Climate Change Actions Using Sargassum and Black Fly Larvae
Release Date: 12/23/2024
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,...
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Why Canada Matters to the World’s Largest Sea Turtle
How To Protect The Ocean
Leatherback sea turtles are usually associated with warm tropical beaches, but some of the world’s largest sea turtles travel thousands of kilometers to cold Canadian waters each year. Why? Jellyfish. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin explains why Atlantic Canada is an important feeding destination for leatherback sea turtles, how cold water ecosystems support huge bursts of life, and why these northern waters matter more than many people realize. Support Independent Podcasts: Need help with your ocean non-profit, company, or project? Get the help you need...
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The Shark That Turns Fear Into Fascination
How To Protect The Ocean
Blue sharks are one of the most beautiful and misunderstood predators in the ocean. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, we explore how this sleek, cold water shark can change the way people think about sharks, especially when they see one off the coast of Atlantic Canada. Blue sharks travel enormous distances, follow ocean conditions, and play an important role in healthy marine ecosystems. They are predators, but they are also ambassadors for a better understanding of sharks. This episode looks at why sharks belong in the ocean, why cold Canadian waters are full of surprising life,...
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The Cold Water Fish That Looks Dead, But Isn’t
How To Protect The Ocean
Ocean sunfish are one of the strangest fish on Earth. They can look like a giant floating dinner plate, drift sideways at the surface, and appear almost lifeless, but their strange behaviour is part of an incredible survival strategy. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin explores why the mola mola, also known as the ocean sunfish, spends time in cold Canadian waters. These waters may not look tropical or crystal clear, but they are packed with plankton, jellyfish, nutrients, and life. That productivity attracts whales, turtles, seabirds, sharks, and even one of the...
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How Do You Protect an Ocean Nobody Owns?
How To Protect The Ocean
High Seas Treaty | Ocean Governance | Marine Protection How do you protect an ocean that belongs to everyone and no one at the same time? In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin speaks with Rebecca Hubbard, Director of the High Seas Alliance, about one of the most important ocean agreements in history: the High Seas Treaty. The high seas cover nearly half of Earth’s surface and contain some of the planet’s most important ecosystems. Yet for decades, there has been no comprehensive way to create marine protected areas, assess environmental impacts, or coordinate...
info_outlineIn this episode of the "How to Protect the Ocean" podcast, host Andrew Lewin interviews Dr. Annalisa Bracco, a professor at Georgia Tech specializing in ocean and climate dynamics. The discussion centers around innovative climate solutions, moving away from the typical focus on the negative impacts of climate change.
Key Climate Solutions Discussed:
Sargassum Management:
Problem: Since 2011, there have been significant blooms of sargassum in the tropical Atlantic, impacting beaches in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. These blooms require costly cleanup efforts, amounting to approximately $300 million per year.
Solutions:
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Sinking Sargassum: Research is being conducted to explore the feasibility of sinking sargassum to sequester carbon. This involves understanding the ecological impacts and ensuring that the carbon captured is not released back into the atmosphere.
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Biofuel Production: Collaborations with engineers and biologists are underway to convert sargassum into biofuels. One approach involves using black fly larvae, which can efficiently consume sargassum and accumulate lipids for biofuel extraction.
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Bricks from Sargassum: A small business in Mexico is creating bricks from dried sargassum, which are reported to be more resilient to storms than traditional building materials.
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Coral Reef Connectivity:
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Dr. Bracco's team is using machine learning to study the connectivity among coral reefs, which is crucial for understanding how larvae disperse and how healthy ecosystems can support one another.
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The research highlights the dynamic nature of coral ecosystems, particularly in the Pacific, where certain areas can recover from bleaching events due to the exchange of larvae. In contrast, the Atlantic faces challenges due to pollution and overfishing, which hinder recovery.
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Interdisciplinary Collaboration:
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The episode emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary work in addressing climate issues. Dr. Bracco collaborates with experts from various fields, including biology, engineering, and computer science, to develop comprehensive solutions to climate challenges.
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Overall, the episode provides a hopeful perspective on climate solutions, showcasing innovative approaches to managing ocean health and addressing the impacts of climate change.
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