The Speak Up For Blue Podcast

James Cameron, the famous director, was promoting his new movie, Avatar: the way of the water, which has a huge marine conservation message when he came under fire for attending one of the promotional premieres in Japan. The promotion included a dolphin show at an aquarium which infuriated many environmentalists who wanted to hear Cameron's reason for attending the premiere with a captive dolphin show. We are going to talk about James Cameron's comments and how these events are harder to navigate than people think.   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 

For years now marine biologists, conservationists, NGOs, and governments have been working to protect the oceans in places all over the world. It would make sense that the projects would be about working altogether, especially with the people that live along the coastal community. Unfortunately, that hasn’t always happened. Coastal communities have been ignored during these projects. Luckily, there seem to be more conversations around Justice and equity with environmental projects, which could lead to a better future. I am going to talk about ocean Justice and Equity 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 

Ocean protection is a key tool in managing oceans and its resources and it requires the support of all ocean users, but the one group is often ignored or left out of the process that can play a key role in protecting the ocean effectively. Indigenous groups have been protecting their oceans and lands for thousands of years and need to be included in conservation conversations. I am joined by Humna Sharif of the National Ocean Protection Coalition and Angelo Villagomez of the Center for American Progress to discuss ways in which scientists, NGOs, and governments can support Indigenous-led conservation.   Links to Article: https://bit.ly/3v4TtsR   Connect with Humna: National Ocean Protection Coalition Website NOPC Twitter NOPC Instagram Humna's Twitter Humna's LinkedIn Connect with Angelo: Center of American Progress (CAP) CAP Twitter CAP Instagram Angelo's Twitter Angelo's LinkedIn Fill out our listener survey: https://www.speakupforblue.com/survey   Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science

Northern right whales have been the subject of many conservation conversations over the past couple of months due to the decisions made around lobster and crab pot support for sustainability to protect the endangered species. Northern Right whales are heavily monitored, especially in the winter during their calving season. Two calves were spotted recently off the coast of Georgia providing some hope for the endangered whales in hopes that their numbers rebound, but the population is expected to produce 23 calves per year which have not been achieved in a long time. One theory is that the whales have had to shift their feeding areas north to the Gulf of St. Lawrence to find their preferred food, copepods due to climate change. Will this season be better than those in the past?   Link to articles: 1) 2 Northern Right Whales Spotted Off the Coast of Georgia https://bit.ly/3V6QgUm 2) 13 new Northern Right Whale calves in 2021 https://bit.ly/3BKFVGu 3) Northern Right Whale Food Source https://bit.ly/3jfIhH2   F

It's that time of year that is supposed to be one of the happiest times of the year. Students get a holiday for at least 2 weeks, people travel to see their families, and others stay local and make plans to meet up with friends who are home for a bit and meet up for family gatherings during special days throughout this holiday season. It's also a time when we buy and give gifts to family and friends and receive some too. But we can get caught up in gift-giving and create more of a mess for the environment and the ocean. I'm going to give you 3 tips on how to make this a better holiday season for the ocean.   Link to article: https://bit.ly/3HKdLPQ   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     

We live in an interesting time. We have access to information at our fingertips whenever we want. It's a great opportunity to learn and interact with people all over the world. Of course, there are downfalls to social media as well as there are some great advantages. Scientists have the ability to share their work with people who do not have access to peer-reviewed papers. They also provide access to criticism in their work. Criticism does not always have to lead to being canceled, but it could lead to better work. I am going to talk to you about a recent interaction I had with a listener that ended in a great way.   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 

If a shark dies in the ocean, where do we find its remains? Well, there could be many answers to that question, but for many sharks, you could find their teeth in one place that we know. A deep-sea graveyard was discovered off some islands in the Indian Ocean by the ocean research arm of Australia, the CSIRO. The discovery contained teeth of various shark species ranging from mako sharks to the relatives of the now-extinct megalodon shark. Although scientists don't yet know why this graveyard was in this location, they look forward to diving into the shark teeth to find out. The latest research find from the same ship discovered a new deep-sea shark species, the stripey hornshark.   Link to article: https://bit.ly/3BtATOy   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 

It seems to be a right of passage for people to buy or rent a home/apartment when they are ready. But have you ever thought if your home will contribute to Climate Change or help Climate Change? It's never really discussed, right? People go house hunting and discuss their needs and wants and worry as to whether they can afford their next living space. Wouldn't it be nice to live in a home that is net-negative?   My guest today is Aiden Vogel, the founder of Swyft Lyft, a start-up based out of Austin, Texas that is working to ensure your next living space is net-negative. We discuss how and why he came up with this idea and how he is moving it forward into a product. He's going for scale folks and he is here to talk about it.   Connect with Swyft Lyft: https://www.swyftlyt.com/   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: ht

Since Elon Musk bought Twitter, it has become more of a cesspool of racism, sexism, and misinformation than it was pre-Elon and conversations are becoming more confrontational as people are trying to defend their points of view on both sides of issues. But Science Twitter has been a staple where most people get great information from colleagues or science celebrities to learn more about science and it is now at risk. I am ranting about Twitter and how Science Twitter could be lost in the long term...and that is a shame!!!   David Shiffman's article on Science Twitter: https://bit.ly/3F8S8pF   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 

We will need to leverage Blue carbon (kelp, Seagrass, etc.) to help reduce climate change. Blue carbon can help absorb carbon 20 times or more than trees. There is an entire industry that is budding due to the potential revenue that may or may not end up in turning a profit. Regardless of the revenue, Blue Carbon is not in the right position to live a long, healthy life. So we need to protect the kelp forest and help solidify blue carbon to help the planet, but they are in trouble due to the consequences of years of climate change. So the question remains how do we protect blue carbon sinks?   Link to article: https://bit.ly/3VxJiZt   Blue Carbon Canada: https://www.bluecarboncanada.ca/   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 

We tend to have a perception that working as a marine biologist requires us to be a professor at a university or work in Academia. But there are more options that could lead to a more rewarding career in your marine biology field of choice. Therefore, in this episode, I am going to present to you the options available that may not be the career paths you think you need to choose even though you may think that they present more challenges.   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 

Shark populations are being targeted in international waters by fishing fleets using legal fishing gear...sort of. The gear can target sharks that are in high demand for their fins, meat, and organs. Tens of thousands of metric tons of sharks are being fished annually reducing some populations by at least 70%. The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, which governs tuna fisheries in those waters could vote on a proposal to ban the devices as soon as this week in Vietnam. Research has shown that banning the devices could lead to a decreased mortality of oceanic whitetips by 40.5% and silky sharks by 30.8%.   I am going to break down the story and show you how this vote could easily help shark populations in international waters.   Link to article: http://bit.ly/3GX4JOZ   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:

After two seafood certification bodies pull their support for the Maine lobster fisheries to support more protection to protect the Northern Right Whale population from extinction. There are only 340 individuals left in the population and government departments are getting desperate to protect the struggling whale population. They don't want to take any chances on whale entanglements. Is this the right thing to do? Will this protect the whale population and is it worth hurting the Maine lobster fisheries?   Link to Article: http://bit.ly/3Bdrfjh   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 

The purpose of COP27, aside from sharing climate change information, is for specific governments to work together to formulate an agreement to help reduce climate change. The COP27 meetings ended with a new agreement that builds on the last meeting's results after negotiations almost collapsed when the EU negotiator almost walked out due to the meeting agreement at the time. So some would consider it successful. Two major agreements were reached: 1) the agreement for developed nations to pay developing nations damages for climate change consequences; and, 2) the US and China resumed climate talks. I am going to discuss these results and what it means in the near future.   Link to article: http://bit.ly/3AItF8W   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 

The Northern Right whale population is in trouble and measures need to be taken to ensure the population does not go extinct from the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. Climate change is driving the whales north into the Northern US and Canada where there were 17 deaths in 2017 due to ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear. Canada took measures to reduce the ship's speed to half of the regulated speed during the summer of 2017. the speed increased the next year during the same timeframe. Now fishing certification organizations have removed their certification of the Maine Lobster fishery as the fishery has been deemed not to take the necessary precautions to help the Northern Right whale population. I am going to discuss what this means for the whales and the fisheries in this episode.   Link to Articles: 1) http://bit.ly/3ETJRXO 2) http://bit.ly/3OosLnW Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science and Conservation Career: https://www.speakupforblue.com/career   Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3NmYvsI C

Shark species are being fished unsustainably all around the world and protections in sharks need to increase to track where these species are being bought and consumed. Tracking their trade can be difficult, but one tool that is available is CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. A recent vote during the 19th convention added 54 shark species on the CITES Appendix II. I am going to talk about what this means for sharks and what else can we do to further protect them.   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 

We talk a lot about the ocean on this podcast and ways that people within the field of marine science and conservation are trying to protect it, but we rarely talk about the things that you can do at home or at your work/office. I work at an office two days a week where people are in and out of the office as we work hybrid work schedules. It's a pretty great office and my company provides us with a lot of great things including coffee and food/snacks. I now have the opportunity to help shape our work policies as to how the company can be more environmentally-friendly. I have a lot of work and research to do so I am going to document it here, on the podcast.   Join the audio program - Build Your Marine Science and Conservation Career: https://glow.fm/marinesciencecareers/   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 

Do you know that corals are living animals? Did you think they might be rocks? It's okay because you are not alone. There are many people who don't know much about coral reefs other than they are beautiful to see on TV and everyone wants to see them. But the thing is that corals are great for the oceans and coastlines. Corals form dense biodiversity and decrease wave energy to protect eroding coastlines. Reefs are critical to the ocean, but there are specific environmental and human disturbances that are causing them to degrade to the point of no return. you need to know more about them to help protect them. On the podcast today, Dr. David Vaughan joins me to discuss his new book The Secret Life of Corals: Sex, War, and Rocks that don't Roll to help you better understand corals and provide you with opportunities to help save them.   Buy the book: The Secret Life of Corals: Sex, War and Rocks that Don't Roll http://bit.ly/3UVXsTu Other Book: Active Coral Restoration: Techniques for a Changing Planet: http://bi

COP27 is happening in Egypt right now where world leaders are gathering to discuss how they will reduce the greenhouse gas input into the atmosphere and make promises for their respective countries...that probably won't be met. People are tired of broken promises and would like to discuss and see solutions in action. One solution can be found in the Ocean through seagrass farms that can be cultivated in the Ocean, accumulate carbon, and sunk into the depth of the ocean to drive the carbon cycle. There are many companies who are trying to accomplish this goal, but can it work, and is it good for the Ocean?   Link to Article: http://bit.ly/3GegKPR   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 

In the last episode I spoke to Maria Pinto about her experience in marine science communication where she discussed her platform of choice and the type of content she enjoyed creating. Speaking with Maria inspired me to continue to level up my scicomm game so in this episode I wanted to share with you how I will be starting (re-starting) my efforts for content on YouTube. I hope that those of you who are inspired by today's episode will have enough guidance to help you start your own efforts in science communication.   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