A shark being dragged across the water while tied to a boat surfaced in an Instagram video about a week ago. The video quickly went viral to the point where the abusers were identified along with where they lived. The abusers now seek extra police protection because of death threats they received via social media. Many people think they deserve the threat. I just want to see them charge with some type of animal abuse charge, but that may not happen.

There may not be specific laws that fall under what these idiots did to these poor animals. The shark that was dragged was dead and the remainder of its body was photographed by the abusers and the images sent to "Mark The Shark", a notorious shark fisherman who is hated by many conservationists. Even he thought the video and pictures were disrespectful. 

I talk about how infuriating it is to watch these abusers potentially get away with abuse and I ask you, the audience, if there is a general, common sense, law that protects animals (any animal) against these types of abuses.

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

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Marine Science Communication has to be done properly to gain trust of your audience and inspire them to do more for the Ocean.

I talk about an example where Marine Conservation communication was misleading and could cause damage to the efforts of Conservation.

Listen to the episode to find out how you can make better strides in Ocean Conservation.

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

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Dr. Judith Weis spent a good part of her career working on Salt Marshes as a Professor and Researcher at Rutgers University. She is here to talk about Salt Marshes, their importance and how we need to manage them in the face of Climate Change.

Judith literally wrote the book on Salt Marshes (with Coauthor Carol Butler). I wanted to have her on the program so she can share how salt marshes play a role in protecting shorelines in the Northeastern US (and other places around the world) They may not be as pretty as coral reefs, but their shoreline protection, nursery habitat function, and sediment stabilization functions are extremely important. 

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

Let me know what you think of the episode by joining our Facebook Group for the Podcast.

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Did the race of Phelps vs a Great White Shark do Marine Conservation some good? That is the question that many people asked before the premiere of Shark Week 2017. Discovery debuted its annual shark week with an episode pitting Olympic Great, Michael Phelps, versus a Great White Shark. Some say that this was a pointless exercise as sharks are way faster than humans. Others thought that Phelps was the best swimmer over any species. I think it made for great promotion, television and a great chance to educate viewers on the speed of sharks.

Also on the show, I answer the question some of the group members asked: How can I contribute to Marine Conservation in my career even of I am not a scientist.

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

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Nathan Johnson is back for Ocean Talk Friday to discuss nutrients in the Bay of Bengal past the tipping point, the United Nations International Treaty of the High Seas and Our Thoughts on Chasing Coral the Documentary.

Here are the links to the articles we discussed:
1) Run-Off from Fertilizers has made Bay of Bengal Reach 'Tipping Point', say experts
2) New Rules Urgently Needed to Protect Our Ocean, Scientists Warn
3) Fate of High Seas at Stake at U.N. Meeting
4) 'Chasing Coral': Documentary Vividly Chronicles A Growing Threat To Oceans 

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

Let me know what you think of the episode by joining our Facebook Group for the Podcast.

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Plastic Pollution in the Ocean inspired my guest, Claire Hughes, to clean up beaches on Grand Cayman Island and start a movement. Claire is a teacher and mother who is done with plastic pollution and is helping raise awareness of the ill effects plastic has on our society.

Claire is a great example of how the ocean can inspire people to do great things!!!

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

Let me know what you think of the episode by joining our Facebook Group for the Podcast.

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Researchers have reviewed several hundred studies to find the best way people can reduce their Climate Change Footprint. There is one way that had the biggest reduction impact, but are you ready to do it?

I also talk about the importance of science and how many people are still fighting against science. Some people are trying to confuse people in the confidence in science results and the interpretation. What does this do? It takes away the need for science and allows for people to distort the truth of trends in the Ocean. I talk about why we need to trust science, especially when it comes to Marine Science and Conservation.

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

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Dr. Lyne Morissette is back on OTF to talk about what she's been up to and where she's been (hint: she's been to some amazing places). During the podcast, we discuss the following:

1) Lyne's Canadian Coast to Coast to Coast Scientific Cruise;
2) Lyne's trip to Reunion Island and the major issue of shark conflicts with human users; and,
3) A New Brunswick man dies trying to rescue a Right Whale from a fishing net.

Enjoy the podcast!

Let me know what you think of the episode by joining our Facebook Group for the Podcast.

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Josh Laughren, Executive Director of Ocean Canada, joins me on the podcast to discuss why there shouldn't be a fishery for cod opened just yet.

In 1992, a moratorium on cod fishing was implemented that changed Newfoundland and Labrador forever. Gone were the days of teaching the next generation to fish for cod and here were the days of hard financial times and leaving their "Rock" for more opportunities across Canada in the oil and gas industry. 

Now the cod have rebounded and people are wondering if we can fish them again. Two researchers at Memorial University disagree and so does Oceana Canada.

Josh is here to tell us why.

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

Let me know what you think of the episode by joining our Facebook Group for the Podcast.

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Imagine a terrestrial animal changes its diet in order to survive along the rugged coast of British Columbia. Scientists have discovered have genetically differentiated population of wolves, dubbed Sea Wolves, that derive 90% of the diet from the sea. Is this just a way of survival from their inland wolf cousins or do these wolves just enjoy the sea that much more?!?!?

Also in the program, a PhD student has discovered that young bonnethead sharks are eating seagrass so much so that their diet composes over 50% of the sea veggies. Scientists wonder if the young sharks are just learning how to eat animals within the seagrass as the diet composition of seagrass decreases when they get older.

Finally, did you ever wonder how scientists feel about what climate change is doing to our Oceans? Dr. John Bruno wrote an opinion pice in the New York Times about how depressed he feels after years of conducting coral reef research in Belize and all over the world. 

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

Let me know what you think of the episode by joining our Facebook Group for the Podcast.

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Ed Hind-Ozan joins us on the show to talk plastic pollution, ocean oaths, climate change maps our future and can we fish cod again. It's always great to have Ed on the show to give us his perspective from a Social Science point of view and the point of you from a UK perspective. That's right...we are going across the pond for this episode. 

Worldwide perspective matters!!!

Here are the articles that we cover today:
1) Popsicles made from 100 different polluted water sources grab world's attention
2) Ocean conservation needs a Hippocratic oath - we must do no harm
3) Mapping the potential economic effects of climate change
4) What if the cod came back? The push to reinvent Newfoundland and Labrador's fishery

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

Let me know what you think of the episode by joining our Facebook Group for the Podcast.

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Climate Change adaptation can be a complex beast to understand, once you get past whether there is a debate that it is caused by humans. There are two major aspects on how we need to deal with Climate  Change: 1) How can we reduce the factors (Carbon) that cause Climate Change; and, 2) How do we adapt to its consequences. 

There were two reports released by climate scientists and economists recently that deal with the ways mentioned above. 

The first report involves what we have to do, as a human population, within the next 3 years to stop Climate Change from making irreversible changes to our planet.

The second report involves how the consequences of Climate Change could potentially shape the US economy in the future.

I talk about both reports in the episode to go a bit deeper into how we need to wake up as a species and get things done.

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

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Does it make sense to allow Oil and Gas Exploration within the boundaries of a Marine Protected Area and still call it protected? Trudeau's government thinks it does. I break down how this situation doesn't necessarily depict a Marine Protected Area, but it does describe a management area within a Marine Park. Perhaps the government of Canada is going about designating MPAs the wrong way? 

Take a listen and find out how.

Also on the show...there are these "Gummy Bear-Like" organisms that are frustrating the hell out of fishers along the US Pacific Coast...find out how during this episode.

Enjoy the Podcast!!!

Let me know what you think of the episode by joining our Facebook Group for the Podcast.

Support Speak Up For Blue's Efforts to build a platform to raise awareness for Marine Science and Conservation and help you live for a better Ocean. Contribute to our Patreon Campaign