18: Our Incredible Oceans: The Beauty, Wonder, and Urgency of Marine Conservation with Dr. Brock Bergseth

Our oceans are vast, teeming with life, and critical to the health of our planet—but they’re also under increasing pressure from human activity and climate change. In this episode of People & Planet, I sit down with Dr. Brock Bergseth, an award-winning marine biologist and conservation psychologist, to explore the beauty, resilience, and challenges facing our oceans today.

Dr. Brock Bergseth tackles some of the most pressing issues facing our oceans, including overfishing, illegal fishing, and poaching. For the past 13 years, his work has focused on understanding and shaping how people interact with coral reef ecosystems, with the ultimate goal of strengthening protection measures and reducing conflicts between humans and nature. 

As humanity’s footprint continues to expand, public sentiment toward conservation has increasingly shifted toward negativity and despondency—ironically, at a time when many positive trends and scalable solutions are emerging. In response to this, Brock is currently finishing his first pop science book, Wild Hope, a story centered on optimism for our planet’s future, aimed at shifting the narrative away from doom and gloom. I hope you enjoy this conversation.

From his years studying coral reefs on the Great Barrier Reef to his work tackling overfishing and illegal fishing, Dr. Bergseth shares his unique insights into marine conservation, the impact of climate change, and why hope remains for the future of our oceans.

Key Themes & Takeaways:

• The State of Our Oceans Today: Dr. Brock Bergseth explains how climate change, pollution, and human activities have accelerated the decline of marine ecosystems. Despite these challenges, many ocean environments are remarkably resilient and can recover if given the right conditions and protections.
• The Beauty and Complexity of Marine Life: From sharks engaging in cooperative hunting to parrotfish creating beaches from their waste, Dr. Bergseth shares fascinating insights into the intricate behaviors of marine species. Understanding these interactions helps highlight the importance of maintaining ecosystem balance.
• Climate Change and Its Impact on Marine Ecosystems: Rising ocean temperatures, acidification, and extreme weather events are drastically altering marine habitats. Coral bleaching, shifting fish populations, and changes in ocean currents are already impacting biodiversity, fisheries, and coastal communities worldwide.
• Overfishing and the Threat of Illegal Fishing: Unsustainable fishing practices are depleting fish stocks at an alarming rate, threatening food security and marine biodiversity. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing continues to be a major challenge, but policy changes, consumer awareness, and technology-driven monitoring are offering solutions.
• Innovative Conservation Strategies and Solutions: Advances in marine conservation, such as satellite tracking for illegal fishing, AI-powered monitoring, and marine protected areas (MPAs), are proving to be effective tools in restoring fish populations and protecting fragile ecosystems. These solutions highlight the power of science and policy working together.
• How Individuals Can Make a Difference: Small, everyday choices—such as choosing sustainably sourced seafood, reducing plastic consumption, supporting marine conservation efforts, and spreading awareness—can collectively create a meaningful impact. Dr. Bergseth emphasizes that individual actions, when multiplied, can lead to large-scale positive change for our oceans.

We talk about:

• 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Brock Bergseth
• 01:41 Discussing the Great Barrier Reef's Health
• 02:54 Understanding Coral Bleaching
• 07:40 Special Memories on the Great Barrier Reef
• 15:01 Unusual Marine Life Behaviors
• 26:05 The Life of a Marine Biologist
• 30:41 Climate Change and Ocean Conservation
• 31:59 The Ocean's Role in Climate Regulation
• 33:50 Impact of Climate Change on Oceans
• 36:46 Global Climate Change and Oceans
• 38:44 Human Impact on Marine Life
• 39:32 The Importance of Sustainable Fisheries
• 42:56 The Largest Organism on Earth
• 46:05 Innovations in Ocean Conservation
• 47:36 The Power of Social Media in Conservation
• 52:35 Advice for Ocean Co