What Happens When Whales Can’t Hear Their Families?
How To Protect The Ocean
Pilot whales rely on sound for nearly every aspect of their lives. They use vocalizations to communicate with family members, coordinate movements, find food, and navigate through their environment. But what happens when the ocean becomes so noisy that those sounds are drowned out? In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, we explore new research suggesting that commercial shipping noise in the Strait of Gibraltar may be interfering with the ability of pilot whales to hear and communicate with one another. The Strait of Gibraltar is one of the busiest shipping routes on the planet,...
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Who Really Wins When Marine Sanctuaries Are Opened?
How To Protect The Ocean
In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin looks at the Trump administration’s move to reopen protected marine sanctuary waters to commercial fishing and asks a bigger question: who actually benefits when public ocean resources are opened up? The episode breaks down why marine protected areas matter, how fisheries recover when protections stay in place, and why local and Indigenous fishing communities may not be the ones who gain when large commercial fleets get access. Support Independent Podcasts: Need help with your ocean non-profit, company, or project? Get the help...
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The Shark Wasn't the Real Story. the Ocean Mystery Was.
How To Protect The Ocean
A viral underwater video of a great white shark in the Mediterranean Sea recently captured the attention of people around the world. For many viewers, the footage seemed to show a shark appearing in a place where it shouldn’t be. But the truth is much more interesting. Great white sharks have been documented in the Mediterranean for decades, yet they remain one of the most mysterious and least understood apex predators in the region. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew breaks down why this sighting matters and what the public often gets wrong about stories like this. The...
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What Happens When Politicians Ignore Ocean Science?
How To Protect The Ocean
Ocean conservation is often treated like an impossible problem, but the truth is simpler: when strong laws are created, enforced, and guided by science, ocean protection works. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin looks at the unglamorous but powerful role of legislation in ocean conservation. From Canada’s Oceans Act and marine protected areas to the U.S. Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and Magnuson-Stevens Act, this episode shows how laws can help recover species, rebuild fisheries, and protect habitats. But laws only work when governments follow...
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Canada’s Ocean Promise Sounds Big, But Is It Enough?
How To Protect The Ocean
Canada has a rare chance to become a global ocean conservation leader, but the path is not simple. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin breaks down Canada’s proposed $3.8 billion nature strategy, what it could mean for marine protected areas, and why ocean protection matters as development pressures grow. From pipelines and shipping to offshore oil and gas, fisheries conflicts, climate change, and Arctic access, Canada’s ocean future is being shaped right now. This episode looks at the promise, the risks, and the question every coastal nation should be asking: what...
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Are We Protecting the Ocean Fast Enough?
How To Protect The Ocean
The world has now protected about 10% of the ocean, a major milestone compared to where we were a decade ago. But with the global 30x30 target aiming to protect 30% of land and ocean by 2030, the big question is whether we are protecting the right places, fast enough, and with enough enforcement to make those protections real. In this episode, Andrew breaks down why 10% ocean protection is worth celebrating, why the next 20% will be difficult, and why small coastal protected areas still matter even if they do not add much to the global percentage. Support Independent Podcasts: Need help...
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What Happens When People Show Up for the Planet
How To Protect The Ocean
Many people feel powerless when it comes to environmental issues. Whether it's climate change, habitat destruction, or controversial development projects, it can seem like the biggest decisions are made without public input. But recent protests against proposed AI data centers are reminding us that communities still have influence when people choose to get involved. Across North America, residents have been raising concerns about water use, energy demand, environmental impacts, and transparency surrounding AI data center developments. By attending meetings, contacting elected officials, and...
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The Ocean Connection We Are Losing, And Why It Matters
How To Protect The Ocean
Ocean conservation often focuses on threats: climate change, overfishing, plastic pollution, deep-sea mining, and political failure. But on World Ocean Day, this episode takes a step back to ask a deeper question: why do we protect the ocean in the first place? I reflect on the emotional, cultural, and personal connections people have with the ocean, from living near the coast to watching whales, exploring tide pools, diving, kayaking, listening to waves, or simply standing beside water and feeling calmer. The episode argues that ocean protection cannot only be about resources, regulations, or...
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What You Think About Cold Water Oceans Is Probably Wrong
How To Protect The Ocean
Cold water oceans do not always get the same attention as coral reefs and tropical beaches, but they are full of incredible life, beauty, and ecological importance. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin speaks with Kirsti Burnett about why cold and temperate marine ecosystems deserve more love, curiosity, and protection. From Nova Scotia’s eelgrass beds and coastal inlets to blue sharks, mola mola, leatherback sea turtles, North Atlantic right whales, and cold water kelp forests, this conversation celebrates the ocean environments that many people overlook. The episode...
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How One Puddle Can Hold an Entire Ocean World
How To Protect The Ocean
Tide pools may look like simple puddles along the shoreline, but they are tiny ocean ecosystems filled with fish, crabs, snails, sea stars, worms, algae, and other hidden marine life. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin explains why tide pools are one of the best ways to experience the ocean without a boat, scuba gear, or expensive equipment. These small pools reveal how much life exists right at our feet, and why slowing down is often the best way to discover it. You will learn how tide pools support biodiversity, why they help coastal species survive between tides,...
info_outlineIn this episode of the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Lewin discusses the pressing issue of climate change and the challenges posed by government inaction. With the recent political shifts in North America, particularly the incoming administration in the United States, there are concerns about the rollback of environmental regulations and policies that protect the ocean and climate.
Key points include:
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Government Inaction: The episode highlights the potential consequences of a new U.S. administration that may prioritize economic interests over environmental protection, including the exemption of billion-dollar projects from environmental regulations. This could lead to increased fossil fuel projects and further exacerbate climate change.
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Impact on Wildlife: Lewin discusses the changing diets and health of polar bears due to climate change, emphasizing how their food sources are being affected by shrinking ice coverage. This serves as a reminder of the broader impacts of climate change on wildlife and ecosystems.
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Local and Global Consequences: The podcast also touches on the alarming projections for sea level rise, particularly in vulnerable areas like Florida, where cities may be underwater by 2050. This situation raises concerns about climate refugees and the socioeconomic impacts of climate change.
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Empowering Businesses for Change: Given the inaction from governments, Lewin emphasizes the importance of supporting businesses that prioritize environmental and social responsibility. He introduces the concept of B Corps—companies that balance profit with purpose and contribute positively to the environment and society.
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Examples of Positive Action: The episode highlights several B Corps, such as Bose Brewing Company, Four Oceans, Patagonia, and Nada, which are making significant strides in sustainability and environmental impact. These companies demonstrate that individual and collective consumer choices can drive change, even when governmental support is lacking.
We encourage you to take action by supporting responsible businesses and making conscious consumer choices to combat climate change, emphasizing that collective efforts can lead to meaningful change in the face of governmental inaction.
Links discussed in the article:
Polar Bear Article: https://www.thecooldown.com/outdoors/polar-bear-gut-microbiome-research/
Polar Bear Journal Article: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0311518#sec010
Florida Flooding Article: https://www.newsweek.com/florida-map-cities-underwater-2050-slimate-change-sea-level-flood-1997591
B Corp Climate Friendly Businesses: https://www.alveole.buzz/blog/bcorps-that-inspire-us/
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