How To Protect The Ocean

Categories

science
citizen science
general
climate change
social enterprise
Tourism
Marine Science
ocean conservation
Sharks
ocean
nemo
ecotourism
Marine Conservation
finding dori
harambe
Marine Protected Areas
shark attack
Oceans Day
finding dory
Shark Week
algae
SCUBA Diving
Arbonne
Arctic Ocean
drones
blackfish
marine conservation conferences
sea turtle
IMCC
Orca
Jairo Mora
Plastic Pollution
women in science
surfing
ocean news
funding
marine education
Marine Conservation Career
Asha DeVos
Ocean Talk Friday
Fishing
Leadership
Conferences
seagrass
science debate
antarctica
marine science management
Conservation
marine biology jobs
politics
red sea
diving
Oil Spill
great barrirer reef
Ocean Optimisim
Nakawe
Ocean Optimism
Ross Sea MPA
Stakeholders
grassroots
grassroots conservation
teaching
film
poaching
ocean planning
biodiversity
Polar Bear
marine biology
Interviews
2017
Tilikum
Sustainable Fisheries
Beach
Fake News
Science Communication
Lobbying
Snorkeling
aquarium
stranding
wildlife documentaries
Advocacy
Fisheries
social science
journalism
ocean use
climate science
earth hour
Manatee
Dolphins
Social Change
Women 4 Science
Whales
Sci Comm
Cape Cod Seal
Taiwanese White Dolphin
Dolphin Rescued
Grand Cayman
Paris Climate Change Agreement
Celebrities
Shark Conservation
Sea Wolves
Cod
Climate Change Reduction
Ocean Plastic Pollution
Salt Marsh
Shark Dragged
Water Quality
brexit
Lost Sharks
River Sharks
Marine Conservation Careers
Sea Otters
Oceanswell
Fish Farm
Hurricane Harvey
Whale Sharks
Social Marketing
Invertebrates
Tales From The Sea
Graduate Student
Entrepreneur
Octo
Remote Sensing
Salmon
Open Access
Marine Mammals
Vaquita
Sperm Whale
Seabirds
Coastal Land Loss
SciComm
Coastal Habitat
Local Politics
Passion
Fisheries Science
Educator
Indiginous
IAMJAIRO
Carbon Tax
Jellyfish
Plogging
Fukushima
Recycle
Ocean Wise
Plastic Straws
Underwater Performer
recycling
Tuna
Coral Reef
Tailless Whales
Immigration
Kilauea Volcano
Shark Fishing
Marine Mammal
Marine Litter
Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award
UK Marine Conservation Zones
Cephalopods
Squid Cephalopods
Conference
Marine Conservation Conference
Hack-a-thon
Art of Storytelling for Science
COMPASS
Plastic Pollution in the Ocean
Lionfish
IMCC5
Right Whales
Scott Pruitt
Southern Resident Orca
Nurse Sharks
Decolonizing Conservation
Crabs
Hermaphrodite Sharks
Land-Based Shark Fishing
Sea Turtles
Great White Sharks
Greenhouse Gases
Nassau Grouper
Boyan Slant
dolphin
Seaworld
King Penguins
Marine Philanthropy
Ocean Acidification
Red Tide
Stingrays
Marine Debris
Shark
High Seas
Ocean Clean Project
Impact Investing
Coelacanth
Sea Stars
Marineland
Eco-Friendly Products
Humpback Whales
Sea Level Rise
Deep Sea Coral Reef
Kelp forest
Pipeline
Sustainable
Seals
Shark Cage Diving
Sharkwater Extinction
Seafood
California
Coral Reef Algae
Oceanpreneur
Hurricane Florence
Tiger Shark
Overfishing
Southern Resident Orcas
Science Journal
PETA
Ocean Dead Zones
Dolphinarium
Shark Culling
Whaling
Coral
Ocean Clean Up Project
Orcas
Tsunami
Sei Whale
Community Conservation
OCEANARCH
Open Access Journals
Barndoor Skate
My Green Butler
Lonely Whale
Beaked Whales
Northern Right Whale Festival
Marine Mammal Captivity
Podcasting For The Environment
Salish Sea
Living Species Report
Conservation Marketing
Marine Biology Colleges
US Midterm Elections 2018
Marine Policies
Academic Science Journals
Shark Management
Conch Shells
Carbon Footprint
Love the Ocean
Consumer Trends
Science Journals
Marine Conservation Art
Climate Report
Marine Science and Conservation
Marine Social Science
Marine Sewage
Diversity In Careers
Mobile Conservation
WWF Canada
MarXiv
Indigenous
Manta Ray
Monk Seal
Seaweed
Blue Mind
Holiday Plastics
Patreon
Zinke
Whale Entanglement
Ocean Stories
Japan Whaling
Decompression Sickness
Status Quo Bias
Government Shutdown
New Year's Resolutions
Northern Right Whale Calf
Northwest Passage
Aquaman
Southern Resident Orca Population
Plastic Pollution Reduction
Bluebottle Jellyfish
IUU Fishing
Fatberg
Aquaculture
Ocean Cleanup Project
Ocean Ramsay
Governor Ron Desantis
Marine Careers
Zero Waste
Fish Markets
Plastic Packaging Free
Elephant Seal
Whale Seaside Sanctuaries
Reef Safe Sunscreen
Danni Washington
Lobster
Second Hand Clothing
Ocean Art
Participatory Science
Andrey Dolgov
Capelin
Chowder
Sea Urchins
Wildlife
WasteShark
Thrift Stores
Sea Lions
Plastic Pollution Climate Change
Deepwater Horizon
Telemetry Tags
Ethiopian Plane Crash
Greta Thunberg
Mako Shark
Plastic Straw Ban
Scientific Journals
Marine Protected Areas Climate Change
Marine Conservation Organizations
Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez
Renewable Energy
Sea Lions Herring
Conservation Statistics
Shark Protection
Walruses
Microfibres
Floodplains
Leatherback Sea Turtles
PEW
Cuttlefish
Horseshoe Crabs
Notre Dame Cathedral
Earth Day
Seal Rescue
Ocean Conservancy Trash Free Seas
Sustainable Asia
Marine Mammal Stranding
Grey Whale
Basking Sharks
NOAA
Marine Mammals In Military
Radio
Ocean Lifestyle
Tornado
Planet Tech
Collision Conference
Fast Fashion
Puffins
Nature Documentaries
Protected Species
CITES
Animal Welfare
LGBTQ
World Ocean's Day
Pride Month
Marine Debris Clean Up
Ghost Nets
Pacific Whale Foundation
Narluga
Whale Sanctuaries
Regenerative Agriculture
Loggerhead Sea Turtles
Octopus
Sargassum Belt
Fish
Orca Eating Great White Sharks
Northern Right Whale
Harmful Algal Blooms
Living Shorelines
Dr. Edie Widder
Single-Use Plastics
Sea Ice
Neil Degrasse Tyson
Fionn Ferreira
Freshwater Species
Florida
Endangered Species
Guitarfish
Wedgefish
Marine Mammal Science
Environmental Studies And Sciences
Climate Change Is Real
Donating
Loop
Codfather
Florida Keys
Cuba
Hurricane Dorian
Speak Up For Blue
TikTok
Illegal Fishing
Blob
Trump
United Nations
Nuclear Waste
Climate Strike
Environmental Lawyers
So You Want To Be A Marine Biologist
Deep Sea Mining
Great Barrier Reef
Virtual Reality
Mote Marine Laboratory
NAUI
Sawfish
Microplastics
Duke University
Spiny Lobster
Invasive Species
podcast
Fish Quotas
NFL
Fisheries And Oceans
Australia Heat
Climate Action
Top Episodes in 2019
Happy New Year
Australian WildFires
Marine Pollution
Food
Fukushima Radiation
Acoustic Noise On Coral Reefs
Secchi Disk
Government
Talking Oceans
Conch
Sea Grant
Sexual Assault
Coronavirus
Tiger King
Gulf Of Mexico
Fish To Door
Narwhal
Planet Of The Humans
Wildlife Photography
Deep-Sea Squid
Black Lives Matter
EarthX
Deep Sea
Behaviour Change
Mangrove
Illegal Trade
Colonialism
Mangoves
Shark Week 2020
Shark Science
Racism
Deep-Sea
Anthropause
Tagging
Sea Change Health
Marine Planning
Pinnipeds
Antarctic
Policy
change
Ecology
Diversity
Black In Marine Science
Sustainable Lifestyle
Top Episodes in 2020
Decade Of The Ocean
Sustainability
Blue Whales
Whale
Migration
Documentaries
Nutrients
fundraising
Blue Carbon
Sea Lion
Ocean Sounds
Water Pollution
Fisheries Policy
Shipping
Navy
Surfrider
Electric Vehicle
Climate Justice
Collaboration
non-profits
Blue Nature Alliance
Penguin
science communicator
Movies
Fisheris
Activism
EV
Coral Reefs
Entrepreneurship
Socia Enterprise
Ocean Action
Live For A Better Ocean
Blue Foods
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Oceans Week
fishers
Speak Up
Restoration
Mining
Mississippi
Deep-Sea Mining
Cetaceans
Action
Innovation
Sewage Treatment
Mangroves
Paul Watson
For-Purpose Business
Greenwashing
Climate Crisis
Corals
Act for the blue
Business for the environment
Ocean Justice and Equity
Small Islands
Beaches
Sustainable Business
Local
Kelp Forests
Diversity And Inclusion
willow project
Sargassum
Marine Conservation Jobs
Orca Capitivity
Community
Human Behavior
Sand Dunes
Conservation Story
Stingray
Ocean Justice
EcoBusiness
Sea Otter
Sustainable Companies
Inclusion, Equality
Photography
Eutrophication
Ocean Conservation Commitments
Inspiration
B Corp
Marine Protected Area
The Faroe Islands
Electric Boats
Ocean Sole
Coastal Resilient
Seal
Students

Archives

2024
March
February
January

2023
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2022
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2021
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2016
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January

2015
December
November
October
September
August
July
June

March 2016
S M T W T F S
     
    1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31

Syndication

Our first full year co-hosting Ocean Talk Friday, Nathan Johnson and I recap the year's top topics that we discussed on the program. Nathan and I have a blast doing Ocean Talk Friday and we appreciate your support for this year.

Here are some of the topics we discusses:
1) Marine Protected Areas;
2) The Election of Donald Trump as President and what it means for Climate Change;
3) Grassroots ocean advocacy;
4) Positive events that happened in 2016; and,
5) What we hope to see in 2017. 

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S258_OceanTalkFriday2016Recap.mp3
Category:Ocean Talk Friday -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Next week is 2017 and there are many questions about ocean conservation that will be answered in the New Year; however, before we get there, I want to talk about some of your (The Speak Up For Blue Community) favourite podcast interview episodes of 2016.

Here are the Top 5 Podcast Interview episodes of 2016:
1) Whale Sea Side Sanctuaries with Dr. Naomi Rose (Ep. 190)
2) Becoming an EcoWarrior with Pro surfer James Pribram (ep. 128)
3) Marine Protected Areas and the Donald Trump Era with John Davies (ep. 248)
4) Sharks and Climate Change with Dr. Chris Lowe (ep. 119)
5) Project Seagrass with Richard Lilley and Project Seagrass (ep. 208)

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S257_Top5InterviewsOf2016.mp3
Category:Interviews -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

As we close in on 2016, I take a look back at the episodes I produced for The Speak Up For Blue Podcast and I walk you down my memory lane as to which podcasts the Speak Up For Blue Audience (That's you!!!) liked best.

Here they are in order of highest to lowest (Number of downloads):
1) What Type of Eco Warrior Are You? (ep. 128)
2) The Donor Conservationist (ep. 132)
3) Toxic Algal Bloom in Florida Waters (ep. 178)
4) 7 Ways you can conserve the Ocean (ep. 194)
5) Is the seafood industry in trouble? (ep. 141)

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S256_Top5PodcastEpisodesOf2016.mp3
Category:marine biology -- posted at: 8:30am EDT

I feel as though this Ocean Talk Friday Episode with co-host Nathan Johnson is a special one as we covered more species than we normally do, which is fun for us because it brings us back to basic Marine Science and Conservation.

Here are the topics we discussed:
1) Video of a rare deep-sea Chimera (looks like a shark);
2) Ducks in the Andes have a unique adaptation for survival (YES! You read Ducks!);
3) Crab species found at Hydrothermal Vents in Deep Sea clean each other (but they are cannibalistic!); and,
4) New law restricting Seafood imports that can't prove they don't harm marine mammals.

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S255_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:Ocean Talk Friday -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Dr. David Shiffman is a newly graduated Phd scientist specializing in shark ecology and conservation and is quite the science communications super star. He shares is knowledge and passion for shark science with thousands of his followers on Twitter and Facebook. 

We are fortunate to have David chat to us about his number one Ocean passion of sharks and discuss his PhD dissertation as well as his strategies for science communication.

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S254_WhySharksMatterWithDavidShiffman.mp3
Category:Sharks -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

The Ocean Conservancy is a great organization, so I was happy when a Speak Up For Blue Community Member names Liz Cunningham tweeted me the link the a recent blog post the Ocean Conservancy published as Liz thought it would be a great article to discuss on the podcast. Well, she was right! 

I discuss their 4 Keys to good Marine Planning and how it affects us in reality.

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S253_The4KeysToOceanPlanningFINAL.mp3
Category:ocean planning -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Nathan Johnson and I are back for another episode of Ocean Talk Friday where we find 4 articles that we think are interesting and discuss them with each other and you. 

Here are the four articles for today:
1) People need to be included in marine management;
2) Hammerhead sharks get protected under CITES;
3) Marine worms are a 7.5 billion dollar industry; and,
4) Spiny lobster are chemically connected to clams.

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

 

Direct download: SUFB_S252_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:Ocean Talk Friday -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

A few weeks ago the internet was exposed to a video where a polar bear was petting a dog. Most people said "Aw, that is so cute!" However, I was saying "Oh, look at the polar bear playing with potential food!"

I had to have Dr. Thea Bechshoft on the podcast to tell us why the polar bear was exhibiting this type of behaviour and what was affecting their populations (hint: it's Climate Change!)

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_251_PolarBearScienceWithTheaBechshoft.mp3
Category:Polar Bear -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Biodiversity is the key to the stability of habitats and ecosystems as we know it. It's so important that you will hear scientists talk about biodiversity and how we need to protect it; however, the public may not completely understand the importance of biodiversity, which could lead to it not being protected. 

I explain why biodiversity is important and how it can influence all of the things upon which we rely on the ocean (i.e. fisheries, tourism, natural resources like oil and gas). 

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

 

Direct download: SUFB_S250_ProtectingTheOceanThroughBiodiversity.mp3
Category:biodiversity -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Nathan and I go in on a tweet that the House Science Committee sent out supporting a non-fact based story from none other than the infamous Breitbart website. The blow back on Twitter was brutal as many people saw right through the tweet as nothing but a political stance without any scientific evidence. However, could this type of "fake" news influence a portion of the US population that support the newly elected administration. Only time will tell.

We cover this story and the following:
1) Protecting biodiversity in the Ocean to support South Pacific tourism;
2) Tracking missing shipping containers from trans-ocean freighters; and,
3) Why seabirds can't stop eating plastic.

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

 

Direct download: SUFB_S249_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:Ocean Talk Friday -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

We are about to enter the next four years of a Donal Trump led Republican government administration with many questions. One of those questions is whether Donald Trump will cancel President Obama's executive orders to expand two existing Marine Monuments and designate a new Marine Monument.

John Davis, who is the President of MARE and Project Supervisor of Open Channels (That houses MPA News and MEAM), wrote an article in MPA News to discuss whether President-Elect Donald Trump has the authority and the will to cancel the Monument Executive Orders.

I invited John onto the show not only to talk about his article, but to discuss how he established some of the best information sharing products in the Ocean Conservation Field.

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

 

Direct download: SUFB_S248_MPAandTrumpwithJohnDavies.mp3
Category:ocean planning -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

0

Direct download: SUFB_S247_HowToDealWithPoachingAnimals1.mp3
Category:poaching -- posted at: 8:30am EDT

Nathan Johnson and I are back for another Ocean Talk Friday where we look at 4 articles from this past week and give our thoughts on them.

Here are the articles:
1) Debt swapping for Marine Conservation;
2) Refraiming Marine Conservation in a Post-Election Era;
3) Building resilient coral reefs;
4) Deep Sea Coral Protection vs Lobster Fishing Industry; and,
5) Bonus article (listen to the episode to find out what it is!).

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S246_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:Ocean Talk Friday -- posted at: 8:30am EDT

Today's interview is with Sami Kattan, Director of Digital Media for Beneath the Waves and a film maker that was inspired after a wonderful encounter with an iconic giant in the Ocean. Sami films a lot of stuff in his life from his exercises to marine conservation work. He learned to become a videographer on his own, experimenting with various cameras along his adventures in Central America and the Caribbean. 

I speak to Sami about how he got into making films and what drives his work. I also talk about his film submission to Beneath the Waves and how you can do the same thing. 

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S245_GoingBeneathTheWavesWithSamiKattan.mp3
Category:film -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Conferences is where people from the Marine Science and Conservation industry go to share information on their latest projects and to network with new and old colleagues. It's where we go to share stories, vent and get to know each other. 

The only problem with conferences is that there are only Marine Scientists and Conservationists in attendance. There is usually a lack of people from the public...essentially you. Why the hell would you attend a Marine Science and Conservation Conference?

I give you 3 reasons in this episode!

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.


Nathan Johnson and I are back at it again with another Ocean Talk Friday. Today we discuss the following stories:

1) Scientists design marine protected area based on protection and fish production for fishing community;
2) Rockfish larvae travel as a group of siblings;
3) DNA from Ocean can tell researchers where the fish and other species have been; and,
4) Jellyfish can also be used as a way to find out where the fish have been caught from based on the jellyfish's chemical composition.

 

Direct download: SUFB_S243_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:Ocean Talk Friday -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Science education can be tough if teachers rely only on themselves and textbooks. It can be really boring for 13 year-olds to get inspired by science and picture themselves as future scientists of the world. Don't worry, there is a solution.

Patrick Goff goes above and beyond the textbook to bring his class real scientists to his students via webcam. I invited Patrick on the podcast to tell us how he does it so other teachers can do the same thing.

Enjoy the podcast!

 

Did you like this episode? Please consider supporting the show on my Patreon page: http://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon 

Direct download: SUFB_S242_ScientistsInspiringStudentsWithPatrickGoff.mp3
Category:teaching -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Marine Protected Areas are a big tool in the Ocean Conservation toolbox because they work. It has taken some time for them to catch on, but if they are created in the right way where they bring in stakeholders at the beginning of the process and it is science based, then they can do well. These types of protected areas have been documented well in the scientific literature. 

It seems as though more and more protected areas are being designated every month. Since September, one US Marine Monument in Hawaii was expanded to 4 times its original size, another has been created in the Atlantic Ocean (the size of Connecticut), the Ross Sea has been declared an MPA, and now the Philippines and Canada declared MPAs. 

I talk about how these last 2 MPAs got designated and where each country is going with Marine Conservation in the future. 

Enjoy the podcast!

Direct download: SUFB_S241_MoreMPAsDeclaredInTheWorld.mp3
Category:Marine Protected Areas -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Marine Science and Conservation Careers is what we've been talking about for the past month and a half. I've heard some great feedback from people who are currently seeking out a career, so I am glad I've been able to help out.

This episode is all about the different options you have for your career. Do you want a career where you work a 9-5? Well, I go into the different sectors (non-profit, government, and private environmental consulting) based on my own personal experiences. 

Do you want a career where you work for yourself? I talk about that as well because I am preparing to do the same thing. 

I think this episode is a great way to sum up what I talked about in this series and what you can do in the future.  

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S240_OptionsForYourMarineSciencAndConservationCareer.mp3
Category:marine biology jobs -- posted at: 11:25pm EDT

Ocean Talk Friday is usually about two people (myself and Nathan Johnson) talking about 4 to 5 articles covering Ocean News that we think you should know about; however, Nathan was a bit busy this week and I decided to switch things up. I wanted to continue covering the theme of grassroots marine conservation since I think it is going to become one of the focuses on Speak Up For Blue.

Here are 3 American Grassroots Conservation Projects I covered in this episode (I will cover more international projects as I find them: please email me if you have a project in mind - andrew@speakupforblue.com).

1) Save Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge;

2) How you can ensure Climate Change remains a priority for the new US federal administration; and,

3) Stop Killing Fish by stop fertilizing so much!

Enjoy the  podcast!

Direct download: SUFB_S239_OceanTalkFridayGrassrootsConservationEdition.mp3
Category:Ocean Talk Friday -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

I was feeling sick to my stomach last Tuesday after I realized that Donald Trump had been elected the next President of the United States. I was worried about basic Human Rights in my neighbouring country and I was also worried about the stance the President-Elect has taken on Climate Change. He clearly does not "believe" Climate Change is a human related issue and that is dangerous thinking. 

A major part of his platform is to undo much of President Obama's Executive Orders, which include protection of marine habitats in the Atlantic Ocean and off the coast of Hawai'i. Whether he will be able to undo this work is anyone's guess; however, the possibility is there. In addition, Obama used an Executive Order to establish the National Ocean Council to handle marine conservation projects and made it easy for today's guest, Dr. Rob Moir, to work with government to help establish protected areas and conservation action.

Dr. Rob Moir is the founder and Executive Director of the Ocean River Institute, which is a non-profit organization that works with its constituents and organizational partners to work towards conservation goals. In essence, Rob takes stories from individuals about what is important to them about the ocean, compiles those stories and brings them to politicians such as Senators and House Members on the federal level to bring conservation action. It's not easy, but Rob has managed to build quite the relationship with many federal politicians (Republicans and Democrats). 

Rob also works at grassroots levels to effect change within the community. During the interview, Rob talks about how he went to Florida to talk to County committees to show them how a few changes that homeowners can take to manage their yard such as refrain from fertilizing their lawn during the summer can change the algae blooms along the ocean coast. His work has been extremely successful within most counties in Florida and the counties who don't follow these practices can look at the examples set by neighbouring counties. 

Rob is currently focused on protecting the status of the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge from getting stripped of its protection status due to pressure from the big sugar industries who are dumping dirty water in the refuge and is getting fined heavily for doing so. Getting rid of the Refuge status would allow the sugar companies to continue to dump their dirty water in the Refuge boundaries and ruin the diverse wildlife in the area. You can get more information and learn how you can take action by going to Ocean River's website.

During the interview, Rob and I discussed how grassroots marine conservation will be the way to go under the next government administration and reminded ourselves that grassroots conservation has always been a great way to create conservation change and it will continue to be that way not matter who is running any country. 

I want you to listen to the podcast and understand that there is still hope to protect the ocean in the US and around the world. We will need to fight harder, but our passion will show us the way. 

Speak Up for Blue is going to take the call to action and help lead you towards some grassroots projects that you can support and participate. 

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S238_GrassrootsConservationWithDrRbMoir.mp3
Category:grassroots conservation -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Conservation is about people. It Starts with people. It ends with people. Democratic governments cannot stop the people.

Those words may not be that profound, but they are true. A change in government is the US means that ocean conservation is going to become harder to do when compared to the last administration if Trump and his administration plan to do what they said they were going to do. There are also questions as to will he be able to completely ignore climate change even though he doesn't "Believe in it." Time will tell, I guess. 

The fact remains that if we want to continue to work towards protecting the Oceans, then we will have to do it at the grassroots level and build enough momentum from the bottom to rise to the top where politicians will have no choice but to listen to the majority. 

I discuss how we can really build grassroots movements by not reinventing the wheel and using the resources that are available to us and partnering with some great organizations to create change from within. 

Speak Up For Blue will also be creating a tight nit grassroots community that will focus on changing things not only at the government level, but also and the community level. 

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S237_GrassrootsMarineConservation.mp3
Category:grassroots -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Continuing with helping you get a job to help you build your career in Marine Science and Conservation, I talk about The Interview today. The Interview is a way for the hiring manager and other committee members to get to know you and evaluate whether you would be a right "fit" for the workplace.

In today's episode, I talk about how to prepare for an interview, what your attitude should be during the interview and how it can help you get a job and how you should follow up.

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.


The election really threw everyone, or most people for a loop, especially the Marine Science and Conservation community. The President-Elect, Donald Trump, has been determined about denying climate change and reducing environmental government departments such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Environment (DOE), and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 

The reduction in government resources to adequately deal with Ocean issues such as Climate Change, Over fishing, Ocean Mining, Plastic Pollution, etc., will mean that there will have to be grassroots movements to ensure the federal government will honour what is important to their constituents. It will require strategic planning to ensure your environmental values (similar to your country's values) are upheld. 

For the next four years, Speak Up For Blue will do our best to provide you with the guidance required to effectively get your environmental values heard by the current administration.

Direct download: SUFB_S235_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:Ocean Talk Friday -- posted at: 9:35pm EDT

The US Election is over...FINALLY!!! Here are some stories you might have missed while you were bombarded with election news:

1) Canada announces Ocean Protection Plan;
2) Too many puffins die due to warming of oceans; and,
3) SeaWorld loses more money and decides to cut more costs to please investors.

Enjoy the podcast!

Direct download: SUFB_S234_PostElectionOceanNewsUpdate.mp3
Category:ocean news -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

The Ross Sea MPA has forced me to reflect on how regulators and policy makers who are in charge of managing the Ocean through Marine Protected Areas, Quotas and other regulatory tools manage Ocean Users. 

Ocean Users are not used to being managed. They could generally do whatever they want as long as they show the government that they could contribute to the economy in the short or long term; however, recent events (BP Oil Spill) have driven governments to manage all Ocean Users as some can affect others, including the environment (as an Ocean User per say). 

I try to provide you with some examples on how Ocean Users are being or have been managed, but I would really like to here what you have to say about this subject matter. 

Email me andrew@speakupforblue.com to let me know how you think we should manage Ocean Users.

Direct download: SUFB_S233_HowDoWeDealWithOceanUsers.mp3
Category:Stakeholders -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

The sole purpose of a job application is to get to the next step in the job-getting process. There are hundreds, sometimes thousands, of applicants and you have to set your aside apart from the pack. So what do you do?

You make sure that you have the best application out there and you ensure the human resource person and/or hiring manager are not forced to make any assumptions on whether you qualify for the position. For example, if you are applying to a position where you will be trawling and are required to identify species and record length and weight, then don't just say that you have experience with trawling, you should elaborate that you are able to identify fish species and some invertebrates (if you have the experience of course, never lie on your application!!!).

In this bonus episode, I teach you how to right the perfect resume that will force the person reading it to add you to the interview pile. 

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S232_TheResumeMarineScienceAndConservationCareers.mp3
Category:marine biology jobs -- posted at: 8:30am EDT

Nathan Johnson and I are back at it again on Ocean Talk Friday where we talk about the latest news and updates in Marine Science and Conservation.

On the show today, we discuss:

1) National Science Fund planning for Ocean Science's future;
2) Rhode Island creates the first marine plan;
3) Australian government cuts 42 marine protected areas from plans; and,
4) An amphipod is found to wear an invisibility cloak.

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S231_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:Ocean Talk Friday -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Imagine spending the last ten years (really the first 10 years) of your career trying to get a piece of Ocean protected that is managed by 24 countries with a treaty that was written in 1959. There are countries who can't win the argument to establish Marine Protected Areas within their own country, let alone getting 23 other countries to agree to your propositions.

That is what happened to Cassandra Brooks with Ross Sea MPA. Cassandra followed the MPA process from every aspect possible starting as a Fisheries Biologist to a Science and Conservation Communicator then to studying a PhD in Marine Policy where she was able to sit in the MPA planning meetings during the last part of the process.

Listen to the podcast to find out how she found the process and the evolution of her career.

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S230_TheRossSeaMPAProcessWithCassandraBrooks.mp3
Category:Ross Sea MPA -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

I found something quite interesting when I started to communicate Marine Science and Ocean Conservation to build an audience that wanted to live for a better Ocean. People didn't like to hear the doom and gloom that I was telling them related to all of the Ocean Issues. A friend of mine said she liked watching the videos I made on my You Tube channel, but she had to stop because it was depressing her. My message was having the opposite effect of its purpose. I was making people give up hope rather than inspiring them to do something about the problems that plagued the Ocean.

I had to change my tone and my message quickly. I did some research on what people were sharing on social media in relation to the Ocean. Most of the content was fun facts or a specific event that happened. For example, there was one video of a seal hitching a ride on a humpback whale to avoid being hunted by an orca that was following the humpback whale. The video was in relation to a study that found humpback whales often helped other species from harm. A great message identifying compassion in marine mammals that is quite unique in the Ocean. 

We need more of these messages to inspire people to fall in love with the Ocean again and want to protect it.

Enjoy the podcast!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S229_WhereIsTheOceanOptimism.mp3
Category:Ocean Optimism -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

When I first started writing cover letters for the jobs that I wanted, I made them less than one page and they consisted of introducing myself and telling the person to which I was sending my application that my resume was attached. I had no idea that it was the wrong way of writing a cover letter.

It wasn't until a friend showed me how to write a proper cover letter that I was able to get interviews from my applications. The conversion was quite amazing. I applied to less jobs during the year (4 jobs) and got 3 interviews, which is better than the previous record of 1 in 400. 

Unfortunately, it was 6 years until I discovered how to write a proper cover letter and resume (I will discuss resumes next week) that I was able to focus my career path because I could finally get closer to the jobs I wanted. This style of writing cover letters is quite a bit of work, but your chances of getting the interview are much higher. 

Take a listen to the episode to find out how to write the proper cover letter for Marine Science and Conservation.

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S228_MarineScienceandConservationTheCoverLetter.mp3
Category:marine biology jobs -- posted at: 8:30am EDT

Ocean Talk Friday is a fun tradition that Nathan and I started and we continue to have fun with it. We hope that you guys enjoy it too. After a brief update on our Marine Conservation Fantasy Football Pool, we talk about the following articles:

1) Insurance companies find wetlands could have saved $625 million in damage;
2) A brewing company made a beer to help study stellar sea lions;
3) Fish are drunk off CO2 and swimming into predators; and,
4) Whaling countries rallying to block South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary.

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S227_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:ocean -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

In my Interview Wednesday episode today, I speak with Reggie Domingo; Founder of The Nakawe Project, also known as the WE Project.

The Nakawe Project  is involved in all sorts of Marine Science and Conservation projects in Costa Rica, Central America, and around the world. I first heard of The Nakawe Project when they were involved with the CITES project in getting the Silky and Thresher Sharks protected under the CITES agreement. 

Take a listen to the podcast for more details.

Today's Resource: http://simplystraws.com/

Simply Straws Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/362703480/simply-straws-presents-the-perfect-mason-jar-lid

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

 

Direct download: SUFB_S226_NakaweProjectWithRegiDomingo.mp3
Category:Nakawe -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

There are many battles in Marine Science and Conservation. If you speak to anyone who has been working in this field for over 20 years you will get much cynicism. It's probably due to the experience they have build over their careers. There is a good chance they didn't always with to protect the Ocean or it's species. It doesn't matter if they are working on government, non-profit or private sector, they lost some battles. But after all is said and done, they never gave up hope. It's why they are still working to protect the Ocean. They have hope!

Hope to win that one small/big battle that they have worked on. They love the feeling they get when they ARE able the protect the ocean. It makes it a pretty good day, week, month, or even year! Even after losing so many fights in the past. 

I linked up with some people who want to save the Vaquita, a small marine mammal that is endemic to the Sea of Cortez, and is critically endangered. There are estimated 60 or less left in the world. However, I chose this project because I have hope that we can save this marine mammal if we get together and protect it. There is a lot of work ahead of us here at Speak Up For Blue, but we are ready to take on saving the Vaquita because we have hope!

Take a listen to the podcast for more details.

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S225_NeverGiveUpHopeForTheOcean.mp3
Category:Ocean Optimisim -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

When I first started my career in Marine Science and Conservation, I searched for jobs everyday for 8 hours a day. No lie, I would check the same sites over and over again. It sucked. There were so many times were I wouldn't see new jobs and then I would lose hope. I got pretty emotional and angry. I was obsessed with getting a job. I would dream about it. Until one day, I figured something out.

I didn't want half of the jobs that I saw, but I was applying to all of them. I thought to myself, why in the hell would I apply for them. Why wouldn't I to everything that I could to get the jobs I wanted instead of doing a poor job in applying to jobs I didn't want. 

So I implemented 5 strategies to help me build my career and I continue to do so today:

1) Becoming an influencer in your field;
2) Keeping updated on the news, research, and happenings in your career path field;
3) Building Your Network;
4) Building Your Experience; and,
5) Get certifications pertaining to your field.

Take a listen to the episode for more description on each of the 5 strategies I still use today to build my career.

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S224_SearchingForMarineScienceAndConservationJobs.mp3
Category:marine biology jobs -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

It's Ocean Talk Friday again where Nathan and I get together and chat about 4 very important articles of the week...at least...to us. This week we talk about some great articles and we talk about our big Fantasy Football wins this week in our Marine Conservation Football Fantasy League. 

Here are the stories that we discussed this week:
1) Vogue lists 8 luxury hotels that are carbon neutral and help marine conservation;
2) Russia hosts a 24 member country delegation to vote on 2 Antarctic Protected Areas;
3) The Ocean absorbs more heat than we thought, but we are not out of the woods; and,
4) The Great Barrier Reef is not dead!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S223_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:great barrirer reef -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

A tug boat was pushing a fuel barge in British Columbia near Great Bear Forest when it ran aground and sank in 9 metres of water. The diesel fuel (over 200,000 GA worth) spilled into the coastal ocean from the tug boat and spread quickly. 

The nearby First Nations group of Bella Bella are working tirelessly to stop the diesel fuel from reaching the coast; however, 3 beaches have already been closed due to contamination. The clam bed, on which the tribe relies to get them through the winter will not be harvested due to contamination from the diesel fuel. The effects of this spill is devastating for the short term and may have longer term effects; however, this spill is considered small. It had a massive impact on a remote community that can only be accessed either by boat or plane. 

This was 1 boat and a relatively small one at that. Luckily, the fuel barge was empty or else this incident would have been worse. 

The Bella Bella community are frustrated by the lack of spill response by the provincial and federal government. Meanwhile, the provincial government is pointing the finger at the federal government. Both levels of government are in favour of adding a pipeline to the province to ship oil and gas to Asian markets.

The real questions here are:

1) What is the spill response procedure?
2) What will happen when the pipeline is implemented and running (more shipping); and,
3) Is there a plan for environmental emergencies in the future and when will it be implemented.

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

 

Direct download: SUFB_S222_BellaBellaDieselSpillNearGreatBearForest.mp3
Category:Oil Spill -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

SCUBA Divers love encountering sharks on more than one of their dives. Diving with sharks is an exhilarating experience, I know from personal experience. However, as a couple of videos that are circulating the web show, diving with sharks in a cage may not be as safe as you might expect. 

Shark diving occurs all over the world without incidents, so why did the events in the video happen. Was it just by chance or did something happen that caused the shark to enter the cage. Unfortunately, it was the latter. 

The Shark diving company that was running the show that day was doing something that was against the guidelines of shark cage diving. The cage had the bait bag (chum) tied to it, which caused the shark to get an up close and personal to the cage, a little more than expected. 

The chum should not have been attached to the cage, but it should have been floating out a certain distance from the cage. 

I chat more about this in the episode and what you should do to protect yourself future danger and enjoy the experience.

Take a listen to this episode to find out how.

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

 

Direct download: SUFB_S221_SharkDivingGoesWrong.mp3
Category:diving -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Attaining a sustainable marine science and conservation career is not easy. It takes focus, patience, and hard work. The first episode of this series gives you a breakdown on how to create goals for your career by setting your path. Now you need to start your journey down your path. Where do you begin?

As a recent graduate or someone who is shifting career, you probably don't have much experience in the career path field, which means your chances of getting a job is low. So this episode is dedicated to helping you gain experience through volunteering. 

Volunteering has its ups and downs. On one hand you can gain quite a bit of experience quickly. On the other hand, you may have to pay money to go far away to get that experience. Is there are problem with that...nope! If you can afford it, go because it's a great adventure and you do get some great experience even if it is short lived, but not everyone can afford to go away. They have to search for alternative methods of volunteering.

This episode will detail some steps you can take to acquire some great experience without having to pay money. This is important so remember, take notes!

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

 


Nathan Johnson and I co-host Ocean Talk Friday again to discuss this past week's important articles. I love doing these episodes because Nathan and I get to chat about all things Ocean. The best thing about talking about these Ocean articles is to get the ideas flowing and hopefully come up with solutions as a community.

So thanks for listening!

Here are the articles:

1) We revisit a new aquaculture techniques that will benefit the Ocean and contribute to reducing climate change;

2) Some people think that Canada can become an Ocean Economy super power;

3) Seagrass is important and some people want you to know about it; and,

4) China is building islands for military bases and could be destroying the environment.

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S219_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:ocean -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Have you ever wondered the state of all of the Oceans? We often here stories, articles and research coming from all parts of the Ocean (Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Antarctic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Labrador Sea, etc.); however, it's rare to hear about the Red Sea. Well, I am pleased to say that we are now going to talk about the Red Sea tanks to Matt Tietbohl, who is doing his Masters Thesis at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). 

Matt is originally from a small town outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania growing up in the outdoors surrounded by lush forests and lakes/rivers where he would explore the wild searching for new creatures under rocks and in crevices. Fast forward to high school where he took a trip in his Junior year to Jamaica on a school trip to explore the Ocean for the first time, followed by a second trip giving you Matt, the young man who now wanted to become a Marine Biologist. 

His undergraduate experience did not expose him to much Marine Biology; however, one course gave him an assignment that would change his outlook on Marine Biology and life in general. Matt had to review a journal article and present his findings to the class. His paper? A study from KAUST. 

Matt came across this person's name when searching for something to do in the year he wanted to take off from school before doing graduate school. He contacted the chief scientist of the lab about an internship and ended up doing a Masters degree (funny how things can change with a phone call). 

Now Matt lives in Saudi Arabia surrounded by the culture of his host country as well as international students from all over the world. 

Matt's thesis is on tracking the types of algae and plant matter herbivores, who live on reefs, eat to identify functional diversity to direct future management of Red Sea Coral Reefs. 

Listen to the podcast to find out more about Matt's research and life at KAUST.

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Looking to transform your health and wellness using Arbonne products? Learn about our starter package to get you living for a better Ocean by contacting me at andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Direct download: SUFB_S218_RedSeaMarineScienceWithMattTietbohl.mp3
Category:red sea -- posted at: 8:50am EDT

How important are the upcoming US Election for Marine Science and Conservation? Does your vote really count? Does it matter who is President or Senator in regards to policies for the Oceans? If you want the answer, maybe you should ask Dr. Chris Lowe who stated on a previous podcast that the combination of a number of laws and regulations allowed the increase in white shark populations and sea lion population (which are related) along the coast of California. 

The current presidential race seems to focus more on attacks than on proposed plans and policies. There has never been a more divisive election than the current one due to the attacks on each candidate. There are so many attacks that it is easy to lose focus on why people vote in the first place: to determine who will take the country in the right direction. 

The direction really depends on which way the majority of the voters want the country to go. It is not based on, which candidate can attack the other the best. 

When you vote for your next president and senator representing your state/territory, you should focus on the candidate that proposes the policies you feel will take the country in the right direction.

 

Are you looking to change the way you eat for a better health and environment? Start using Arbonne nutrition and health care products that are all natural and environmentally friendly. I use them all the time and their nutrition line has transformed the way I eat and my health.

Email me today, andrew@speakupforblue.com to find out how you can transform your health.

Direct download: SUFB_S217_PoliticizingTheOceans.mp3
Category:politics -- posted at: 5:06pm EDT

Welcome back to another Ocean Talk Friday. Nathan Johnson and I are back at it again to discuss this week's important stories on the Speak UP For Blue Podcast. 

Here are the stories for today:

1) International web database for Marine Cave studies;
2) CITES protects three sharks under Appendix II and what it means;
3) Community-led marine reserve experiences great success; and,
4) Waste reduction campaign with major corporations.

Do you want to work in a career in Marine Conservation

Connect with me andrew@speakupforblue.com

You can also connect with me to find out how you can live for a better Ocean by using Arbonne health and wellness products that are healthy for you and the Ocean. Contact me andrew@speakupforblue.com

You can also support this podcast by contribution to our Patreon Campaign

Enjoy this Ocean Talk Friday Episode!

Direct download: SUFB_S215_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:ocean -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Imagine that you apply for a job and when the hiring manager comes across your name, she/he already knows who you are because you worked hard at becoming an influencer within your niched within Marine Conservation and you did one hell of a job.

Many of your colleagues will apply to jobs and expect to hear back from an interview. If they qualify for the position and they demonstrate it on their application, then they will be able to further compete with others for the position. However, what happens after that point in the application process. You might have to write a test or attend an interview with everyone else who qualifies based on the same criteria. What can you do to set yourself apart from the rest of the crowd? Become and influencer.

If you are known within the public domain for your career interest, then you have impact power. If you have publications within scientific journals, then you have impact power. This means that not only can you do the work, but you can make that your project results reach more people because you have impact. 

I cover how you can become an influencer in today's social and tech savvy world that will help your career. 

Do you want to work in a career in Marine Conservation

Connect with me andrew@speakupforblue.com

You can also connect with me to find out how you can live for a better Ocean by using Arbonne health and wellness products that are healthy for you and the Ocean. Contact me andrew@speakupforblue.com

You can also support this podcast by contribution to our Patreon Campaign

Enjoy this Saturday Bonus Episode!

 

Direct download: SUFB_S216_MarineConservationCareersBecomeAnInfluencer.mp3
Category:marine biology jobs -- posted at: 1:05am EDT

Today is a the launch of a new bonus series that I will be providing on the Speak Up For Blue Podcast. I wanted to provide you with the best information I could on starting and maintaining a career in Marine Science and Conservation as that is part of the mission of Speak Up For Blue: Empower people to live for a better Ocean!

These bonus episodes will normally be on published on Saturdays, but I decided that I would launch this episode today to peek your interest. 

The first episode of this Marine Science and Conservation Careers series deals with what I think is the most important aspect of launching your career. You need to PLAN out your career. Here are the steps you need to take to plan your strategy:

1) Pick 1 or 2 career interests;
2) Research the types of jobs people working in your interest filed hold;
3) Figure out what job title you want to do 15-20 years from now;
4) Learn the skills and experience of the people who work the job you want in the future;
5) Reverse engineer your career path focusing on getting jobs where you can attain the skills and experience you will need to get the job in the future; and,
6) Execute that plan.

Do you want to work in a career in Marine Conservation

Connect with me andrew@speakupforblue.com

You can also connect with me to find out how you can live for a better Ocean by using Arbonne health and wellness products that are healthy for you and the Ocean. Contact me andrew@speakupforblue.com

You can also support this podcast by contribution to our Patreon Campaign

Enjoy this Career Building Episode!

Direct download: SUFB_S214_ChoosingYourMarineConservationCareer.mp3
Category:marine biology jobs -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

The Ocean is in trouble. There is no doubt about that.However, there are ways that we can fix it. And it starts with us!

There are a number of things that you can do to live for a better Ocean. It starts at home and we've discussed it on the podcast many times. I figured since some of you have been loyal listeners to the Speak Up For Blue podcast for the past year and a bit and have changed the way you lived at home to an Ocean conscious life, then you might be ready to step up your Marine Conservation game and make more of a commitment to protecting the Ocean. If you are still changing things at home, no worries. Listen to this podcast for the future. You might just get motivated (#MotivationMondays)

In this Episode, I present 4 steps to better protect the Ocean:

Step 1: Learn About an Ocean Issue
Step 2: React properly to the Ocean Issue
Step 3: Find out who is working on the solution to the Ocean Issue
Step 4: Get involved with those who are working on a solution to the Ocean Issue

Do you want to work in a career in Marine Conservation

Connect with me andrew@speakupforblue.com

You can also connect with me to find out how you can live for a better Ocean by using Arbonne health and wellness products that are healthy for you and the Ocean. Contact me andrew@speakupforblue.com

You can also support this podcast by contribution to our Patreon Campaign

Enjoy this Motivation Monday Episode!

Direct download: SUFB_S213_4StepsToHelpProtectTheOcean.mp3
Category:Conservation -- posted at: 8:30am EDT

Nathan and I are back together again to chat about some of the most interesting stories this week. Here are the stories that we discussed:

1) California will be giving out minor tickets for MPA boundary layers;

2) Ocean fronts attract seabirds looking for food and that can help manage coastal seabirds;

3) Philanthropy is focusing on Ocean Conservation (Yay!); and,

4) A researcher discovered how deep-sea bacteria can reduce climate change effects.

Do you want to work in a career in Marine Conservation

Connect with me andrew@speakupforblue.com

You can also connect with me to find out how you can live for a better Ocean by using Arbonne health and wellness products that are healthy for you and the Ocean. Contact me andrew@speakupforblue.com

You can also support this podcast by contribution to our Patreon Campaign

Enjoy this week's Ocean Talk Friday 

 

Direct download: SUFB_S212_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:marine science management -- posted at: 8:30am EDT

When you think of using satellite imagery for anything, one tends to think of spies using imagery to gather information on ones enemy to get the upper hand; however, that is not the case for Dr. Michelle LaRue. In fact, Michelle des quite the opposite. She studies emperor penguins and Wedell seals in the Antarctic through the eyes of Satellite Imagery to gather information and learn how the animals' population moves across large scales and counts the number of colonies by monitoring the patches of guano stains (yes, penguin poop!). In contrast to spies, Michelle loves to share her research.

Michelle is an active science communicator on Twitter and on Facebook where she posts contest such as "Cougar or Not?" every Friday via her Twitter feed. She also engages other social media users who tend to post "not so appropriate things" about women in science to raise more awareness that women should be treated equal in science and the workplace.

Michelle is pushing the boundaries of science by studying population dynamics of iconic species through satellite imagery. As a fellow GIS (digital mapping) and Remote Sensing ecologist, I am highly envious of her work because she gets to study the species that many people want to study from Minnesota! She still takes the odd trip to Antarctica, but for most of the year, she lives in Minnesota where she watches penguin and seals go about their activities throughout the year and answers some basic, but important questions that will help better manage each species. 

Do you want to work in a career in Marine Conservation like Michelle

Connect with me andrew@speakupforblue.com

You can also connect with me to find out how you can live for a better Ocean by using Arbonne health and wellness products that are healthy for you and the Ocean. Contact me andrew@speakupforblue.com

You can also support this podcast by contribution to our Patreon Campaign

Enjoy the podcast with Dr. Michelle LaRue 

Direct download: SUFB_S211_SatellitePenguinsWithMichelleLaRue.mp3
Category:antarctica -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

This show has grown immensely over the past month and a half. Ever since I attended the International Marine Conservation Congress and this podcast got accepted on iHeart Radio. the growth has come with many benefits. 

1) The growth of this community - I can only measure downloads to see how the podcast has grown. Since August, the podcast has doubled in daily downloads and sometimes tripled. I am quite excited about this as this is one part of the community growth: reach more people!

2) The interaction with you and the rest of the Speak Up For Blue Community - Over the past 2-3 weeks, I've asked you to schedule a call with me to find out how you can pursue a career in Marine Conservation. And many of you responded. This response has gotten me crazy excited!!! I actually get to chat with anyone who wants to chat with me about the Ocean. It's the true community feel. 

When people start a podcast, they want to get as many people to listen to it as possible. However, the true measure of building a community is the interaction you get from your audience. And this is what I am glad to say is starting to come to fruition. I want to continue to build that community and you can help. 

Email me to chat about the Ocean and the ways that we can reduce our impact on the Ocean andrew@speakupforblue.com.

Are you ready to pivot to a more meaningful career? 

Do you want to talk about how you can pursue a career in Marine Conservation? Send me an email and let's chat.

andrew@speakupforblue.com

Because I want to talk to you!

 

Instagram: @speakupforblue

Snapchat: @speakupforblue

SUFB Podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/podcast

Support our podcast: http://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon

SUFB Website: http://www.speakupforblue.com

10 Ocean Tips to Conserve the Ocean: http://www.speakupforblue.com/wordpress/sufb_optinpdf

Direct download: SUFB_S210_BuildingTheSpeakUpForBlueCommunity.mp3
Category:Marine Conservation -- posted at: 8:30am EDT

The US presidential election is less than a couple of months away and we haven't heard any of the candidates talk about their positions on science, especially Climate Change and Ocean Health.

This past week, we found out that a website called ScienceDebate.org asked the 4 candidates what their positions were on 20 specific areas in science. Each candidate answered on every theme and they are written out on the website.

Today, Nathan and I go over two positions: Climate Change and Ocean Health. We wanted to cover more themes; however, we ran out of time. So we did the best we could.

Take a listen and let us know what you think. 

Are you ready to pivot to a more meaningful career? 

Do you want to talk about how you can pursue a career in Marine Conservation? Send me an email and let's chat.

andrew@speakupforblue.com

Because I want to talk to you!

Join the Arbonne Blue Team

http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue

Instagram: @speakupforblue

Snapchat: @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

Direct download: SUFB_S209_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:science debate -- posted at: 8:30am EDT

Richard Lilley and his co-founders, Benjamin Jones and Dr. Richard Unsworth, are working their butts off to make sure that you and I are talking about seagrass. I hope this interview will not only teach you about seagrass, but tell you about how much trouble they are in and why we need to ensure seagrass habitats are protected around the world.

The three scientists and co-founders created Project Seagrass as a way to facility education, research, and campaigns to protect seagrass habitats around the world. They are fairly effective at it too. Project Seagrass is everywhere: on social media; putting on conferences; and, leading in cutting edge research and conservation projects around the world. 

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Richard to discuss why seagrass habitats are so important and what they are doing about it.

Take a listen to the interview to find out.

Are you ready to pivot to a more meaningful career? 

Do you want to talk about how you can pursue a career in Marine Conservation? Send me an email and let's chat.

andrew@speakupforblue.com

Because I want to talk to you!

Join the Arbonne Blue Team

http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue

Instagram: @speakupforblue

Snapchat: @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

Direct download: SUFB_S208_ProjectSeagrassWithRichardLilley.mp3
Category:seagrass -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Marine Conservation saw a couple of great government moves at the end of last week. 

Orca Captive Breeding and Shows Banned in California

The state of California passed a law banning captive breeding of orcas as well as orca shows. This essentially puts a nail in the coffin to orca shows and breeding at Marine Mammal Parks such as SeaWorld in California and could pave the way for other states such as Florida and Texas to pass similar laws, which would completely get rid of shows and breeding programs for each of SeaWorld's location. 

The ban forces SeaWorld to change the way it displays orcas from an entertainment attraction to more of an education attraction and it could start the process in releasing orcas to Sea Side Marine Mammal Sanctuaries. However, SeaWorld continues to state that releasing captive bred orcas into the sea where they would be exposed to potential oil spills and other types of pollution would harm the orcas. Dr. Naomi Rose from the Animal Welfare Institute stated on The Speak Up For Blue Episode 190 that SeaWorld's position is not scientifically correct and has been disproven by the release of the orca Keiko (Take a listen to the episode for more information on Keiko).

SeaWorld announced in March 2016 that it would halt the breeding program and in January earlier that year said it would stop its orca shows. The California law ensures that SeaWorld will not go back on its word. 

President Obama Announces 1st Atlantic Marine Monument

The President was in the news a couple of weeks ago as he announced the expansion of the Hawaii National Marine Monument and last week he announced the establishment of the 1st Marine Monument in the Atlantic Ocean on the coast of New England. The Monument with protect a series of Deep Sea Seamounts and Canyons that provide great biodiversity for the area. 

The Monument will ensure the protection of biodiversity of the area and protect fisheries sustainability; however, the fishing industry does not believe the Monument takes into account the loss of income it will have on the fishing industry. 

The declaration of this Monument continues to show that this President values the Ocean and its resources as well as the need for its protection.

 

Are you ready to pivot to a more meaningful career? 

Do you want to talk about how you can pursue a career in Marine Conservation? Send me an email and let's chat.

andrew@speakupforblue.com

Because I want to talk to you!

Join the Arbonne Blue Team

http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue

Instagram: @speakupforblue

Snapchat: @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

Direct download: SUFB_S207_NewsUpdateOrcaBanAndAtlanticNationalMonumentDeclaredByObama.mp3
Category:Orca -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Nathan and I are back again this week with a FULL episode of Ocean Talk Friday. Last week we only got to cover 2 stories due to a bad Skype connection (podcasting problems), but this week we were able to really bring it this week!

Today's stories include:

1) How do Shark Teeth bite (talking about adaptation);

2) Do Ocean Acidification Laboratory Studies provide the same results as field studies (hint: no);

3) The Billion Oyster Program in New York City;

4) We are only starting to protect the Ocean;

5) Millennials are the future of our oceans? 

As usual, Nathan and I dive into the articles to translate what it means to Marine Science and Conservation. 

Are you ready to pivot to a more meaningful career? 

Do you want to talk about how you can pursue a career in Marine Conservation? Send me an email and let's chat.

andrew@speakupforblue.com

Because I want to talk to you!

Join the Arbonne Blue Team

http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue

Instagram: @speakupforblue

Snapchat: @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

Direct download: SUFB_S206_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:Marine Conservation -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Travis Nielsen is our guest today on Interview Wednesday. He is a marine scientist and the person who was responsible for managing the logistics at the International Marine Conservation Congress in St. John's, Newfoundland. Essentially, he made sure that everyone enjoyed themselves at the conference by everything running well. And I must say that he is damn good at his job.

I met Travis at the IMCC4 and we got along great! So much so that we chatted about him coming on the very podcast to discuss what he did and how he got here. And he left a little surprise for me and you for when we recorded the podcast (You will have to listen to the podcast to find out what that surprise is!). 

I really enjoyed hearing the story of how Travis got to where he is because is describes the path that many have taken and are currently taking. It's a long a winding path, which requires you to adapt to professional and personal situations that may influence your decisions at any point in time. It's about taking risks to see what is behind door number 1 and then taking door number 2 after realizing that door number 1 wasn't for you. 

Gary Vaynerchuk, a marketing guru and celebrity, always tells people that you will need to be able to pivot multiple times throughout your career to maintain your job or to follow your passions to a meaningful career. 

Travis has done what Gary says and will continue to do it throughout his career because he has been doing it since he graduated High School. 

Are you ready to pivot to a more meaningful career? 

Do you want to talk about how you can pursue a career in Marine Conservation? Send me an email and let's chat.

andrew@speakupforblue.com

Because I want to talk to you!

Join the Arbonne Blue Team

http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue

Instagram: @speakupforblue

Snapchat: @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

Direct download: SUFB_S205_MarineConservationEventPlanningWithTravisNielsen.mp3
Category:Conferences -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Marine Conservation is a very rewarding career and you will recall that I've said this before; however, this is not an easy field in which we work. You will soon find out that the environment is not always the top priority for governments or businesses to act unless it causes severe and consistent economic damage to the point where the cost outweighs the amount of money that someone can gain from it. Combatting this sort of stigma requires protest, which in itself can be done in many ways. 

Protests have been used to make governments and/or the public aware that a particular group of people, or a person, would like something to change or stop something for changing. Protests can be conducted peacefully and others can be conducted violently. Each type is designed to create awareness and stop something from happening. 

Sea Shepherd Society protests are done by any means necessary. Their protests are more aggressive than others. Not everyone, including me, agrees with their methods, but they are effective (do an internet search on Japanese Whaling over the past 5 years and you will notice Sea Shepherd is consistently interrupting their catches every year by ramming into whaling boats and getting in their way). 

Scientists from across Canada marched in Ottawa (the capital) to protest the attempt of the conservative Canadian government to silence its scientists. The march was peaceful and gained national media coverage bringing light to a problem affecting the environment.

Not all protests are for the environment. Recently, NFL' San Francisco 49er Quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, sat down during the American National anthem to protest the violence of police against minorities and the lack of action that would reduce and eventually eliminate the issue. Colin got criticized for the method in which he protested as many said that he was disrespecting the flag and the people who fought under the flag to protect his freedom. He was called spoiled, a coward among other things. Some of the media even said that he wasn't "black" enough to realize the issue that was happening and shouldn't be leading the cause in the NFL. 

However, Colin was leading a movement that would turn into others sitting, kneeling, and interlocking arms as a team. The protest spread across the NFL, one of America's biggest sports, and other sports spanning various ethnicities too. the protest went from criticizing Colin for his actions to many more people discussing the issue he was protesting in the first place. An issue that may not be solved in one day or over many years, but is now being discussed again through Colin's actions. 

Colin also pledged $1 million dollars to various charities that were working on the issues at hand and other athletes pledged undisclosed amounts in support. 

One quarterback's actions has led to a conservation continuing and some important work being supported. It started with one person and led to action. 

In another recent protest, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe conducted the largest protest in First Nation history to stop the construction of a pipeline north of there land. They were concerned about the contamination of their land and drinking water through future spills that may take place. They sued the Army Corp of Engineers, which was overseeing the construction to stop the action entirely until a proper assessment was conducted and the assessment methods were done properly. 

First Nations going up against the government is not an easy fight; however, the protest caused a temporary halting of construction until the court decided what to do. The court eventually decided to let the construction happen; however, President Obama gave an executive order to stop all construction until further notice. 

Do you think the President would have known about this situation had it not been for the protests? I think not. 

The point of this episode is to begin to lead for Marine Conservation. You don't have to protest for everything, but you don't have to wait for a group of people to support you to create change. In fact, Marine Conservation often starts with a leader inspiring people to create change. Just look at Dr. Sylvia Earle, who continues to inspire other Marine Scientists and Conservationists around the world through her work.

Become a leader for the Ocean and Speak Up For Blue!

Do you want to talk about how you can pursue a career in Marine Conservation? Send me an email and let's chat.

andrew@speakupforblue.com

Because I want to talk to you!

Join the Arbonne Blue Team

http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue

Instagram: @speakupforblue

Snapchat: @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

 

Direct download: SUFB_S204_LeadingByExampleForMarineConservation.mp3
Category:Leadership -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Nathan Johnson and I got together again to discuss (while fighting a bad Skype connection) some Ocean articles that we read over the past week. 

We were able to discuss 2 articles in particular:

1) Why the expansion of the Hawaiian National Marine Monument was just the beginning; and,

2) President Obama has a Hawaiian fish named after him.

Here are some articles that we didn't get to during the show that might be interesting:

1) Climate change is inhibiting the Ocean to protect us; and,

2) Oregon bans fishing for forage fish to increase their predator populations.

Do you want to talk about how you can pursue a career in Marine Conservation? Send me an email and let's chat.

andrew@speakupforblue.com

Because I want to talk to you!

Join the Arbonne Blue Team

http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue

Instagram: @speakupforblue

Snapchat: @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

 

Direct download: SUFB_S203_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:Marine Conservation -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

Dr. Brett Favaro is not only a researcher at the Marine Institute at Memorial University, but he was the co-chair of the International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC 2016) in St. John's, Newfoundland this past August. If you haven't figured it out yet, the IMCC 2016 was a bit life changing for me. 

Brett was kind enough to take time off his busy schedule at the IMCC to chat with me about the purpose of the conference as well as his research.

Planning and overseeing a conference as big as IMCC is not easy. Not.One.Bit! It's busy and chaotic at the slowest time. Brett and his team did a great job in planning the entire conference as well as the Oceans Online afterward. It was great to chat with him about the conference at how it met its purpose.

The research led by Brett on researching various ways to create sustainable fishing gear is quite interesting as well. He talks about Cod Pod nets that he is currently field testing for efficiency and safety with local fishing communities. Fisher people are often found to be the villains in the story due to over fishing; however, many fishing communities are very concerned about the environment and they have witnessed the changes the Oceans have undergone over the past decades. Collaborations are important when trying to find sustainable fishing solutions and that is what Brett and his team are doing.

Brett talks about how he builds relationships with the fishing community by sharing a meal and chatting to them about everyday life. It builds respect, trust and friendship, which makes working together much easier. The community is involved in many steps of the process of the research that will help them catch more cod while avoiding bycatch.

We often dismiss the work conducted by the fishing community because of their bad reputation, but the fact is, they are trying to protect the Ocean so they can live off of it and enjoy life like every body else.  

Do you want to talk about how you can pursue a career in Marine Conservation? Send me an email and let's chat.

andrew@speakupforblue.com

Because I want to talk to you!

Join the Arbonne Blue Team

http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue

Instagram: @speakupforblue

Snapchat: @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

Direct download: SUFB_S202_IMCCPlanningAndFishingResearchWithBrettFavero.mp3
Category:Fishing -- posted at: 8:43am EDT

I am pleased to announce that Ocean Talk Friday is back after a 3 week hiatus. Nathan and I got back together to discuss the latest and important topics covered in the news. Today we discussed the following topics:

1) The Hawaii National Monument expansion;

2) The economy of marine conservation;

3) Seamounts are vulnerable and we need to do something about it;

4) What to do when poverty meets marine conservation; and,

5) A celebrity donated their yatch to a marine conservation organization.

Listen to the podcast to find out who the celebrity is. 

Do you want to talk about how you can pursue a career in Marine Conservation? Send me an email and let's chat.

andrew@speakupforblue.com

Because I want to talk to you!

Join the Arbonne Blue Team

http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue

Instagram: @speakupforblue

Snapchat: @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

Direct download: SUFB_S201_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:Ocean Talk Friday -- posted at: 8:01am EDT

Interview Wednesday's continues with the International Marine Conservation Congress Series where I had the chance to interview a number of people who are involved in Marine Science and Conservation. 

We had the chance to interview Dr. Asha DeVos from Sri Lanka for a second time at the conference to tell her story of how she became a Marine Biologist; what she thinks of the field; and, how she thinks people should approach getting into the field of Marine Conservation. All in all this was a great interview.

Not just because it was our 200th episode (thanks for listening by the way); not just because Asha is an amazing person to interview because of her story, her optimistic attitude, and her outgoing personality; but, because this interview was a collaborative effort between Speak Up For Blue and the IMCCs Ocean Optimism Team Marriane Teoh and Liza Hoos.

Ocean Optimism (#OceanOptimism) is an initiative that started from IMCC 3 in Scotland where members decided that they wanted to focus on communicating more positive stories to show that there is still hope for the Ocean and focus less on the "doom and gloom" style of communication because the public can't handle it after a while.

Marianne and I worked together at the conference to interview a few guests together to maximize time and get the guests to discuss different stories about their experiences including the negative and the positive.

The interview was conducted by Speak Up For Blue's Nathan Johnson and Marianne Teoh to get Asha's story out there in the podcast world. I was conducting a workshop during this time at the conference so I put my trust in these great people who did an amazing job!

Asha is an inspiration to all Marine Conservationists and is educating people to build a Marine Conservation literacy to live for a better ocean (sound familiar? Hint: it's what we are trying to do here at Speak Up For Blue!).

Listen to Dr. Asha DeVos talk about her career, her Ocean Optimism, and how she thinks we can be more effective in Marine Conservation.

 

Do you want to talk about how you can pursue a career in Marine Conservation? Send me an email and let's chat.

andrew@speakupforblue.com

Because I want to talk to you!

Join the Arbonne Blue Team

http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue

Instagram: @speakupforblue

Snapchat: @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

  

Direct download: SUFB_S200_StudyingBlueWhalePoopWithAshaDeVos.mp3
Category:Asha DeVos -- posted at: 7:13am EDT

Over the past few months, I have had the opportunity to chat with a number of people inquiring over switching their career to one in Marine Science and Conservation. Usually, the people are ranging in age between 30-50 and working in a business/finance field and they just don't find that the their career offers anything of meaning in their lives. They tend to be searching for something where they can create a positive change in the world. These are the people I love to talk to because I know they can offer the Marine Science and Conservation field a great advantage with their unique skills set.

Some of you might know that I focus part of Speak Up For Blue on helping people attain a career in Marine Science and Conservation. Most of the people that I help are young, recent graduates who don't know where to begin in their search for a job, let alone building their career. They are also great people to talk to and help as many of them have science backgrounds and looking to do research, monitoring, ect.

However, the people between the ages of 30-50 who are switching their careers from business/finance are a key player in Marine Science and Conservation field. I like these people because they provide a unique set of skills and a different mindset on how to approach and project. They are similar to the young science graduates in that they don't know where to begin searching for a career and often think that they have to go back to school to become a marine biologist. This thought process tends to impede people from thinking of switching careers. This is the time where I step in. 

I always tell people that they don't need to be a scientist to be effective in Marine Science and Conservation. It takes a lot of time and money to invest in becoming a marine scientist. There are enough marine scientists in the world. What you need is to figure out how your skill set that you offer will help the field. 

If you search the high level positions in non-profit organizations you will find that the Executive Directors, Program Managers and all of the other high level positions, you will find that they consist of lawyers, business people, entrepreneurs, financial people, etc. Those high level positions are attainable and your skill set may fit the description.

If you are searching for a Marine Science and Conservation and you are between the ages of 30-50 years old and you are in a different field, then email me at:

andrew@speakupforblue.com

Because I want to talk to you!

Tune into the episode to find out more information.

 

Join the Arbonne Blue Team

http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue

Instagram: @speakupforblue

Snapchat: @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 Education is a way of building resilient Oceans for the future. You would think that anyone living along an Ocean's coast would know more about the Ocean than someone who lived inland; however, that is not always the case. There are cultural stigmas that often exist within coastal communities. For instance, Nikita Shiel-Rolle, a marine biologist in the Bahamas, said that many Bahamians cannot swim even though they live close to the shore. 

I sat down with Nikita at the International Marine Conservation Congress in St. John's, Newfoundland earlier this month to discuss how she is breaking stigmas and barriers by empowering local school kids through marine education and exploration of the shores by which they are growing up. 

Nikita's story is a great one where she speaks about leaving her country to come to Canada for school as her parents' number one focus was on education. She had to come to Canada to get her education, but now she has come home to teach the next provides the chance for the next generation to become inspired through exploring their beautiful shores and become marine stewards of the future.

She has not only provided the above, but she has also shown her students the wonders of learning science and math, which is translating into increased success in schools to which the graduation rate will increase from 50%. 

Enjoy getting to know Nikita, who by the way is just an AMAZING person!

Check out the Young Marine Explorer's Website: http://www.ymebahamas.org/index.html

Learn more about Nikita Shiel-Rolle: http://www.shielrolle.com/blog.html

Join the Arbonne Blue Team

http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue

Instagram: @speakupforblue

Snapchat: @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

Direct download: SUFB_S198_OceanYouthEducationWithNikitaShielRolle.mp3
Category:marine education -- posted at: 8:47am EDT

 The current model for marine conservation funding is flawed because scientists and conservationists cannot fund for their infrastructure anymore. They can only fund based on projects and results. As usual, some organizations took advantage of the old funding model and results were not received by the foundations so everyone now suffers.

Project based funding coupled with more organizations seeking funding impedes everyone from sharing money and only certain organizations, government departments and academics get funded well. 

Individuals and organizations are searching for ways by which they can raise funds to follow their passions and protect the ocean the best way they know how. These ways many not fit with missions for many organizations, so they tend not to get funded by foundations and other grantees. 

The individuals and organizations are turning to the web to raise funds through crowdfunding. I cover a few examples of crowdsource funding initiatives by some individuals to help get their campaigns out there (and hopefully their work will get you to contribute) and raise awareness that crowdsourcing is a great funding opportunity for many people and organizations within the Marine Conservation Field.

I discuss the following campaigns:

Andrew David Thaler - https://www.patreon.com/andrew-thaler

Wallace J. Nichols - https://www.patreon.com/wallacejnichols

David Shiffman - https://experiment.com/projects/what-are-the-feeding-habits-of-threatened-sharks

Craig McClain - https://experiment.com/projects/wood-is-it-what-s-for-dinner 

Susan R. Eaton - https://www.gofundme.com/susanreaton

 

Join the Arbonne Blue Team

http://www.speakupforblue.com/teamblue

Instagram: @speakupforblue

Snapchat: @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

Direct download: SUFB_S197_MarineConservationFunding.mp3
Category:funding -- posted at: 11:49pm EDT

In the absence of an Ocean Talk Friday, I picked 2 stories that cover some of our favorite topics (Climate Change and Sharks) to discuss.

The first story is about how the US is still divisive on the issue of climate change (ugh!). I talk about the frustrations of hearing arguments against climate change based on a belief system as opposed to adapting to its consequences and reducing our climate change impact.

The second story is about the age of the Greenland Shark. It's old! How old? Well, it's older than Canada and the US! That's old. In fact, it's now considered the oldest vertebrate. Crazy! I talk about how cool it is to find out the age and how the age will dictate management of this species in the face of mounting pressure due to non other than climate change.

Listen to the podcast for more details on both stories.

 

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


 I had the chance to sit down with Dr. Easkey Britton during the International Marine Conservation Congress at the beginning of August for a 1 one 1 interview to discuss all the cool things that she is doing around the world. 

Easkey describes how a surfing trip to Iran (yes, Iran!) changed the lives of many young Iranians by introducing them to surfing and bringing them together as a community. Surfing was introduced to the community in 2010 and Easkey has gone back for a purposeful visit ever since. The community now surfs and takes care of their connected Ocean.

Surfing also brought Easkey to Papua New Guinea to help build a surfing community and bring together local people. This community is growing stronger everyday by tackling a major issue in the Island Nation of domestic violence. The community painted the tip of their surf boards to show solidarity within their own community as well as show the abusers that their tyranny will not be tolerated. 

Easkey is a person who is dedicated to facilitating social and environmental change through surfing and building close ties to communities. 

 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

Direct download: SUFB_S195_SurfingToConservationSocialChangeWithEaskeyBritton.mp3
Category:surfing -- posted at: 7:55am EDT

The Marine Conservation community is large and represented from all parts of the Earth. More and more people are entering this wonderful community every day, but they aren’t sure how they can help protect the Ocean to the point that they might give up because the problems are too big and they don’t think they can bring about change. Well, I can’t have that!

So I decided to list these 7 ways that you can help conserve the Ocean to prevent you from being too overwhelmed. There are many other ways that you can help conserve the Ocean, but I feel that these are good beginner steps to getting what you want and feeling good about what you are doing.

Don’t Panic, take a breath

I get many messages from the Speak Up For Blue Podcast audience members after they listen to a show where I describe an issue and send me an email saying that they can’t believe we, as humans, can be so stupid to treat our Oceans the way they do. They are angry and shocked and want to yell at the world! I promptly reply for then to not panic and take a breath. They don’t want to approach people who are doing something to contribute to an Ocean issue aggressively and make that person angry for being called out. This attitude will not change the way people act in their lives or towards the ocean.

Marine Conservation should be conducted in a positive way and provide the chance for people to change their habits. People contribute to Ocean issues without realizing they are doing anything wrong. You and I may be doing something that contributes to the problem every day, but we are unaware. For example, I did an interview with Stu Landesberg, CEO of the Grove Collaborative (formerly epantry), who sold certified eco-friendly cleaning supplies online. He described to me the way products on a store shelf differ from products sent via online purchases. The former has to compete on a shelf with other similar products and they have to last a certain time period on the shelf. The products are often sold in large, bright plastic containers that are not easily recyclable. They also contain chemicals that act as preservatives to ensure the product doesn’t spoil on the shelf. Those chemicals may not be as good for you as you thought (you would be surprised).

The point is we live in a world where we waste and consume products that are not good for us or the environment, including the Oceans. It’s good to understand the issues, but don’t get too caught up in the anger and use that anger to change behaviour for conservation.

Think Globally, act locally

Think Globally, act locally is a term you probably heard bused by many environmentalists around the world. It’s such a cat phrase that often people use it in jokes, but the statement is so very true especially in Ocean Conservation.

After you finish panicking, it’s good to take note of the major Ocean issues that we are facing: Plastic Pollution, Climate Change, Overfishing, Water Quality and Coastal Development are just a few of the major issues we not only face, but cause. Each issue is widespread enough that the consequences extend across the Ocean having a Global impact. Breakdown the problem by thinking how you can act locally that will remedy this problem. For example, decreasing overfishing will require you to eat seafood more sustainably and responsibly to avoid fish that are overfished. The Seafood Watch program will allow you to eat seafood with a conscious as the program is updated frequently to allow you to create informed decisions on your meals. I use my Seafood Watch App for my iPhone to ask the waiter or retailer whether the seafood was caught sustainably. If they don’t know, then I tell them that I don’t want the seafood because they don’t know how it was caught.

Start at home

It’s always good to start conservation at home as there are so many things that we can conserve including energy, water, plastic, and cleaning supplies covering four of the major issues I mention above. Each conservation action requires a change in behaviour by you and your family, but they don’t require a ton of changes. You can even start slowly by reducing the amount of plastic bags used in your home or eliminate plastic utensils from your house. You can buy a digital thermostat to control your heat/air conditioning by setting it at different temps throughout the day to save on energy.

Starting your conservation efforts are small but significant changes that can really reduce your Ocean Issue footprint. It just takes a little time to get used to some of the changes, but once you are in the full swing of things you feel better about yourself.

Become a leader in your community

Your leadership at home can transfer into your community through actions. It is easy to show others that you care about the state of the environment in your community whether you live by the coast or inland. Debris and plastic pollution is quite hi in the spring after the snow melts. This past spring, my wife and two daughters went out to clean a portion of our neighborhood (after the suggestion by my 6 year old daughter). A neighbor or ours loved the plan and her family joined us as well. We spent half an hour cleaning up and the results were spectacular (8 garbage bags!)!

Another neighbor, who we didn’t know, was driving by and asked us what we were doing. He thanked us for cleaning up as he saw the value of our efforts. We never expect people to follow after we clean something up, but we know we are leading by example when we do clean ups like these.

It doesn’t take a lot of time to show your neighbors that you care about your neighborhood, but the reactions are priceless.

Understand that change takes time

Rome wasn’t built in a day nor did the ocean change for the worse in a day, so why do we all think that our efforts will change all of the destruction (or stop the destruction) that we have done to the Ocean in one day. Marine Conservation takes time. Sometimes it takes time to see positive results in the Ocean from changes such as implementing Marine Protected Area and/or it could take time to change people’s behaviour that can cause a specific Ocean Issue to get out of hand.

Marine Conservation requires you to become persistent and patient when trying to change the way people behave (after all, behaviour is usually the problem). Dr. Naomi Rose is a great example of someone who has worked and continues to work hard at Marine Conservation. She works for the Animal Welfare Institute to get captive Orcas and Dolphins released into the wild. We have seen some great strides with captive animals and their road to release over the past year, but people like Naomi are the people who laid the ground work for all of this to happen and she continues to work to get the animals released into Whale Sea-Side Sanctuaries.  

You need to have patience but still be persistent in your quest to change things for the better in the Ocean realm.

Conservation is more than just science

You don’t need to be a scientist to be in Marine Conservation. There are many scientists out there who do some great work, but they would like to do work rather than take most of their time searching for funding. People with a background in finance, business, marketing, law and other non-science backgrounds can really help secure funding for scientific and conservation projects. Tradespeople can also play a crucial role in Marine Conservation. Science and Conservation require equipment to complete their projects so being an electrician, carpenter, plumber and being good with your hands with a creative mind can really come in handy.

Conservation is a discipline that requires all professions and backgrounds to become successful. Never count yourself out and be creative as to how you can help.

Never give up!

Ask Dr. Naomi Rose if she ever found it difficult to do what she does. Conservation is like an emotional roller coaster. It can be very difficult to reach your end goal. There are numerous challenges on the way to overcome to see small rewards. However, they goals can be reached through teamwork and support from other conservationists. The war to release Orcas is not over, but many battles are being won. Passion for the Ocean is what drives us forward and allows us to rise during the tough times.

 

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

Direct download: SUFB_S194_7WaysYouCanConserveTheOcean.mp3
Category:Marine Conservation -- posted at: 9:21am EDT

Marine conservation is a wide ranging field in which people all over the world, from various cultural, professional and religious backgrounds take part. Why? It’s because they have a great passion for conserving the Ocean. Regardless of the passion, the field is huge and it can be difficult to find a way that you can “fit in” to the field to make a significant impact in the area you specialize let along in the marine conservation field in general. I still struggle with finding the way I can have a positive influence and build a legacy for my daughters and their generation to continue to build on it and live for a better Ocean. With that said, I feel as though I am close to following that path (after 15 years of searching!) after attending the International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC4).

 

I was excited to attend the IMMC4 conference because I attended IMCC2 four years ago and met some wonderful people. Two and a half years ago, I attended another conference called the Oceans Online Conference, which focused on communication Marine Science and Conservation to the public.  Many of the people at IMCC2 where at Oceans Online and I formed some great business relationships and friendships. The people are the main reason I go to Marine Conservation Conferences. It therefore made sense to me to go to IMCC4 where Oceans Online was going to be held in the same place by IMCC4. This was going to be fun. Working as a Marine Conservationist and Scientist in Ontario gets a bit lonely at times, so I jump on any opportunity to meet with friends and colleagues and I look forward to meeting new people to forge new relationships…and I met some amazing people.

The people that I met were so amazing that I decided to record a podcast and this accompanying blog post about meeting them and how the people inspired me to venture down a path where I can really have a positive influence in the Marine Conservation field. Here are 4 women who helped further inspire me to follow my passion. I must note that all 4 people are women and 3 of the 4 women were plenary speakers (I also think the other woman could have easily been a plenary speaker!).

Dr. Asha de Vos , Marine Mammologist with a Focus on Blue Whale Distribution and Human Impacts

I had the chance to hang out with Asha during the conference even though I missed her plenary talk as I arrived the night she spoke (she spoke earlier in the evening).  I was told by colleagues that very night and throughout the conference that here plenary was “life changing” (so were the other plenary talks). Asha is from Sri Lanka and has her PhD in Marine Biology. It’s not fair to rewrite her entire journey when you can find it on her website; however, I will say that this woman is awesome! Her passion for understanding the distribution and health of a large blue whale population brought her to deal with the Sri Lankan government to reroute shipping lanes in order to avoid ship strikes on whales. The ships were sailing in and out of one of the largest ports in the world and Asha was ready to work with them to protect the environment and promote tourism opportunities to view blue whales (the largest animal on the planet!).  Working with government and trying to reroute shipping lanes took her down a challenging path including death threats because people thought she was trying to shut the port down (which was not true); discrimination; and, sexism. Regardless of the challenges, Asha says she continues to work to understand and protect the iconic blue whale species because we have to protect them, there is no other way around it!

Nikita Sheil-Rolle, Marine Biologist working with students to educate them on the Ocean and solving social problems in the meantime.

Nikita sat down with me for an interview on the podcast (the interview will be posted within the next couple of weeks) to discuss how she has transformed the lives of Bahamian school children through a marine education program. Nikita made me aware that the current graduation rate of Bahamian school children was 50%; therefore, she decided to incorporate parts of the school children’s curriculum into her program to get them excited about learning about the Ocean and the subjects in school. The program is for 2 hours 3 days a week after school and 4 hours of Saturday. Since the programs start, crime in the local area has decreased significantly.   In fact, Nikita recently won an award for Youth Development in the Bahamas for her tremendous work with school children. As you can see, Nikita has transformed the lives of children in a positive way creating a generation of marine stewards to take care of the ocean.

Dr. Easkey Britton, Former Pro Surfer, Social Entrepreneur, and Marine Scientist building social change and marine awareness and protection through surfing.

Easkey was a plenary speaker at the end of the conference highlighting her accomplishments that she and her teams have accomplished over the past number of years. I also sat down with Easkey to talk about her most famous project that took place in Iran. Easkey and a fellow surfer traveled to Iran in search for surfing…and they fund more than just surfing. Easkey’s friend documented Easkey’s experience surfing in Iran covered head to toe in her wetsuit to respect the traditional garb).  The video went on You Tube and went viral within Iran. The large contingent of women who enjoyed outdoor sports immediately fell in love with the idea of surfing and soon Easkey found herself travelling back to Iran to teach women how to surf and bring together the people through surfing. The local village soon realized that they had to protect the water to which they were now connected by organizing beach clean ups to improve water quality. Easkey continues to witness a social and environmental change within the local village that has been historically oppressed. She hopes that the Iranians will come to integrate with the local village as more and more people turn to surfing as their recreational past time. Until then, she will continue to work with beginner surfers and arrange surfing equipment to be delivered to the area to get more people into the sport.

Dr. Michelle LaRue Conservation Biologist at the University of Minnesota specializing on conservation of iconic species such as emperor penguins, seals, cougar, and polar bears using satellite imagery.

Michelle was also one of the plenary speakers who talked about her research and her passion to integrate new technology with conservation biology. She is leading the way in understanding Antarctic and Arctic species distribution and population dynamics from afar. Why is this important? Well, have you ever traveled to the pole? It’s insanely expensive. Using satellite imagery along with field surveys proves to be more cost effective (in a field where constrained funding is strong!) and provides a good representation of where animals are going and why. Michelle uses her research to communicate science to public groups who are excited to learn more about the conservation of iconic species. Effective communication is important for research and conservation to gain a good hold in the public forum as that will move policy and make changes for a better environment (just look at what happened with Sea World after Blackfish came out!).

Each one of these women has created change through their passion to better understand the Ocean and create social change to protect the Ocean and the environment. It is truly difficult to NOT be inspired by the stories of these women and I look forward to watching them make more changes in the future.

They have already created a sense of change in my life and leading me down a path that I look forward to following in the future and implement the plans. I will let you know once I figured it out.

 

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:

Direct download: SUFB_S193_4InspirationalPeopleInMarineConservation.mp3
Category:women in science -- posted at: 9:40am EDT

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

Direct download: SUFB_S192_TrashFreeSeasWithNickMallos.mp3
Category:Plastic Pollution -- posted at: 8:07pm EDT

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

Direct download: SUFB_S191_JairoMoralesAwardConservationSecurity.mp3
Category:Jairo Mora -- posted at: 8:30am EDT

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

Direct download: SUFB_S190_WhaleSeaSideSantuariesWithNaomiRose.mp3
Category:Orca -- posted at: 3:55pm EDT

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

Direct download: SUFB_S189_IMCC4DAY1.mp3
Category:IMCC -- posted at: 7:30am EDT

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

Direct download: SUFB_S188_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:Marine Science -- posted at: 9:00am EDT

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

Direct download: SUFB_S187_HitchhikersOnSeaTurtlesWithNathanRobinson.mp3
Category:sea turtle -- posted at: 10:50pm EDT

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

Direct download: SUFB_S185_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:ocean -- posted at: 9:37am EDT

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

Direct download: SUFB_S184_SeaPensForMarineMammals.mp3
Category:blackfish -- posted at: 9:09am EDT

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

Direct download: SUFB_S183_DronesForMarineConservation.mp3
Category:drones -- posted at: 8:16pm EDT

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

Direct download: SUFB_S182_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:ocean -- posted at: 12:10am EDT

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

Direct download: SUFB_S181_ExploringTheArcticOceanWithSusanREaton.mp3
Category:Arctic Ocean -- posted at: 7:17am EDT

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

Direct download: SUFB_S180_ArbonneForTheOcean.mp3
Category:Arbonne -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

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

Direct download: SUFB_S179_FishEyeProjectMikeIrvine.mp3
Category:SCUBA Diving -- posted at: 1:25pm EDT

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

Direct download: SUFB_S178_FloridasToxicBloom.mp3
Category:algae -- posted at: 12:07am EDT

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

Direct download: SW2016_FBLive_AirJawsReview1.mp3
Category:Shark Week -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

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

Direct download: 2016-06-28_22-28-21.mp3
Category:Shark Week -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

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  

Direct download: 2016-06-27_22-47-53.mp3
Category:Shark Week -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

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

Direct download: Shark_Week_2016-_Tiger_Beach_Review.mp3
Category:Shark Week -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

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  

Direct download: SUFB_S173_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:Shark Week -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

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 

Direct download: SUFB_S172_FindingTheOrnamentalFishingIndustry.mp3
Category:finding dory -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

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 

Direct download: SUFB_S171_MarineConservationLetsTalk.mp3
Category:Marine Conservation -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

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:

  1. Shell gives lease plots back to Canada to expand a Marine Protected Area;
  2. 5 Ocean Heroes that are doing great things for the Oceans;
  3. Invertebrate larvae are settling based on surroundings; and,
  4. 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 

Direct download: SUFB_S170_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:ocean -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

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 

Direct download: SUFB_S169_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:Oceans Day -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

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:

  1. There is no science that justifies the existence of a "rogue" shark; and,
  2. 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 

Direct download: SUFB_S168_ThereIsNoScienceBehindSharkCulling.mp3
Category:shark attack -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

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:

  1. Local stakeholders (shark fishermen) who didn't have alternative livings to take care of their families; and,
  2. 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 

Direct download: SUFB_S168_MoreThanMPasNeeded.mp3
Category:Marine Protected Areas -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

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.

  1. Was he protecting the boy?
  2. Was he scared of the crowd and that is why he dragged the boy through the water trying to intimidate the crowd?
  3. Was was the boy allowed to get in the pen in the first place?
  4. 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

Direct download: SUFB_S166_WhatHarambesDeathDoesForConservation.mp3
Category:harambe -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

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

Direct download: SUFB_S165_IMSORRYAudienceNemoCorrection.mp3
Category:finding dori -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

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:

  1. Study finds 5% of organizations get majority of the Funding and it hasn't been affective;
  2. Cephalopod populations have been on the rise since the 1950s in the face of a changing Ocean;
  3. A brewing company designed a six pack ring that is edible and biodegrable...it can save the Ocean Animals that eat it; and,
  4. 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

Direct download: SUFB_S164_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:Marine Conservation -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

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

Direct download: SUFB_S163_TravellingWithEcophiles1.mp3
Category:ecotourism -- posted at: 10:05pm EDT

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

Direct download: SUFB_S162_DontFindDori.mp3
Category:nemo -- posted at: 11:25am EDT

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:

  1. Alternative Fisheries Management Necessary;
  2. Greenpeace goes after a prominent Fisheries Professor (a little petty if you ask us!);
  3. Shell spills oil in the Gulf of Mexico near Louisiana and no one is talking about it; and,
  4. 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

Direct download: SUFB_S161_OceanTalkFriday.mp3
Category:ocean -- posted at: 1:09am EDT

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

Direct download: SUFB_S160_SharkEducationWithJillianMorris.mp3
Category:Sharks -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

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

Direct download: SUFB_S159_ProtectMosselBayFromLongLining.mp3
Category:ocean conservation -- posted at: 12:00am EDT