Coastal 500: Uniting Mayors for Ocean Conservation
Release Date: 07/12/2024
Ghost Nets: Why They Keep Happening and What's Actually Working
How To Protect The Ocean
A viral TikTok about fish aggregation devices drifting into marine protected areas got Andrew thinking about a topic he hasn't covered in a while: ghost nets. In this episode, he breaks down what ghost nets actually are, the scientific term for them (ALDFG, or abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear), and why they're a growing, well-documented problem from the ocean surface all the way down to the deep seafloor. Andrew walks through what the peer-reviewed research shows: entanglement patterns across whales, seals, sea turtles, and coral reefs, a personal diving story off Big...
info_outline
What the Wildfire Smoke in Your Sky Has to Do With the Ocean
How To Protect The Ocean
For a week straight, Andrew watched his own sky turn orange outside Toronto as smoke from nearly 900 wildfires burning across Canada, most of them following the boreal forest from the east coast to Northwestern Ontario, drifted south into the US and back again. He walks through what actually happened on the ground: which towns and First Nations were evacuated, how bad the air quality got (Toronto briefly had the worst AQI in the world), and why northwestern Ontario, not a hugely populated area but home to vulnerable First Nations communities, bore the brunt of it. Then he digs into why this...
info_outline
100 Years of Data Reveals Why Sharks Keep Stealing Your Catch
How To Protect The Ocean
If you've ever felt a hard strike, fought a fish, and reeled up nothing but a head, you already know what shark depredation feels like. In this episode, Andrew breaks down a new study that tracked shark depredation across the entire Atlantic coast, from Maine to Texas and the US Caribbean, going back a full century to figure out why it's happening more now than ever before. The study found at least 51 targeted fish stocks affected and 22 shark species involved, with bull sharks and sandbar sharks showing up most often. But the real story isn't that sharks are out of control. It's that...
info_outline
What Lives in the Middle of the Ocean?
How To Protect The Ocean
A thousand meters down off the coast of Brazil, a deep-sea robot caught something almost no one has ever filmed alive: a giant open ocean octopus calmly eating a jellyfish. That moment, captured by the Schmidt Ocean Institute's ROV SuBastian aboard the research vessel Falkor (too), was part of a wider expedition that turned up more than two dozen species new to science, from glowing worms to glass squid to strange colonial siphonophores. The discovery points to something bigger than one expedition. The ocean's midwater, the vast zone between the sunlit surface and the seafloor, is by volume...
info_outline
Oil Companies Knew Coral Reefs Would Dissolve. In 1978.
How To Protect The Ocean
In 1978, an Exxon scientist asked a question in capital letters: were the oceans dissolving coral reefs? By 1982, Exxon's own scientists had the answer, in writing. So did Shell by 1986. This episode traces a newly published Oxford University study that dug through more than fourteen thousand pages of fossil fuel industry documents and found that the world's biggest oil and gas companies understood, decades before the public did, exactly how their product would wreck coral reefs. We walk through what the industry knew and when, how a funded think tank report in 2012 was built to look like an...
info_outline
Nearly 2,000 Volunteers Just Answered the Ocean's Biggest Question
How To Protect The Ocean
For more than a decade, almost 2,000 volunteers have walked California's beaches with clipboards, counting every swimmer, surfer, angler, and boat they see. It sounds simple, maybe even a little strange. But that pile of data, more than a million tally marks collected between 2012 and 2020, just answered a question marine scientists have debated for years: do marine protected areas actually work in the real world, not just on paper? In this episode, we walk through what researchers found when they finally pulled that decade of volunteer data together. We look at how the MPA Watch program...
info_outline
The Silent Damage Behind Your Canned Tuna
How To Protect The Ocean
Right now, somewhere in the open ocean, a raft the size of a small table is drifting with no one steering it. It's called a fish aggregating device, or FAD, and the tuna industry drops thousands of them into the water every year to lure fish to the surface. A new study published in Science Advances tracked where these rafts actually end up, and the answer is unsettling: they've likely drifted through more than half of the world's marine protected areas by total area, with over 6,300 strandings recorded across 174 protected areas in 53 countries and territories. When a drifting FAD washes onto...
info_outline
The Hidden Solar Power Plant Living on Coral Reefs
How To Protect The Ocean
Scientists have uncovered an incredible secret hiding in plain sight on coral reefs. Some tropical sea sponges are able to harvest sunlight through microscopic algae living inside their tissues, giving them a surprising source of energy. It is a discovery that challenges what we thought we knew about one of the ocean’s oldest animals. In this episode, we explore how these ancient filter feeders use a partnership with algae to survive and thrive in nutrient-poor tropical waters. You’ll learn why this relationship is similar to the one that helps corals build reefs and why researchers...
info_outline
What Happens to Your Water Before the Coast Floods?
How To Protect The Ocean
Sea level rise isn’t always dramatic. Long before homes disappear beneath the waves, coastal communities can lose something even more essential: safe drinking water. In this episode, we explore how saltwater is quietly moving into freshwater supplies across coastal Bangladesh and why this hidden impact deserves far more attention. Using a recent Mongabay commentary as a starting point, you’ll learn how rising seas, changing rivers, and human activities are combining to reshape one of the world’s largest river deltas. The consequences extend beyond drinking water to agriculture, public...
info_outline
The World Just Promised Billions, But Will the Ocean Benefit?
How To Protect The Ocean
The world just pledged more than $6.4 billion for ocean conservation at the 2026 Our Ocean Conference, but history tells us that big announcements do not always lead to meaningful action. In this episode, we unpack what was actually announced, who made the commitments, and why the headline number is only part of the story. You’ll learn why this year’s conference in Kenya was especially significant and what makes these commitments different from legally binding agreements. We also explore the question that rarely gets asked: how do we know whether these promises will ever become real...
info_outlineThis episode explores the resiliency of coastal communities in small island states like the Philippines and Honduras. The focus is on organizations like RARE and their projects, such as Fish Forever and Coastal 500, aimed at building capacity and resilience in these communities. Join host Andrew Lewin as he speaks to RARE's Rocky Sanchez Tirona and dive into initiatives working towards a better ocean future.
RARE's website: https://rare.org/program/fish-forever/
Sign Up for Updates on the process: www.speakupforblue.com/oceanapp
Connect with Speak Up For Blue:
Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@speakupforblue
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc
YouTube: www.speakupforblue.com/youtube
Building resilience in coastal communities is crucial for adapting to environmental changes and disasters. The podcast episode highlights the importance of building resilience in coastal communities, especially in small island states like the Philippines. The Fish Forever program by RARE focuses on working with local communities and governments to manage coastal waters sustainably. By empowering these communities to manage their resources effectively, they can adapt to changes in the environment and be better prepared for disasters like typhoons.
One example mentioned in the episode is the case of a local government in the Tanyan Strait in the Philippines. The mayor of this region took proactive steps to protect the mangrove forests, which are crucial for coastal protection. By implementing policies to prevent deforestation and creating livelihood programs around the mangroves, the community was able to benefit from the protection provided by these habitats during a typhoon. This example showcases how investing in coastal habitats and involving local communities can enhance resilience to environmental changes and disasters.
Additionally, the Coastal 500 program brings together mayors and government representatives from different countries to share experiences and solutions for coastal management. By creating a network of leaders who can collaborate and learn from each other, the program aims to strengthen the resilience of coastal communities globally. The exchange of knowledge and best practices among these leaders can help in developing effective strategies for managing coastal resources and preparing for environmental challenges.
Overall, the episode emphasizes the need for building resilience in coastal communities by involving local governments, communities, and international partnerships. By focusing on sustainable management practices, creating livelihood opportunities, and fostering collaboration among leaders, coastal communities can better adapt to environmental changes and disasters, ensuring their long-term sustainability and well-being.
In the podcast episode, Rocky Sanchez-Torona from Rare discusses the collaborative efforts among local governments and communities in the Philippines and other countries to successfully conserve and manage coastal resources. The Fish Forever program, initiated by Rare, focuses on working with local communities and governments to manage their coastal waters effectively. Through this program, communities are empowered to take ownership of their marine resources, leading to sustainable practices and livelihoods.
One key aspect highlighted in the episode is the importance of building resilience within coastal communities. By involving local governments and communities in the decision-making process, there is a greater sense of ownership and commitment to conservation efforts. For example, the program in Siargao, Philippines, showcased how mangrove protection and sustainable practices were implemented with the support of the local government. This proactive approach not only protected the mangroves but also provided livelihood opportunities for the community.
The Coastal 500 initiative further exemplifies the power of collaboration on a larger scale. By bringing together mayors and government representatives from different countries, the program facilitates knowledge sharing, mutual support, and collective action. The exchange of ideas and experiences among these leaders can lead to innovative solutions and best practices being implemented across various regions.
Moreover, the episode emphasizes the role of partnerships and capacity-building in scaling conservation efforts. By training provincial governments, universities, and other organizations, Rare aims to expand the reach of their programs and empower more communities to take action. The goal is to create a network of empowered local leaders who can drive change and advocate for sustainable coastal management practices.
Overall, the collaborative efforts among local governments and communities, as demonstrated in the Fish Forever and Coastal 500 programs, showcase the effectiveness of working together towards a common goal of conservation and sustainable resource management. By fostering partnerships, sharing knowledge, and empowering communities, these initiatives are paving the way for a more resilient and environmentally conscious future for coastal regions worldwide.
The podcast episode featuring Rocky Sanchez-Torona from Rare sheds light on the impactful programs like Fish Forever and Coastal 500 that are making a positive impact by empowering communities and promoting sustainable practices. Here are some key points from the episode that highlight the significance of these programs:
-
Fish Forever Program:
-
The Fish Forever program works with local communities and governments to manage coastal waters sustainably.
-
The program focuses on giving communities exclusive rights to fish in certain areas, leading to better management and protection of marine resources.
-
By involving communities in decision-making and management, Fish Forever encourages sustainable practices and fosters a sense of ownership among the locals.
-
Coastal 500 Initiative:
-
The Coastal 500 initiative aims to bring together 500 communities and governments to share resources and build coastal resiliency.
-
By creating a network of mayors and government representatives from different countries, Coastal 500 facilitates knowledge exchange and collaboration on marine conservation efforts.
-
The initiative empowers local leaders to drive change, advocate for policies, and work together towards common goals for protecting coastal ecosystems.
-
Community Resilience:
-
The success stories shared by Rocky highlight how communities have embraced sustainable practices and conservation efforts.
-
Examples like the protection of mangroves in Siargao and the establishment of savings clubs demonstrate how communities are becoming more resilient to environmental challenges.
-
The emphasis on building capacity, promoting livelihood programs, and engaging in collaborative efforts showcases the positive impact of these programs on community empowerment.
-
Global Collaboration:
-
The episode underscores the importance of global collaboration and knowledge sharing among mayors and government officials from different countries.
-
By learning from each other's experiences and solutions, communities can address common challenges and implement effective conservation strategies.
-
The formation of alliances and partnerships at a global level enhances advocacy efforts, amplifies voices, and accelerates progress towards sustainable marine conservation.
In conclusion, programs like Fish Forever and Coastal 500 by Rare are instrumental in empowering communities, fostering sustainable practices, and promoting resilience in the face of environmental changes. Through collaborative initiatives, capacity-building, and community engagement, these programs are driving positive change and creating a more sustainable future for coastal communities worldwide.