The Speak Up For Blue Podcast

Join Inaki Ruiz on his journey to save the oceans, but be prepared for the unexpected twist that will leave you inspired and questioning what more you can do to make a difference. In this episode, you will be able to: Decipher the significance of environmental engineering in addressing climate change issues. Realize the importance of spreading knowledge about climate change's effects on marine life. Harness the power of youth-driven actions and solutions for change. Simplify intricate scientific ideas for a wider, non-specialist audience. Advocate for cycling as a sustainable alternative to tackle congestion and lower emissions. My special guest is Inaki Ruiz Introducing Inaki Ruiz, a dedicated environmental engineering student from Mexico City, who's making a difference in the world of sustainability. While initially enrolled in civil engineering, Inaki's passion for the environment led him to switch majors and co-found an ocean awareness organization with his classmates. Currently study

I discuss the unusual behavior of a sub pod of critically endangered orcas off the coast of Spain. Since 2020, these orcas have been ramming sailboats, causing damage and even sinking vessels in 3 cases. The motive behind these events remains a mystery, but some theories suggest that the noise from boat engines or a traumatic event involving the orcas may be triggering this behavior. I talk about the various interactions between orcas and boats worldwide, emphasizing that orcas have not harmed humans in the wild. However, the recent incidents in Spain have raised concerns for both boat safety and the welfare of the orcas. To protect both parties, there may be a ban on certain boat types in the area. I will update you on any new events or policies that come from these events. Link to articles: https://bit.ly/3MMT1sX https://bit.ly/3WtYat3 Share your conservation journey on the podcast by booking here: https://calendly.com/sufb/sufb-interview   Fill out our listener survey: https://www.speakupforblue.com/

Thao Nguyen is a travel content creator with a background in marine conservation. She shares her inspiring journey, from doing graduate work on Marine Protected Areas in Indonesia to working in renewable energy to pursuing her passion for marine conservation. She discusses her transition into content creation, focusing on travel and marine conservation, and explains how she aims to inspire others, especially solo female travelers, to explore the world sustainably. Tune in to hear Thao's unique experiences and her perspective on being a creator in the travel industry while benefitting marine conservation and local people. Connect with Thao Nguyen: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thaonguyening Website: www.thaotalks.com Share your conservation journey on the podcast by booking here: https://calendly.com/sufb/sufb-interview   Fill out our listener survey: https://www.speakupforblue.com/survey   Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science and Conservation Career: https://www.speakupforblue.co

Are you tired of feeling frustrated and powerless in the face of misinformation about climate change? Have you been told to simply recycle and turn off the lights, only to see little progress toward a sustainable future? It's time to take action by recognizing fallacies and promoting productive conservation conversations. Join us in this episode as we explore the benefits of transitioning from fossil fuels, uncover ditactics, envision a sustainable economy, and gain the skills to detect fallacious arguments. Let's combat misinformation and work towards a healthier planet together. In this episode, you will be able to: Discover the long-term advantages of replacing fossil fuels with more sustainable energy sources. Expose the diversion tactics utilized to sidetrack focus on climate change problems. Contemplate the steps required to establish an economy resilient against environmentally damaging practices. Understand the impact of effective communication by scientists and policymakers in lessening

Just when I thought I understood the delicate balance between nature and human intervention along coastlines, the Dunes project revealed an unexpected twist that left me stunned. Get ready for a jaw-dropping revelation that will challenge everything you thought you knew about protecting our vulnerable shorelines. In this episode, you will be able to: Discover the critical role of sand dunes in safeguarding coastlines against erosion. Uncover the objectives of the Dunes project in pinpointing vulnerable zones and preparing for erosion. Realize the vulnerability of European nations to climate change and coastal flooding. Delve into the history of human-environment interactions in coastal areas across the globe. Find inspiration to take a stand in safeguarding our oceans for future generations. If we can't do that [prepare for the vulnerability of coastal communities], those coastal communities are at risk and we don't know which ones will be more at risk than others. And these are people's l

Sargassum, a type of giant seaweed, has been washing up on the shores of Florida earlier than ever before. Sargassum is a brown algae that forms large mats or blobs in the ocean, and its excessive presence can have detrimental effects on marine ecosystems and coastal communities. The seaweed can disrupt tourism, damage coral reefs, and deplete oxygen levels in the water, leading to the death of marine life. I covered the causes behind the increase in sargassum blooms, including climate change and nutrient pollution from agricultural activities in other episodes. In today's episode, I explore the opportunities and challenges of disposing of sargassum in Key West.   Link to monitoring Sargassum site: https://cwcgom.aoml.noaa.gov/SIR/   Link to article: https://bit.ly/3pfTHO8   Share your conservation journey on the podcast by booking here: https://calendly.com/sufb/sufb-interview   Fill out our listener survey: https://www.speakupforblue.com/survey   Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science a

Canada has implemented a ban on single-use plastic products as part of its goal to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030. However, environmentalists are concerned about the increasing use of paper packaging as a substitute. Nicole Rycroft, the founder of Canopy, a nonprofit organization working to protect forests, warns that the shift to paper is leading to deforestation and forest degradation. She estimates that over three billion trees, including old-growth and endangered trees, are logged annually to produce paper-based products. In addition to deforestation, the production of paper requires significant amounts of energy and water. While paper is more biodegradable and easier to recycle than plastic, the grade of paper affects its recyclability. Furthermore, when paper ends up in landfills, it decomposes and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The paper industry is exploring alternative solutions such as using agricultural waste like straw, hemp, flax, tomato stems, and banana peels to make sustainable

Indigenous communities in Hawaii are reviving an ancient stewardship and conservation system known as ahupua'a. The system divides the islands into long wedges running from the mountains to the ocean and allows for the holistic management of resources. Three communities—Hā'ena, Heʻeia, and Kaʻūpūlehu—have successfully restored ahupua'a practices and co-manage resources with government and private landowners. They have established Indigenous and community-conserved areas (ICCAs) within their territories, leveraging rights and resources previously taken from them. The communities' efforts have led to positive outcomes such as increased fish populations and recognition for innovative conservation initiatives. The success of these communities serves as an example of embracing Indigenous culture and conservation practices for the benefit of both humans and nature.   Link: https://bit.ly/3M2CRuZ   Share your conservation journey on the podcast by booking here: https://calendly.com/sufb/sufb-interview   Fill

Google has been found to have monetized videos promoting climate crisis misinformation on YouTube as recently as April 2023, according to a report by the Climate Action Against Disinformation coalition. The report highlights 100 videos denying that greenhouse gas emissions caused by burning fossil fuels are responsible for climate change, as well as 100 videos featuring deceptive content on tackling climate change. Google updated its policies in October 2021 to prohibit ads and monetization of content contradicting the scientific consensus on climate change. However, examples of videos violating this policy still ran with preroll advertising for a mosquito lamp.   Link to article: https://bit.ly/3AZVMAi   Fill out our listener survey: https://www.speakupforblue.com/survey   Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science and Conservation Career: https://www.speakupforblue.com/career   Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue: Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram: http

Transport Canada has announced 10 measures to protect the critically endangered southern resident orcas off the British Columbia coast, including mandatory speed zones in two areas near Swiftsure Bank, fishing closures, and interim sanctuary zones. Commercial and recreational salmon fishing will be banned this summer and fall throughout the waters of the southern Gulf Islands. From now until May 31, 2024, vessels are required to stay at least 400 meters away from all orcas in southern B.C. coastal waters. However, cetacean researcher and senior research scientist with the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Lance Barrett-Lennard, said the measures need to go much further to help the animals thrive, including much broader fishing restrictions throughout their critical habitat.   Link to article: https://bit.ly/3HwC3Mp   Book a podcast interview time to share your conservation journey: https://calendly.com/sufb/sufb-interview   Fill out our listener survey: https://www.speakupforblue.com/survey   Join the a

A new book argues that the social sciences, including anthropology, economics, human geography, political science, psychology, and sociology, are key to effective conservation. Conservation Social Science: Understanding People, Conserving Biodiversity argues that human behaviour is often overlooked when it comes to developing conservation solutions, which ultimately require changing the way people interact with the environment. Effective conservation requires understanding the consequences for species and ecosystems, as well as people and their livelihoods. Conservationists can navigate key questions that surround establishing a protected area by using a political science lens, such as who has the power to make the rules and whose voices are underrepresented. The answers to these questions have profound implications for both nature and people. The book also calls for impact evaluation, an approach that can help us understand how the design and management of a conservation project affects not only species and

The How To Protect The Ocean Podcast has always been a podcast for people that wanted to learn about living for a better ocean and about the people who were out there working and protecting the ocean. It meant that I would help tell the stories or bring on people who worked in the same field who would tell their stories about protecting the ocean through marine conservation. But, I came to realize that I learn a lot from you, the person in my audience on your challenges and successes in protecting the ocean during your daily life. So I would like to invite you on the podcast to share your story to help your fellow audience members how they could live for a better ocean. Sign up below to be interviewed on my podcast. Book your interview time: https://calendly.com/sufb/sufb-interview Fill out our listener survey: https://www.speakupforblue.com/survey   Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science and Conservation Career: https://www.speakupforblue.com/career   Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Co

Ecotourism can bring about some great benefits by educating visitors about the natural habitats found in a particular place and providing a revenue-generating service for local people. The type of ecotourism can range from kayak tours of mangroves to whale watching and can provide some great opportunities for tourists to connect with the wilderness. But some types of ecotourism can be considered dangerous and have checkered pasts which can make it difficult for new operations to open up in new places. A Great White Shark ecotourism company that is being operated by a shark scientist named Dr. Neil Hammershlag is running into criticism from scientists about the concern for the safety of the sharks and the people as well as concern for the fact that the company will be generating revenue while stating their intentions to study the science of the sharks. I discuss these concerns for this business venture on this episode. Link to article: https://bit.ly/3V4y0fJ SharkTagging.com: https://bit.ly/3Lm7Xxt Fill out

I wanted to share the most recent episode of the Beyond Jaws podcast to share the great story of Dr. Oscar Sosa who took the knowledge he gained from his graduate work in Japan back home to Mexico to build a great research program.  I'm sharing this episode because I wanted to show you that not all researchers have a straight path to what you might consider success. Each shark scientist, including Oscar, has their own unique path that is a product of their personality.  Enjoy the episode! Follow the Beyond Jaws Podcast: Apple: https://apple.co/3DnGntm Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3FnQ9MB Fill out our listener survey: https://www.speakupforblue.com/survey   Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science and Conservation Career: https://www.speakupforblue.com/career   Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue: Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc   

I tell a true story about the events that led the Canadian government to replace an entire environmental science sector in 2015 after changing a crucial environmental protection law to speed up the construction of a pipeline. The story reinforces the need to vote for politicians that want to protect the environment including the ocean.  Fill out our listener survey: https://www.speakupforblue.com/survey   Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science and Conservation Career: https://www.speakupforblue.com/career   Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue: Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc   

There are a number of climate models that could predict the intensity of the upcoming El Nino this year (2023). Some articles are predicting that we are going to have a Super El Nino, which could have devastating effects to many vulnerable areas around the world and the clean up from the damage could be in the billions of dollars. The last El Nino event was in 2015-2016 and it was considered a super El Nino, where the surface temperatures in the Eastern Pacific exceeded 2C. There were 15 major weather events that year that exceeded $46 billion in damages. Of course, the models could be wrong as the results ranged from catastrophic to "wimpy." Link to article: https://bit.ly/41ueefw Fill out our listener survey: https://www.speakupforblue.com/survey   Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science and Conservation Career: https://www.speakupforblue.com/career   Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue: Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG Twitte

I wanted to create another episode on based another portion of the conversation that my cohost, Dr. David Ebert, and I had with Dr. Andrea Marshall on the Beyond Jaws podcast. We discussed how she funds most of her revenue and that it helped her organization fund its scientific programs on manta rays and other megafauna.  If you are planning on starting your own non-profit or marine science business, then this episode is for you! Fill out our listener survey: https://www.speakupforblue.com/survey   Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science and Conservation Career: https://www.speakupforblue.com/career   Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue: Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc   

Have you ever asked yourself what VALUE you can bring to the Marine Biology job that you want so that you can help your employer succeed in ways that other candidates can't? I asked myself this very question after interviewing Dr. Andrea Marshall (Queen of the Mantas) for a Beyond Jaws episode. Andrea spoke about her SCUBA diving experience and how she completed the highest certification in SCUBA before she was 18 because she knew that she would need that skill when she was researching ocean fauna. Her words and experience inspired me to ask the same question in this episode.  Fill out our listener survey: https://www.speakupforblue.com/survey   Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science and Conservation Career: https://www.speakupforblue.com/career   Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue: Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc   

There is no secret that the Southern Resident Orca Population in the Salish Sea is critically endangered and it faces many challenges that could lead this population to extinction. An overwhelming challenge is the population's reliance on Chinook salmon as their primary prey as the salmon population is also declining. But there is also a new question that was recently answered that could identify another challenge: Is the energy storage (fats) in Chinook salmon equal among Chinook salmon? Researchers from the University of British Columbia tested the fat content in Chinook salmon in the spring and in the Fall to find out if their lipid content was the same. We are going to talk about the results, which could help decipher management decisions for Chinook salmon and orcas, in the future.   Link to article: http://bit.ly/43gUi1E   Fill out our listener survey: https://www.speakupforblue.com/survey   Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science and Conservation Career: https://www.speakupforblue.com/c

There is an effort to conserve the Mobulid (manta and devil rays) species (9-11 species) as most of the species are considered endangered. Purse seine nets and gill nets are the leading reason for the death of mobulids. But there is a new fishing gear hack that gives mobulids a better chance for survival if they are caught in purse seine nets. The device is called a manta grid and it could be used as a tool in the conservation tool belt for tuna fishing (or any other type of fishing) in the future. Other tools could consider pre-fishing adjustments that could give mobulid species a fighting chance at survival. We are going to discuss these tools and strategies in this episode.   Link to article: http://bit.ly/40OM8vz   Fill out our listener survey: https://www.speakupforblue.com/survey   Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science and Conservation Career: https://www.speakupforblue.com/career   Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI Connect with Speak Up For Blue: Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf I