Speak Up For The Ocean Blue
Episodes
A Waterfront City project in a city in Indonesia is threatening the livelihoods of the local fishing community as the project may destroy important fish habitat and cause the coastal area to be more choppy that has damaged their boats already.
Link To Article: https://news.mongabay.com/2020/07/indonesian-fishers-face-livelihood-threat-from-beautiful-tourism-project/
Do you think the Indonesian Government will allow more protests b...
Coral Reefs have gone through some big changes over the past 50-60 years and Scientists are worried that today's generation of scientists will have a different perception of what a coral reef will looks like, which will be different from the past.
A group of scientists decided to ask a number of coral reef scientists that work in and around the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to see if Shifting Baseline Syndrome existed...
The Endangered Species Act is a successful act that protects a diverse array of plants and animals across the US; however, the US Government wants to roll back the protections by limiting the term habitat to make it difficult to protect species.
Link To Article: https://www.nrdc.org/experts/nrdc/thousands-species-brink-trump-administration-moves-further-dismantle-endangered-species
There are 260 Fishing vessels lining up along the border of the Galapagos Marine Reserve ready to poach fish just like a similar incident in 2017 where 300 tonnes of fish were found on a Chinese fishing vessel (most of the fish species were sharks). This is not the first time illegal fishing has happened. I name some other incidents that have happened in other countries.
Link To Article: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america...
There is nothing like dreaming to become a Marine Biologist. I never stopped thinking about the types of careers I would have in Marine Biology when I was in High School (it was a bit of an obsession). However, if I were to do it all over again, would I change anything I did to get to where I am today? You betchya!!!
This episode covers all the advice I would give to High School Students who want to become Marine Biologists.
July 26th was the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, so it makes sense that Mangroves are the topic for today's episode.
In the year 2000, the longest-lived cyclone destroyed over 400 hectares of mangroves that were crucial to the livelihoods of the people of Xai-Xai, Mozambique. The restoration has been ongoing since and it has its challenges.
Link to Article: https://allafrica.com/stories/20200...
Dr. Stephanie Schuttler joins me on the podcast to discuss the factors we need to consider when searching for a job in Conservation.
Stephanie's Links:
Website: https://www.stephanieschuttler.com/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7KlOYUv8lxU3MG4sfxaLzA
Podcast: https://www.stephanieschuttler.com/category/podcast/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fancy_scientist/
I cover a great article that tells the story of how Inupiat communities are adapting to Climate Change in the Arctic by using various technologies that provide safer hunts and help build the proper infrastructure to the communities.
Above all, the article shows how the Inupiat people want to be respected and treated like others when companies and governments use their land to extract resources such as oil.
Link to Article: https:...
As the past couple of episodes have dealt with the topics of colonialism in Marine Science and Conservation, they got me thinking about how we could begin to be more inclusive. Obviously, inclusion and equity cannot be solved overnight and I am constantly learning about how colonialism and social justice issues are affecting various communities on a daily basis.
However, as a Science Communicator, I started to think about my podca...
Dr. Scarlett Smash joins me in the podcast today to discuss her new podcast called The Guide To Mindful Conservation: Dancing In Pink Hiking Boots. The podcast covers topics that involve becoming happy within the field of Conservation and being a better person.
Smash talks about how her life led her to launch the podcast and the tough types of conversations she has on the podcast to better the conservation field and life, in gener...
I am doing my best to learn how Marine Conservation can become more diverse and equal and provide that information to you. Over the past week, two pieces of content have really inspired me to think better as a Marine Conservationist.
The first piece of content was a short documentary called "Big Ocean Islands" which dove into the many issues facing pacific Island Communities that stemmed back to the 1940s when the US milita...
Last year, we observed 215 dead Gray Whales wash ashore. Scientists believe that more whales died and were stuck in some gyres or sank to the bottom of the sea. There were a ton of questions being asked as to why the whales were washing up dead.
Now researchers have some answers and the results are more worrisome than we initially thought.
Link To Article: https://www.hakaimagazine.com/news/necropsies-unveil-more-about-mass-gray-...
Dolphins are fairly intelligent, we know that. However, the fact that we now know dolphins teach each other how to use tools to hunt more efficiently. To top it off, dolphins are teaching other siblings and friends how to use such tools. Normally, the teaching comes from mother to calf, but not this time.
What do you think dolphins can do that we don't know yet? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http:...
Marine Parks can provide some sort of protection; however, it all depends on the types of Ocean uses that are allowed to take place such as fishing or deep-sea mining. More protections may be necessary once research in the marine park takes place.
An example of this scenario occurred in a recent study at a Marine Park in Australian Water where the banks and pinnacles that typified the undersea habitats made way for a higher than e...
Stories are the way we connect to a particular topic. When we read a book, the story captures our imaginations. When we watch a movie, people look for great storytelling as special effects can only get you so far. The point is storytelling is a tried and tested way to get your message across. It's a skill that some people may have and others need to learn (including myself!).
Finally! I have some great news to share. There was a study that used a drone to count Green Sea Turtles as they waiting along the shoreline of an island in the Great Barrier Reef. Around 64,000 nesting sea turtles were counted (the largest number in a long time). It's a conservation win that used new technology. Check out the details by listening to the podcast.
Link To Article: https://news.mongabay.com/2020/06/an-armada-of-...
It's difficult to stop the illegal trade of endangered animals during "normal" times. Now, try and stop the same trade during a pandemic when there are fewer resources to inspect crates that travel all over the world.
Turtles, Sharks, and Totoaba have all paid the price. It's something we need to discuss.
Link To Article: https://www.insightcrime.org/news/brief/coronavirus-trafficking-maritime-biodiversity/
Being a Marine Biologist is THE best! People love hearing that you are a Marine Biologist when you are introduced at a gathering of some sort. You become more interesting because not many people know Marine Biologists. However, we sometimes take on the persona of being a Marine Biologist too much where we don't allow ourselves to become something else as well. And that can lead to burning out.
Here is a PSA on how to be more th...
Dr. Rebecca Helm wrote a great article on how we currently think about jellyfish and how we should think about jellyfish. You might be wondering what that sentence really meant. You will have to listen to find out.
Link to Article: https://thecorrespondent.com/531/you-might-hate-jellyfish-but-almost-everything-in-the-ocean-depends-on-them-and-we-do-too/644824975212-4e7fdf9f
Do you think we should protect Jellyfish? Share your thou...
There was a great news video on shark incidents on Reunion Island that showed the complexities of shark conservation when multiple ocean stakeholders are involved. The surfing community wants something done about the sharks, the environmentalists want to protect them and the government wants to appease everyone (but will probably make everyone mad at the same time).
Link to Article: https://www.france24.com/en/france/20200612-hun...
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