks 4 Kids and how she teaches different age groups about sharks. 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Mossel Bay in South Africa is facing a surge of long lining. Last Thursday I was contacted by a representative from Keep Fins Alive who was concerned of an increase in fishing pressure from long lining vessels from Eastern Cape. Keep Fins Alive (KFA) stated that the vessels have over-fished the demersal fish population in their bay and now are spending a lot of money in gas to travel to Mossel Bay to exploit its demersal fish population. Demersal shark fishing via long lining is legal, but it is required by the state Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries to be monitored. Unfortunately, this is not happening at the moment and the fishing vessels are allowed to fish without oversight. The lack of oversight can mean big trouble for Mossel Bay and action needs to be taken. Listen to the episode to find out why you should sign the petition and ensure the Government makes good on its monitoring mandate. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/817/781/781/petition-against-inshore-demersal-shark-longline-fishery/ 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Did I ever tell you that this is my favourite day of the week? We have another episode of Ocean Talk Friday with myself, Andrew Lewin, and Nathan Johnson. We choose 4-5 articles that we feel made a big impact this past week and talk about them, their science and their conservation implications. Today we discussed the following: 1) The resurgence of the Ross Sea MPA proposal; 2) Mussels smell before they settle; 3) Mussels battling Ocean Acidification with Food; 4) Researchers find out more about the Sea Star Wasting Disease; and, 5) 5 Pacific Islands disappear into the Ocean due to Climate Change. Speak Up For Blue TV: http://bit.ly/sufbtele Support the Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Shop for the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/shop 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf Show Notes: http://www.speakupforblue.com/session158

I came across an article a few hours ago that talked about a research project that observed how 5 islands within the chain of Solomon Islands were swallowed up by the sea. Luckily, these small islands were not inhabited by humans; however, the study also found 6 more islands had lost swaths of land to the sea where some villages were destroyed and had to move to a different place. They moved from an island where their family had lived for generations. I can't imagine how devastating that would be for a family to pick up and move from a place they called home. I was inspired by this article, as depressing as it is, to discuss the issue of sea level rise on this episode because I find people don't take it seriously. It's obviously a serious problem as more islands are facing a similar fate. I cover why sea level is a problem and how/why it's affecting these small islands. I also talk about how we need to work together, globally, as a species to combat climate change and help each other adapt to its consequences. Speak Up For Blue TV: http://bit.ly/sufbtele Support the Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Shop for the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/shop 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf Show Notes: http://www.speakupforblue.com/session157

My family and I went on an All-Inclusive Vacation to Cuba! Yes, I am Canadian and I can travel to Cuba! I have to admit, I am not a fan of going to an All-Inclusive because of all the bad stuff that is associated with big resorts: The building of the resort often destroys the coastal environment for a pristine landscape that people expect (what they see in a magazine); The waste that happens at the resort with food and garbage; and, The local reefs and environment suffer at the hands of tourism for the masses. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the three assumptions above were not true...well mostly. I tell you how the resort and Cuba made it possible to have a great resort(s) and have a healthy environment. Speak Up For Blue TV: http://bit.ly/sufbtele Support the Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Shop for the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/shop 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf Show Notes: http://www.speakupforblue.com/session156

I recently heard about an initiative on the radio of the Government of Ontario trying to cut emissions through a very aggressive plan that was to be complete by 2050. they wanted to set up a committee that would over see the "greening" of Ontario from electric cars to zero emission buildings to 80% of the population taking public transit; cycling; or, walking to work. I like some parts of the plan, but people who called into the radio station where I first heard about this plan were not too pleased. Take a listen to the podcast to find out why and what we can do about it. Speak Up For Blue TV: http://bit.ly/sufbtele Support the Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Shop for the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/shop 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf Show Notes: http://www.speakupforblue.com/session155

I figured it was time that you got to know the co-host of Ocean Talk Friday, Nathan Johnson. He is the guy who has written 99% of the articles of Speak Up for Blue (SUFB) for the past 8 months and has done a great job. He will now be focusing most of his time on developing the content for the SUFB Digital Magazine to reach more people with an Ocean Conservation message on this different platform. Did you know that aside from working tirelessly on SUFB content, Nathan has a full time day job at Artist Boat as the Habitat & Stewardship Manager? He is responsible for managing the species inventory on a 500+ Acre property owned by Artist Boat and educates the public on the species diversity within the property on various nature tours. Join me as I pepper Nathan with questions about his day job and how he got into Marine Conservation. Speak Up For Blue TV: http://bit.ly/sufbtele Support the Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Shop for the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/shop 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf Show Notes: http://www.speakupforblue.com/session154

Today, I decided to pull the curtain back and let you in on the future plans of this company I call Speak Up For Blue (SUFB). I started SUFB without any real plans. In fact, I didn't even know how long I would be spreading Ocean News with an Ocean Conservation Message. The website turned into a company and there is so much I want to do with SUFB. We will be offering so much content on different platforms in the near future that everyone will be able to consume Ocean Conservation information via podcasts, You Tube, digital magazine and of course, our website. One of the other items that we will be offering that is really exciting in the fact that we are opening the SUFB Institute for Marine Science and Conservation. Take a listen to the episode for more details! Speak Up For Blue TV: http://bit.ly/sufbtele Support the Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Shop for the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/shop 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf Show Notes: http://www.speakupforblue.com/session153

Nathan and I get together once again to chat about the important articles of the week. We discuss the following: 1) Glow in the dark shark species; 2) A new UN Ocean Treaty: Do we really need one (Spoiler alert: YES!); 3) Zombie Crabs (Yep...you read that right!); 4) The competitive edge of algae over corals; and, 5) A recycling project to help the Oceans and other charitable causes. Speak Up For Blue TV: http://bit.ly/sufbtele Support the Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Shop for the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/shop 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf Show Notes: http://www.speakupforblue.com/session152

It's the article you don't want to read. I came across this article and saw three tiny baby Sea Lions in a cage travelling to the Pacific Marine Mammal Centre to get the care they need after being stranded due to malnutrition. The Problem? Their mother's cannot produce the amount of milk necessary to feed them enough to grow the fat they need to survive in the cool waters of the Pacific Ocean. Climate Change is thought to be one of the culprits of this malnutrition as it is forcing the sea lion's prey species to move North into cooler waters. In addition, the sea lion's favourite prey, the sardine, has undergone a collapse in population in 2012 due to over fishing. What will happen to the Sea Lion babies that I saw in the article's image? The Pacific Marine Mammal Centre will bring them back to health, but will eventually have to release them and that is a problem. Lack of food source and rapidly changing waters cannot be good for this sea lion population. I do have a solution for the government. Take a listen to the podcast to find out what that solution is and let me know if you agree. Speak Up For Blue TV: http://bit.ly/sufbtele Support the Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Shop for the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/shop 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf Show Notes: http://www.speakupforblue.com/session150

The discovery of a long 600 mile long coral reef at the mouth of the Amazon River has really changed the way I think about reefs. Coral reefs are normally found in tropical shallow oceans with a narrow range of habitat parameters including temperature, pH, salinity, and others. They also rely on invertebrate and fish associated species to graze on algae that could over grow on to corals and smother them. The newly discovered reef at the mouth of the Amazon River at situated below the muddy water discharged from the massive river. So how can these sponges, corals, and other reef structures survive in a place that is under a layer of muddy freshwater? That is what researchers will gladly answer with more research. The problem is that the reef is not safe as the Brazilian Government has sold 80 block to oil companies for exploration and drilling, 20 of the blocks are already producing oil. Oh, by the way, the blocks are located on top of the reefs. GREAT!!! We just discovered this unique reef that might help us figure out how to save other reefs and we might already be destroying them. What will happen with the new reefs and the drilling? Who knows. the government could halt the drilling to save the reefs, but will they opt for the oil money instead? Only time will tell and perhaps the voices of the Speak Up For Blue community. Speak Up For Blue TV: http://bit.ly/sufbtele Support the Podcast:http://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Shop for the Ocean:http://www.speakupforblue.com/shop 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean:http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf Show Notes:http://www.speakupforblue.com/session150

This week's Ocean Talk Friday took place on Skype as our Blab site is having some buggy problems. Hopefully, Blab will be able to solve the problem and we will get last week's recording back. In today's Ocean Talk Friday, Nathan and I discuss the following: 1) The National Aquarium's 48 days of blue; 2) National Geographic's Pristine Ocean Project to Inspire Better Protection of Oceans; 3) Profiling the CEO of the National Aquarium doing "Right Work"; and, 4) A Robotic Sea Snake...yup, you read that right! It's pretty cool! Speak Up For Blue TV:http://bit.ly/sufbtele Support the Podcast:http://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Shop for the Ocean:http://www.speakupforblue.com/shop 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean:http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf Show Notes:http://www.speakupforblue.com/session145

There are two projects out there that the mainstream media is riding the wave right now and it's claiming that their projects are going to save us form our own wasteful ways. One of the projects is called the Ocean Clean Up Project started by Boyan Slant, a 19-year old boy who says he can clean up the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre in less than 10 years. The other project is called the Seabin and it could help clean up small areas along the shore; however, the media is saying that it could clean up the Ocean (according to the headline anyway). There has been some criticism from Scientists (as we scientists do) of the Ocean Clean Up Project, where they point out flaws in the design and environmental and legal consequences of the structure. The Seabin looks like it can clean up small areas such as marinas or coasts, but there would have to be many Seabins purchased to do a mare clean up of the coast along any shoreline. In this episode, I chat about the problem of plastic pollution; I describe the two projects; and, I mention some poplar ways you can save the environment for itself. Speak Up For Blue TV: http://bit.ly/sufbtele Support the Podcast:http://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Shop for the Ocean:http://www.speakupforblue.com/shop 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean:http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf Show Notes:http://www.speakupforblue.com/session148

SCUBA divers quickly become great Ocean Conservationists because they see, first hand, how the Ocean gets degraded over time as they are in the water. Many divers become strong advocates for conserving specific areas in the Ocean where they love to dive. Others start/participate in Citizen Science projects to help Ocean Scientists better understand the Ocean. In today's episode, I cover all sorts of SCUBA diving stories from the Ocean on how divers can do better in protecting the environment and help out in Conservation. Speak Up For Blue TV:http://bit.ly/sufbtele Support the Podcast:http://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Shop for the Ocean:http://www.speakupforblue.com/shop 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean:http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf Show Notes:http://www.speakupforblue.com/session147

Oceana revealed that much of the Seafood Retailers are mislabelling their products causing a mistrust with their customers. This issue adds to an already long list of problems riddled throughout the industry. In today's episode, I go over all of the problems in the Seafood industry and where we sit with eating seafood. Support the Podcast:http://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Shop for the Ocean:http://www.speakupforblue.com/shop 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean:http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf Show Notes:http://www.speakupforblue.com/session141

Dr. Stephen Dunbar and PhD student Dustin Baumbach are researching Sea Turtles in Honduras, where 9 years ago, not much was known about these iconic species (Hawksbill and Green Sea Turtles). In addition to their research, Stephen started a non-profit charity to facilitate his work with the local community and brought on other faculty at Loma Linda University that specialized in public health. The added services made PROTECTOR a social enterprise as it helped the local community with health, education, and livelihoods. Speak Up For Blue TV: http://bit.ly/sufbtele Support the Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Shop for the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/shop 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf Show Notes: http://www.speakupforblue.com/session145

Nathan and I talk about 4 Ocean Conservation articles that we thought were important:1) Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation gives $1 million to Seychelles as part of their Blue Bond System;2) Marine Scientists determine global marine protected areas should be at 30% of ocean area;3) Remote coral reefs thrive in the face of climate change; and,4) DNA studies show connectivity of deep sea species among hydrothermal vents. Support the Podcast:http://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Shop for the Ocean:http://www.speakupforblue.com/shop 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean:http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf Show Notes:http://www.speakupforblue.com/session138

Interview Wednesdays are back! Today with have former pro surfer James Pribram who is the ultimate Eco Warrior. From joining a protest in Chile to running from the Japanese police for protesting the Cove, James is now back home at Laguna Beach, California fighting to clean his local beaches with his community. Check out this exciting interview! Support the Podcast:http://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Shop for the Ocean:http://www.speakupforblue.com/shop 10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean:http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf Show Notes:http://www.speakupforblue.com/session127