In yesterday's episode, I mentioned that working to live an Ocean-Friendly life can lead to a change in mindset in each individual that could lead to bigger changes. I explain it all in this episode and I think it will help you when someone tells you that doing stuff as an individual doesn't do anything for the environment. 

Do you agree with me? share your thoughts in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

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In 2016, a mass die-off of thousands of tufted puffins washed up emaciated and either dead or dying due to changes in their food supply. 

Puffins are seabirds that feed on pollock, cod, and other fish at the edge of cold pools in the Bearing Sea. The puffins rely on the healthy fish to eat so that they have the energy to fly, molt, and survive the harsh environment of Alaska. 

Unfortunately, the warming weather prevents the cold pools from forming, which spreads the fish out over thousands of kilometers. The puffins have to fly further to catch prey. 

Listen to the episode for more details of why puffins are dying and how Climate Change is playing a role.

Do you have Climate Change stories? Share them in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

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Darcie Anderson is my guest today and she is here to tell us how she is living for a better Ocean. Darcie has lived in 5 countries, including living 500 meters from the Ocean in a Nature Reserve. She is a second-year student in Marine Science at the University of Highlands and Islands in Scotland and she is a youth leader from AYUDH Europe, an organization that empowers youth to lead in social and environmental change. 

Check out what Darcie has accomplished in such a short time by listening to this episode. 

Here are the links mentioned in this episode:

Beach Watch By Marine Conservation Society

Hunt For THe Nurdle

Ask Darcie a question in our Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

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Did you know that countries ship their recycled waste to other countries for recycling and disposal? Well, apparently it's been happening for a while, but it seems like it's going to stop now.

Malaysia and the Philippines are sick and tired of Canada's Recycled and Contaminated waste so they are sending it back. 

As a Canadian, I am appalled that we were sending our Trash away. It will be interesting to see what happens to the trash we get back and what we produce in the future. As usual, I have some thoughts and share them in this episode.

What are your thoughts? Share them in the Speak Up For BLue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

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I've lived through a Category 3 Hurricane before and it was intense...I know, I know, that's nothing compared to what the people along the US East Coast have experienced. I can't imagine what it would be like to live through a Category 5 Hurricane!

Well, according to recent research from Columbia University and NOAA, hurricane intensity may increase further as Climate Change progresses. 

Sea Surface Temperature

An increase in global sea surface temperature can affect everything from phytoplankton to the migration patterns of whales. It can also affect the intensity of Hurricanes, which we have witnessed over the past few decades. 

Wind Shear

Wind Shear (the difference between wind speed or direction between the lower and upper troposphere) can also be affected by Climate Change. High wind shear will keep Hurricanes less intense, whereas as low wind shear will intensify the landfalling and the storm surge.

I discuss how this effect can affect the way people live along the Eastern seaboard. 

Will this news change your thoughts on living along the US Coastline? Share your thoughts in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

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The title of this episode changes as I provide my opinion on the clothes that are available (fast fashion) and the clothes that we should be buying (vintage, 2nd hand clothes made of natural fibers). The whole idea of fast fashion selling cheap clothes ($4 for a t-shirt is just not right!) makes me queezy...it makes me even more queezy that I am attracted to those deals because, well, I'm cheap!

I change the topic during this episode because I figured out that changing from fast fashion to 2nd-hand clothing is a change in behaviour and it needs to be convenient for us in order to change. People will not buy eco-friendly products just because you say it's better for the environment. The product needs to work and be convenient to purchase. 

Article I discussed during the episode: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/vintage-shopping-saskatchewan-sustainability-textiles-landfills-1.5141839

What are your thoughts on changing products? Share them in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

At the Collision Conference, I had the chance to speak with some of the Entrepreneurs that are trying to disrupt the current environmentally harmful markets with products and services that will replace the status quo. 

I describe four companies that impressed me at the conference that was out to change the world. 

The Brands I Talked About During The Show:

Edible Brandz

Plant Plus - no website right now

EcoP

Loliware

Would you use the products from these companies? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

This episode is coming at you straight from the Collision Conference, a conference where tech meets solutions for everything. Today, I am focused on the Planet: Tech portion of the conference, where I saw speakers from the Plastic Pollution Coalition, Climate Action Network Canada, Loliware, Akoin (From the musician, Akon!), and the CEO of the Leonardo Dicaprio Foundation. I also saw a very special guest, Environment And Climate Change Minister, Catharine McKenna!

They all converged to discuss how we need technology to fight climate change, loss of biodiversity and a whole suite of problems facing the planet. 

I provide a quick summary of what went down during the morning and I hope to get you some interviews in the coming days.

Let me know in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group what tech solutions you know of that are helping the planet: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

Nick Wehner from Open Communications For The Ocean (OCTO) joins me again today to discuss the updates to the new version of the MarXiv (https://marxiv.org) pre-print, open-access database. 

During the episode, Nick and I discuss the goals achieved by the database in less than two years and how much money it saved users who would otherwise have to pay a high fee subscription just to get access to important Marine Conservation research behind paywall accounts. 

Have you accessed MarXiv yet? Let me know why in our Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

I was invited to a conference by a listener of this podcast, Rachel Wheeler, that I've never attended before. The conference is called the Collision Conference, which involves solving a number of problems through technology. There are 500 speakers at the conference including Prime Minister Trudeau, Seth Rogen, the CEO from the Plastic Pollution Coalition, and the CEO from the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. Needless to say, I am pretty excited; however, I am a little nervous as I don't know what to expect. 

This episode is how I am prepping for a new conference and what I will do with my media badge.

How do you prep for conferences? Share your strategies in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

Researchers have found a massive amount of plastic on a remote island in the Indian Ocean. The plastic and debris were not made or used by a population of 600 people that live on the island. It came from other countries generated by other people. 

Unfortunately, the local community will be affected by this plastic pollution for decades to come as it will take a lifetime to get rid of all of the plastic. The presence of plastic pollution will affect tourism and could affect the local economy.

Check out more details in the episode. How are you going to change your plastic usage in the future? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

A new study has revealed a warming Climate has caused a change in the number, location, and intensity of Tornadoes in the US' Tornado Alley. 

I discuss how tornadoes have changed over the past 4 decades and what those ramifications could be for the average US citizen. I also discuss how Climate Change has affected other types of storms and their ramifications.

Take a listen and let me know whether you would live in an area where you know there are going to be more intense storms. Share in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

Recent laws that were made in the US regarding abortion made me think that we as citizens in our own countries need to pay attention to politics and how our elected officials vote on particular issues, especially issues that affect the Oceans. It doesn't matter what side of the political spectrum you are on, your elected officials should represent the values of their constituents. We need to monitor environmental issues closely.

In this episode, I discuss how we can do this to make sure laws involving environmental issues that are dear to us don't go the opposite of what we want. 

Take a listen to the episode and share your experiences on watching key issues that are important to you. Share them in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

During yesterday's episode, I talked about how we need to stop letting trash get in our Ocean by living an Ocean Lifestyle. It's a way to make sure that we ask ourselves if what we do, eat, or where will negatively affect the Ocean. 

An Ocean Lifestyle requires educating ourselves on how we can do better and what we can do or buy to make sure we are not having a negative impact on our planet, especially the Ocean.

Take a listen as to what I say in this episode and let me know in our Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group (http://www.speakupforblue.com/group) how you are living an Ocean Lifestyle.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

It's amazing that we can find trash in the deepest parts of the Ocean. And when I say amazing, I mean that in the most depressing way!

Some people see the news of trash in the deepest parts of the Ocean and don't know what I do. Other people, like myself, see trash at the deepest parts of the Ocean and want to see action. 

I want to see myself and my community doing more to stop using wasteful products. I want to see us avoid buying products based on waste packaging. I want to see your efforts on social media. Tag me on Instagram, Tag me on Twitter, Post in the Facebook Group images of the type of eco-friendly products you use. Let's build a community of "Doers!"

Share your actions to Live For A Better Ocean in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

A recent opinion article that was written by George Monbiot in the Guardian told everyone to stop eating fish in order to save fish stocks. Monbiot listed a number of problems with the current fishing industry in the UK (and can be echoed around the world) and quickly dismissed the solutions that are being implemented to reduce and stop over-fishing. 

I disagree with some of the points made by Monbiot in regards to the success of the conservation solutions. Take a listen to the program.

Do you agree with me? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

Dr. Johnny Briggs from the PEW Charitable Trust's Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Program to discuss his work on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs) in the UK and the Overseas Territories. The UK committed to protecting 60% of its coastline using a combination of MPAs and OECMs.

Take a listen to determine how PEW and their partners worked on achieving such an ambitious goal.

Do you think they will reach their goal? Share your thoughts in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

Punta Fuego is a Belizean Radio show that follows a fictitious character named Richie, who is a fisherman trying to stay on the right side of the law and abide by fisheries regulations. 

The radio show is designed to target fishing villages across the country to bring about the education of fisheries regulations of Marine Protected Areas. The show has made more fishers aware fo regulations and boundaries of the real MPA. 

Listen to this episode for more information.

Do you think there should be more radio shows that target fishers for conservation purposes? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

Dr. Chris Parsons joins me on the podcast again today. This time Chris is discussing the results of a new report on the science of mortality and life expectancy of Marine Mammals in captivity compared to wild. 

There are many misleading "facts" out there regarding mortality and life expectancy so this report comes at the right time. 

Listen to Chris discuss the details now and let us know your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

Last week a video surfaced of some boaters in Norway that came upon a Beluga Whale in the wild. the interesting fact about this video was that the Beluga Whale had Russian military straps on it. The internet became outraged that this poor Beluga whale was being used to spy for the Russian government; however, what many people failed to realize was that the US military also has a history of using marine mammals.

Dr. Chris Parsons agreed to join me (last minute!!!) to discuss the use of marine mammals in the military along with how they are treated and the protections for the marine mammals.

What do you think of the use of marine mammals in the military? Share your thoughts in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

Imagine a life where all businesses go about their business with minimal impact on the Ocean and the Planet as a whole. It sounds like a great dream, doesn't it?! According to a recent UN Global Environmental Health Report, we will need to make serious changes faster to reach that dream, or else. 

The UN Report is a damning one that calls out deleterious human practices that have altered most of the Planet's habitats and put millions of species at risk of extinction as a result.

Listen to the episode for more details and how we enact change within our governments. 

What do you think of the report? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

Dr. Jane Lubchenko, the NOAA Administrator from 2009-2013 while President Obama was in power, called out the Trump Administrations new Nominee for the same position in an Oped in the New York Times.  

Her reasons? 1) He has no scientific background; and, 2) He has a serious conflict of interest. Tune into the episode to find out more.

Share your thoughts on the nominee in our Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

Large Basking Sharks have been spotted off the coast of Southern California. It's important to note that this has not happened in decades, according to this article. There has actually been an increase in sightings of Basking Sharks, which could mean two things: 1) More people are able to identify Basking Sharks and not mistake them for Great White Sharks; and/or, 2) There are more Basking Sharks coming to the coastline. 

Either one of those possibilities means good news for the Basking Shark population. Find out why by listening to the episode.

What are your thoughts on the episode? Share them in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

The Buzz Phrase on the month has been "Climate Change Emergency." Federal Governments, States/Provincial Governments, and Municipal Governments have declared Climate Change Emergencies all over the world. However, some governments may just be using it as a way to build a positive relationship with their citizens.  

I discuss 3 articles relating to Climate Change Emergency Declarations and Actions from China, the UK, and my city of Burlington, Ontario in Canada. Take a listen.

Do you think the Climate Change Emergency Declarations are an important step for governments to take in the fight against Climate Change? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

There are reports of Grey Whales washing up along the West Coast of the US dead. Necropsies were conducted on 20 individuals and the bodies were found to be emaciated, which means the whales have not been eating properly. 

This is a concerning situation because Grey Whales feed by scooping up the sediment and eating the crustaceans that lie within it. If there is not enough food within the sediment, then perhaps managers need to look at what is happening to the sediment such as trawling. 

Trawling can be a destructive practice whereby fishing gear scrapes along the ocean floor to catch bottom-dwelling species in their nets. 

There is a big need to find a solution to this matter as there is a good chance that it is due to human disturbance. 

What do you think is causing the Grey Whale deaths? Share your thoughts in the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.

You never know what is going to happen when you are working in the Marine Conservation Field. It doesn't matter if you are a scientist, a communicator or a marketer because your job could be gone at any moment. 

I'm not trying to scare you. I am trying to prepare you for what might happen to your career as it happened to me as well. 

Working in this field is not secure by any means. You work on temporary contracts, full-time contracts, permanent status, and more options, I'm sure; however, you have to be prepared to apply for jobs as soon as you either quit or lose a job. 

Keeping your resume updated will help you with getting the next job. In this episode, I talk about the many reasons why you need to keep your resume up to date and how you can do it. 

Take a listen to the episode to find out.

Do you keep your resume updated while you have a job? Share your thoughts in the Facebook Group: http://www.speakupforblue.com/group.

Want to get started on living for a better Ocean? Sign up for the Grove Collaborative and get a free gift: http://www.speakupforblue.com/goocean.

Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app.