Episodes

March 19, 2021

SUFB 1134: Are Marine Biologists Scientists?

I had a conversation with my youngest daughter the other day about science and she asked whether Marine Biologists are scientists. I was quite surprised because I am a Marine Biologist.  I describe the chat and why people who don't think Marine...
March 17, 2021

SUFB 1133: Building A Sustainable Business With Marina Tran-Vu

Imagine the challenges of building a business to 2021. I have a business, Speak Up For Blue () and it is difficult. Now add on the fact that people are building sustainable businesses. Now add on the fact that some people have launched their business...
March 15, 2021

SUFB 1132: Manatees Killed By Flood Gates In Florida

The Manatee population in Florida is doing much better since being added the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act in the 1970s. The population has increased from 600 to over 8000 individuals; however, there are still some things...
March 12, 2021

SUFB 1131: Don't Do This When Creating Conservation Messages

We need to manage the human population in order to protect the Ocean. I remember Dr. Edd Hind-Ozan saying that statement in a conversation we had while planning for the International Marine Conservation Congress in Malaysia (2018). It always stuck...
March 10, 2021

SUFB 1130: Rescuing And Beyond At The Marine Mammal Center With Adam Ratner

The Marine Mammal Center is an organization that specializes in rescuing Marine Mammals along a 600 mile stretch of California Coastline. It's not an easy thing to do; however, the organization has saved thousands of animals over a 45-year period. I...
March 8, 2021

SUFB 1129: Cuttlefish Pass The Marshmallow Test

The Cuttlefish is by far my favourite Ocean Animal. It's an invertebrate that is extremely complex and, at the same time, is beautiful. I always knew that Cuttlefish had a higher level of intelligence, but a new study finds that their decision-making...
March 5, 2021

SUFB 1128: Science Communication (SciComm) Platforms With Melissa Cristina Marquez

I had the privilege of sitting down with the one and only Melissa Cristina Marquez to talk about her experiences using a variety of Science Communication Platforms including social media, network TV (Shark Week and SharkFest - upcoming), podcasting on...
March 3, 2021

SUFB 1127: What You Need To Ask Yourself Before Supporting An Ocean Conservation Campaign

There are so many people who are trying to save the Ocean and many of them mean well, but they don't always go about it the right way and pull people into their misguided and/or misinformed campaigns.  This episode contains 4 questions you should...
March 1, 2021

SUFB 1126: Global Shark Populations Need Our Help And Here Are Some Ways We Can Protect Them

The Global Shark Population is declining all over the world; however, there is a way to protect using Marine Protected Areas in Exclusive Economic Zones. They are needed now more than ever since some sharks have a large migration and will venture out...
Feb. 26, 2021

SUFB 1125: The Ocean Conveyor Belt Is Slowing Down Due To Climate Change

The Ocean Conveyor Belt is an Ocean circulation system in the Atlantic Ocean that starts with the Gulf Stream coming out of the Gulf of Mexico moving up the East coast of North America and crossing the Atlantic to the UK. The system regulates the...
Feb. 24, 2021

SUFB 1124: Are Ropeless Lobster Traps A Realistic Conservation Strategy

There is a push by the marine science, conservation, and government world to use safer lobster traps that will not pose a threat to marine mammals, such as the critically endangered Northern Right Whales. The problem is that fisheries organizations...
Feb. 22, 2021

SUFB 1123: Changing The Narrative Of Power Grid Failure In Texas

Texas is in a State of Emergency due to a deep freeze event caused by Climate Change. Power outages have caused problems for many citizens in the state as they can't get access to heat and warm water. Now, politicians and media outlets on the right...
Feb. 19, 2021

SUFB 1122: Massive Sea Turtle Rescue After A Deep Freeze In Texas Bays

The deep freeze in Texas is not only affecting Texans all over the state, but it's always affecting Sea Turtles. Animal rescuers made up of government scientists, organizations, and volunteers rescued 4,750 Green Sea Turtles that were affected by the...
Feb. 17, 2021

SUFB 1121: Using Fin Whale Songs To Map The Bottom Of The Ocean

Researchers have found that fin whale songs can contribute to data that can help map the Ocean Bottom and below to identify Carbon sinks and pinpoint faults that can cause Earthquakes. Link To Article: Want To Talk Oceans? Join the Speak Up For Blue...
Feb. 15, 2021

SUFB 1120: Lionfish Might Spur Sustainable Businesses

Lionfish are an interesting species to look at and have a great ecological function in the South Pacific ecosystem, but the species is wreaking havoc in Atlantic coral reef habitats. There are a number of business efforts that are trying to develop a...
Feb. 12, 2021

SUFB 1119: Supporting Each Other For A Better Ocean

I had a couple of conversations this week where the question of supporting one another in marine conservation came up. One question was about why I help others start a podcast. The other was how to react when someone asks you for help within the...
Feb. 10, 2021

SUFB 1118: A Mediterranean Seagrass Can Filter Plastic Waste

Coastal Habitats play a very important role in the health of the Ocean and the security of the coastline. Seagrass meadows are one of the critical habitats that are often forgotten because they may not have the "sexiness" that other habitats such as...
Feb. 8, 2021

SUFB 1117: Blue Whale Gets Caught Among Ship Traffic In A Real Game Of Frogger

You might have seen a visualization that is circulating around the internet of a Blue Whale feeding within Northern Patagonia, Chile in a sea of ship traffic. The Blue Whale is rebounding over and over again as it confronts ships throughout the 7-day...
Feb. 5, 2021

SUFB 1116: In The US, Climate Work Begins Now

A new Administration, the dominance of one political party in the House, the Senate, and the White House brings along new changes. One of those changes in Climate Policy. The Biden/Harris administration promised changes to Climate policy that would...
Feb. 3, 2021

SUFB 1115: I Moderated My First Clubhouse Room...And It Was Glorious

I finally decided to moderate my own room on Clubhouse to have a discussion on Clubhouse. What happened next was amazing! Listen to the podcast for more details.  Want To Talk Oceans? Join the Speak Up For Blue Facebook Group: . Check out the...
Feb. 1, 2021

SUFB 1114: Run A Marathon To Spark Her Career In Marine Conservation

Amelia Hursham is in a difficult spot. She is about to graduate with her undergraduate degree in Marine Biology; however, she will be completing her last semester during COVID...from home, as she is mandated to do online virtual learning. It's not...
Jan. 29, 2021

SUFB 1113: Can We Reuse Sargassum For Compost And Topsoil?

If you have been to any beach in the Atlantic Ocean and/or Caribbean Sea, then you have probably witnessed a beach that has piles and piles of sargassum messing it up and causing a stink.  I remember this happening on my last visit to Mexico. My...
Jan. 27, 2021

SUFB 1112: Songhees Nation Inspects Traditional Waters With ROV In Collaboration With University

The Songhees Nation looked after the TI'ches archipelago for over 3,500 years until their freshwater resource ran out forcing the members of the nation to find other places to live. Recently, some members of the nation teamed up with researchers to...
Jan. 25, 2021

SUFB 1111: The US Rejoins the Paris Climate Accord

The new President of the United States, Joe Biden, was sworn into office on Thursday, January 20th. One of his first orders of business was to sign an Executive Order for the US to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord as he promised he would do many times...