Alex Deghan, Founding Director of Conservation X Labs, joins me on the podcast at IMCC5 in Kuching, Malaysia. Alex uses Conservation X Labs to create competitions in different parts of the world to put ideas into practice that solve conservation challenges. 

He brought his team and some of the best engineers, innovators and entrepreneurs to help solve 5 conservation challenges that face the Ocean. It's a competition (hack-a-thon) with cash prizes for some of the best prototypes created during the 5 day event.

I ask him all about the Make For The Planet event and why Conservation X Labs wanted to do it at the International Marine Conservation Congress.

Conservation X Labs Twitter

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

Donate to the Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award to Fund 5 more brave Marine Conservationists

Become par to the Speak Up For Blue Nation by joining our Patreon Campaign. 

I would love to hear your opinion on this episode. Join the Facebook Group to chime in.

Do you know we launched more Ocean Related Podcasts?

Subscribe to Marine Conservation Happy Hour and ConCiencia Azul

As I continue to post from IMCC5, I had the chance to sit down with Nina Bohla (UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre) and Lance Morgan (Marine Conservation Institute) to discuss the IUCN Marine Protected Area (MPA) Standards. 

Both guests tell us their excitement about the MPA Standards and how their organizations have incorporated into their work.

Enjoy The Podcast!!!

Donate to the Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award to Fund 5 more brave Marine Conservationists

Become par to the Speak Up For Blue Nation by joining our Patreon Campaign. 

I would love to hear your opinion on this episode. Join the Facebook Group to chime in.

Do you know we launched more Ocean Related Podcasts?

Subscribe to Marine Conservation Happy Hour and ConCiencia Azul

The IUCN has launched a new document about Marine Protected Area (MPA) Standards to help redefine what an MPA is. Why is this important? It's because the world needs to protect 10% of biodiversity by the year 2020 according to the member countries who signed on to the Convention on Biological Diversity. 

The MPA Standards document was launched here at IMCC5 during the keynote presentation by Dr. Jane Lubchenco and at one of the sessions during the conference to get feedback from people as an initial reaction. 

What do you think about this new standard?

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

Donate to the Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award to Fund 5 more brave Marine Conservationists

Become par to the Speak Up For Blue Nation by joining our Patreon Campaign. 

I would love to hear your opinion on this episode. Join the Facebook Group to chime in.

Do you know we launched more Ocean Related Podcasts?

Subscribe to Marine Conservation Happy Hour and ConCiencia Azul

Today's episode of the Speak Up For Blue Podcast has me talking to 3/4 of the Project Seagrass Team. We discuss all things seagrass and how the team is trying to get Seagrass part of the Conservation Conversation.

Seagrass are important ecosystems as they hold a huge amount of the biodiversity and abundance of important fisheries species in coastal systems around the world. The Project Seagrass team discuss some projects in Southeast Asia where they are working with communities to assess and protect seagrass meadows to ensure the sustainability supply of fisheries on which the community depends for food. 

As this is an IMCC5 podcast Season, the team and I chat about how important it was for them to be an exhibitor at the conference. They talk about the connections they have made and the people with which they discuss seagrass projects. 

Can you tell why I love this team?!?!?! 

Check you their links below:

Project Seagrass Website

Seagrass Spotter

Project Seagrass Twitter

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

Donate to the Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award to Fund 5 more brave Marine Conservationists

Become par to the Speak Up For Blue Nation by joining our Patreon Campaign. 

I would love to hear your opinion on this episode. Join the Facebook Group to chime in.

Do you know we launched more Ocean Related Podcasts?

Subscribe to Marine Conservation Happy Hour and ConCiencia Azul

The International Marine Conservation Congress is known for having great exhibitors that have booths in the main hall of the conference. It gives a chance for each organization to discuss the great things that they are doing and connect with others who are interested in their work. In other words, they get great exposure.

I interview 3 of the exhibitors (From Malaysia, Bangladesh and the UK) today to give you a sense of what they do and show you how great these organizations are. Also, it goes to show how important it is to be an exhibitor.

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

Donate to the Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award to Fund 5 more brave Marine Conservationists

Become par to the Speak Up For Blue Nation by joining our Patreon Campaign. 

I would love to hear your opinion on this episode. Join the Facebook Group to chime in.

Do you know we launched more Ocean Related Podcasts?

Subscribe to Marine Conservation Happy Hour and ConCiencia Azul

I welcome back Patrick Goff to the podcast to discuss why and how the International Marine Kids Conference is happening. We talk about what the kids will do during this week and how they will be integrating with scientists this week. Patrick also talks about the fun filed trips in which the kids will take during the conference.

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

Donate to the Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award to Fund 5 more brave Marine Conservationists

Become par to the Speak Up For Blue Nation by joining our Patreon Campaign. 

I would love to hear your opinion on this episode. Join the Facebook Group to chime in.

Do you know we launched more Ocean Related Podcasts?

Subscribe to Marine Conservation Happy Hour and ConCiencia Azul

I am very pleased to present the first episode for the International Marine Conservation Congress in Kuching, Malaysia. 

Everyday until June 29th, I will be publishing a podcast summarizing the highlights of the day as well as some other interesting events happening at the conference.

Today's episode is the day before the opening day of the conference. Three hosts, myself (Speak Up For Blue), Dr. Chris Parsons (Marine Conservation Happy Hour) and Melissa Marquez (ConCiencia Azul), on the Speak Up For Blue Podcast Network went on a field trip to a cat museum...yes, a cat museum. It's a popular tourism attraction here in Kuching. 

While we were at the cat museum, we decided to record a podcast on what we would like to get out of the conference, personally and professionally. Chris and Melissa give there answers while describing their time at the cat museum. 

Enjoy The Podcast!!!

Donate to the Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award to Fund 5 more brave Marine Conservationists

Become par to the Speak Up For Blue Nation by joining our Patreon Campaign. 

I would love to hear your opinion on this episode. Join the Facebook Group to chime in.

Do you know we launched more Ocean Related Podcasts?

Subscribe to Marine Conservation Happy Hour and ConCiencia Azul

As you are listening to this episode, I am just arriving to Kuching, Malaysia for the International Marine Conservation Congress (5). I have to admit that I am getting pretty excited for the trip and to see great friends and meet new ones. 

I always set some goals that I would like to accomplish while I am at the conference. I want to network and meet new people while maintaining my relationships with others. 

Take a listen to the episode to find out what new goals I set for this year.

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

Donate to the Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award to Fund 5 more brave Marine Conservationists

Become par to the Speak Up For Blue Nation by joining our Patreon Campaign. 

I would love to hear your opinion on this episode. Join the Facebook Group to chime in.

Do you know we launched more Ocean Related Podcasts?

Subscribe to Marine Conservation Happy Hour and ConCiencia Azul

Sarah McAnulty joins me on the podcast to continue with Cephalopod Week and discuss her research interest of Squid and Bacteria. Sarah is not only interested in the marine science and conservation of squid and the rest of Cephalopods. She is also interested in science communication. 

I had the opportunity to ask Sarah about Cephalopods, Squids and Science Communication. 

We also spend some time talking about Sarah's project called Skype A Scientist.

Sarah McAnulty's Twitter

Enjoy The Podcast!!!

Donate to the Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award to Fund 5 more brave Marine Conservationists

Become par to the Speak Up For Blue Nation by joining our Patreon Campaign. 

I would love to hear your opinion on this episode. Join the Facebook Group to chime in.

Do you know we launched more Ocean Related Podcasts?

Subscribe to Marine Conservation Happy Hour and ConCiencia Azul

Three stories for today include lobster trade wars between US and China, Ecotourism money for an Australian Cuttlefish Community and Asking Whether MPAs are effective.

Don't forget to subscribe to this podcast to get updates on IMCC5 happenings at the end of this week and next week.

Donate to the Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award to Fund 5 more brave Marine Conservationists

Become par to the Speak Up For Blue Nation by joining our Patreon Campaign. 

I would love to hear your opinion on this episode. Join the Facebook Group to chime in.

Do you know we launched more Ocean Related Podcasts?

Subscribe to Marine Conservation Happy Hour and ConCiencia Azul

It's Cephalopod Week (June 15th to June 22nd) so Speak Up For Blue will focus this week on all things Cephalopod. 

In this episode, we chat with Thomas Clements, who just passed his defence for his PhD, about how Cephalopods were different millions of years ago compared to today's species in the group. 

Thomas also goes into wonderful detail about how fossils are formed. This will be a great episode for Cephalopod enthusiastes and Paleontology enthusiasts. 

Thomas Clements' Twitter

Thomas Claments' Website

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

Donate to the Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award to Fund 5 more brave Marine Conservationists

Become par to the Speak Up For Blue Nation by joining our Patreon Campaign. 

I would love to hear your opinion on this episode. Join the Facebook Group to chime in.

Do you know we launched more Ocean Related Podcasts?

Subscribe to Marine Conservation Happy Hour and ConCiencia Azul

I focus on how businesses are approaching Marine Conservation in this episode. our three stories cover different ways businesses are adapting to changing times.

Our first story is about two businesses who make it easier and more cost effective for oil companies to drill in Alaska (The Bad).

Our second story involves companies like IKEA, Royal Caribbean and SeaWorld (yes, even SeaWorld!!!) leading the charge in getting rid of single-use plastic straws and bags in their companies. 

Our last story for this episode covers an art project by the Caption Boomer Belgian Art Collective that placed a sperm whale sculpture on a beach by a lake in the French Alps (800m above sea level) to connect people living inland with the trials and tribulations that face the Ocean.

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

Donate to the Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award to Fund 5 more brave Marine Conservationists

Become par to the Speak Up For Blue Nation by joining our Patreon Campaign. 

I would love to hear your opinion on this episode. Join the Facebook Group to chime in.

Do you know we launched more Ocean Related Podcasts?

Subscribe to Marine Conservation Happy Hour and ConCiencia Azul

Three stories I'm covering today:
1) Caribbean Coral Reef Being Mapped By Integrated Technology;
2) UK Expands Protected "Blue Belt" Without Management Plans; and,
3) Belize Revokes Super Fish Trawler's Registration After Multiple Infractions of Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) Fisheries.

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

Donate to the Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award to Fund 5 more brave Marine Conservationists

Become par to the Speak Up For Blue Nation by joining our Patreon Campaign. 

I would love to hear your opinion on this episode. Join the Facebook Group to chime in.

Do you know we launched more Ocean Related Podcasts?

Subscribe to Marine Conservation Happy Hour and ConCiencia Azul

Please consider supporting the award by clicking here

or going to http://www.speakupforblue.com/jairo

Over 100 people working on the conservation of animals and the environment are killed around the world every year just for doing their job. Many more work under the threat of harm, persecution, or death.

Jairo Mora Sandoval was one such person. He worked tirelessly to protect sea turtles in Costa Rica. In 2013, at the age of 26, he was brutally murdered by local poachers.

Acknowledging the struggles and perseverance of our colleagues that work under threat is an important part of raising the profile of conservation in parts of the world where it is needed most. This is why the Marine Section of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB Marine) has launched the Jairo Mora Sandoval Bravery Award.

This award honours Jairo’s commitment to marine conservation by providing support to others working to protect the marine environment despite the threats that they may face. The Award is given for bravery associated with an outstanding contribution to the field of marine conservation, with particular emphasis on responsible and educated scientific endeavour, public engagement and conservation activism. It may be given for a single conservation action or for an entire body of work (i.e., a series of linked contributions).

The award, given every two years, includes a cash prize of $1,000 to allow these courageous people to continue their work. However, we’d like to honour more people for their bravery in the service of conservation. To do this, SCB Marine is looking to raise $5,000 to support more Jairo Award recipients.

The Jairo Award not only provides visibility to these conservation heroes, but also much-needed financial support to important conservation programs. However, we can only do so much with the available funds. With your help we will be able to make a difference in more areas and let more of those struggling to study and conserve the environment know that they are not alone. Help us bring conservation heroes to light!

Note: All donations are tax-deductible ([relevant non-profit SCB info].

Thanks for your support!

Jairo Mora Sandoval Award Committee

#YoSoyJairo

#ConservationHeroes

The Project Seagrass Team has a purpose to map the world's seagrass distribution. Not an easy task, so they are asking for your help as well as everyone else to help achieve their goal. 

They developed a tool called the Seagrass Spotter. It's a website and an app for iPhone and Android devices with the goal to empower you to identify the presence of seagrasses wherever you live/travel around the world. 

Listen for more details.

Project Seagrass Twitter

Seagrass Spotter App (iTunes)

Seagrass Spotter App (Google Play)

Enjoy The Podcast!!!

Become par to the Speak Up For Blue Nation by joining our Patreon Campaign. 

I would love to hear your opinion on this episode. Join the Facebook Group to chime in.

Do you know we launched more Ocean Related Podcasts?

Subscribe to Marine Conservation Happy Hour and ConCiencia Azul

This episode I discuss how 33 environmental and civil society groups want Canada to propose to the G7 Countries suggestions for an international agreement to go plastic free in an effort to be Plastic Waste Free by 2030.

I also discuss an opinion piece written on CNN's website about how people will adapt to Sea Level Rise and whether governments should be investing in adaptation without investing in reduction efforts of Greenhouse Gases.

I cap off the episode with a highlight in the Ocean near Monterey Bay, where 1,500 dolphins were found playing with a couple of humpback whales.

Enjoy The Podcast!!!

Become par to the Speak Up For Blue Nation by joining our Patreon Campaign. 

I would love to hear your opinion on this episode. Join the Facebook Group to chime in.

Do you know we launched more Ocean Related Podcasts?

Subscribe to Marine Conservation Happy Hour and ConCiencia Azul

I originally had a plan to have the Marin eConservation Happy Hour Crew, so we did a Facebook Live in the Speak Up For Blue Group; however, we had a problem with the audio recording and none of it could be used. 

So I re-recorded it for you so that you could have something on this Friday. My apologies. 

This recording is a summary of what the Marine Conservation Happy Hour Crew discussed during the live. 

Here are the stories that we covered:

1) Marine Mammal Behaviour on happiness is real?;

2) Can Lolita be released?; and,

3) Man with abs poses with sharks, illegally.

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

Become par to the Speak Up For Blue Nation by joining our Patreon Campaign. 

I would love to hear your opinion on this episode. Join the Facebook Group to chime in.

Do you know we launched more Ocean Related Podcasts?

Subscribe to Marine Conservation Happy Hour and ConCiencia Azul