loader from loading.io

How Marine Conservation Works: From Community Action to Global Policy

How To Protect The Ocean

Release Date: 07/21/2025

Less than 400 Left: How Media Coverage Shapes the Fate of North Atlantic Right Whales show art Less than 400 Left: How Media Coverage Shapes the Fate of North Atlantic Right Whales

How To Protect The Ocean

Less than 400 left — that’s how many North Atlantic right whales remain in the world. These critically endangered whales are at the center of an urgent conservation story, but how the media communicates about them plays a powerful role in shaping public awareness and action. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin sits down with Dr. Marcus Reamer, a new PhD graduate in science communication, to explore how newspapers and digital outlets covered right whale crises over the past decade. Science communication emerges as a critical conservation tool, with Dr. Reamer sharing...

info_outline Managing Fishing Vessels: Uncovering the Hidden Ownership of Industrial Fleets show art Managing Fishing Vessels: Uncovering the Hidden Ownership of Industrial Fleets

How To Protect The Ocean

Managing fishing vessels goes far beyond tracking where a boat is registered. In this episode, we dive into Oceana’s Beyond the Flag report to explore how large-scale fishing vessels are often flagged in one country but owned in another, creating dangerous loopholes that allow illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing to thrive. This legal and beneficial ownership opacity undermines ocean governance, drains resources from coastal nations, and hides the true power behind global fishing operations. Managing fishing vessels transparently is essential for sustainable ocean futures. We...

info_outline Plastic pollution in the ocean: How the Global Treaty Could Change Everything show art Plastic pollution in the ocean: How the Global Treaty Could Change Everything

How To Protect The Ocean

Plastic pollution in the ocean is no longer just an environmental issue—it’s a public health crisis and an economic threat. In this episode, I break down the latest updates from the UN negotiations on a global plastics treaty, explaining why the talks in Geneva this month could set the course for the next generation’s relationship with plastic. From production caps to industry lobbying, the fight over how to address the problem is as intense as ever. Plastic pollution in the ocean also raises questions about equity, with developing nations calling for solutions that protect both the...

info_outline How 5 billion sea stars died and what we can do to save them show art How 5 billion sea stars died and what we can do to save them

How To Protect The Ocean

How 5 billion sea stars died is a story that shook marine ecosystems along North America’s Pacific coast. This episode dives into the groundbreaking discovery of the bacterium Vibrio pectenicida, the pathogen responsible for sea star wasting disease, which decimated up to 90% of sunflower sea stars. We explore how the loss of these predators caused sea urchin populations to explode, leading to widespread kelp forest destruction, and what new recovery strategies—such as captive breeding, probiotics, and climate monitoring—could mean for the species and the habitats they support. By...

info_outline Scientist Identifies New Manta Ray Species: Dr. Andrea Marshall’s Discovery of the Atlantic Manta show art Scientist Identifies New Manta Ray Species: Dr. Andrea Marshall’s Discovery of the Atlantic Manta

How To Protect The Ocean

Scientist Identifies New Manta Ray Species—the Atlantic Manta Ray, Mobula yarae—in a groundbreaking announcement from Dr. Andrea Marshall and her team at the Marine Megafauna Foundation. In this episode, Andrew Lewin shares the story of how Dr. Marshall, already renowned for identifying two distinct manta species in 2009, confirmed a long-suspected third species after years of meticulous observation, genetic analysis, and global collaboration. Listen to this remarkable story of how this new species was first spotted off the Yucatán Peninsula, how it differs from other mantas, and why its...

info_outline Climate Crisis and Capitalism: David Suzuki on Why We Must Rethink Everything show art Climate Crisis and Capitalism: David Suzuki on Why We Must Rethink Everything

How To Protect The Ocean

Climate Crisis and Capitalism are at the heart of David Suzuki’s powerful message in this episode. In a candid and impassioned reflection, Suzuki warns that if we continue to prioritize politics and the economy over protecting the environment, we may as well give up on climate action. He challenges the cultural obsession with perpetual economic growth, critiques the short-sightedness of political cycles, and urges a fundamental shift in our collective priorities. David Suzuki’s call for transformation is both urgent and inspiring. He advocates for placing the environment at the center of...

info_outline Map the Deep Sea: How Ocean Mapping Drives Conservation, Equity, and Innovation show art Map the Deep Sea: How Ocean Mapping Drives Conservation, Equity, and Innovation

How To Protect The Ocean

Map the Deep Sea to protect what we don’t yet understand. In this episode, Andrew Lewin speaks with Tim Kearns from Map the Gaps, a global initiative working to close the knowledge gap beneath the waves. With over 75% of the seafloor still unmapped in high resolution, the ocean remains Earth’s final frontier—and unlocking its secrets is essential for biodiversity, disaster planning, and climate action. Ocean mapping is more than bathymetry. It’s a tool for social justice, environmental stewardship, and informed decision-making. Tim shares how Map the Gaps supports small island nations,...

info_outline Ocean Books and Solarpunk Stories: Todd Medema’s Climate Heist Novel to Inspire Action show art Ocean Books and Solarpunk Stories: Todd Medema’s Climate Heist Novel to Inspire Action

How To Protect The Ocean

Ocean Books can do more than entertain—they can inspire action, hope, and a fresh way of thinking about climate change. In this episode, Todd Medema introduces his new novel, How to Surf a Hurricane, a solarpunk heist that imagines a near-future world adapting to climate change. Todd and Andrew Lewin explore how fiction can shift the narrative from doom to determination, showing how communities can come together to protect nature and build a better future. Solarpunk climate fiction takes center stage in the second half of the conversation. Todd shares his journey from clean energy and...

info_outline Coffee and the Environment: The Hidden Cost of Your Daily Brew show art Coffee and the Environment: The Hidden Cost of Your Daily Brew

How To Protect The Ocean

Coffee and the environment are deeply intertwined, yet few consumers realize just how damaging the coffee industry can be. In this episode, Etelle Higonnet, a Yale-trained human rights lawyer and founder of Coffee Watch, joins Andrew to explore the environmental and human rights crises associated with global coffee production. From deforestation and toxic chemical use to plastic waste and ocean pollution, Etelle reveals the harsh truths behind one of the world’s most beloved beverages. Coffee certification myths are also exposed. Etelle shares how popular labels often fail to guarantee...

info_outline Plastic Pollution in the Ocean: Why It’s Time to Ban Styrofoam for Good show art Plastic Pollution in the Ocean: Why It’s Time to Ban Styrofoam for Good

How To Protect The Ocean

Plastic foam pollution continues to be a widespread and dangerous threat to ocean health. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Oceana’s Christy Leavitt breaks down their 2025 report exposing the true environmental cost of expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) used in foodware across the US. With shocking statistics and real-life examples, Christy explains how foam harms marine ecosystems, why it’s rarely recycled, and how local and national bans are gaining momentum. Plastic pollution solutions begin with better policies, informed choices, and collective action. Christy walks us through...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

How Marine Conservation Works is the foundation for protecting our oceans, but it’s often misunderstood. In this episode, we break down how marine conservation really happens—from grassroots community efforts and local fisheries management to scientific input and national policies. You’ll learn why effective conservation requires more than just good intentions—it takes collaboration, long-term planning, and strong social and political support.