How To Protect The Ocean
Subscribed: 751Played: 41,557
Subscribe
© Copyright 2026
Description
Dive into the Depths: Join Andrew Lewin on 'How to Protect the Ocean' – Your Gateway to Exclusive Ocean Insights! Explore the latest, uncharted realms of ocean science and conservation that you won't find anywhere else. Andrew takes you on an inspiring journey to uncover the hidden gems of oceanic discovery and initiatives. Tune in to discover how you can transform your life for a better ocean, one episode at a time.
The How To Protect The Ocean is your resource to keep you informed on the latest ocean news; teach you how to speak up for the ocean; and, how you can take action to live for a better ocean.
There is so much information on the ocean and the issues that are affecting it that it can be difficult to find optimism in the future of the ocean. Climate change, overfishing, plastic pollution, water pollution, and coastal development have altered the ocean in ways that have negatively changed the way we use it.
The repercussions of climate change, including the ominous specter of rising sea levels, the relentless march of warming ocean temperatures, and the ominous shadow of ocean acidification, have not only altered the very fabric of our coastlines but have also conjured fiercer storms and summoned floods with growing frequency. The fossil fuel industry may whisper in your ear that the situation is insurmountable, an inescapable fate. However, this podcast is here to unveil a different narrative, one that empowers you to take action. It illuminates the path to change by casting your vote for leaders committed to implementing climate-rescuing policies and by offering invaluable insights into how each of us can shrink our individual carbon footprint.
The grim reality of overfishing casts a long shadow, fueled by governmental shortcomings in the stewardship of both commercial and recreational fisheries. Within the delicate balance of our oceans, every fish population possesses a threshold - a point at which the relentless harvest of fishermen begins to erode their numbers. The management of these aquatic resources is a formidable task, as the elusive currents of the sea often defy easy tracking. Furthermore, the menace of illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing looms large in many nations, adding to the crisis.
Yet, a glimmer of hope shines through the depths. A beacon for responsible consumption emerges in the form of seafood programs, guiding conscientious individuals toward choices that safeguard our oceans. By heeding these programs, you not only savor the delights of sustainable seafood but also become an informed guardian of marine ecosystems.
The relentless scourge of plastic pollution has unleashed an epidemic of death upon the denizens of our oceans. It's a ruthless killer, claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of marine mammals, majestic sharks, grandiose fish, gentle sea turtles, and the graceful sea birds that soar above. The malevolence of this crisis knows no bounds, with microplastics infiltrating even the remotest depths of the ocean and etching their presence along every coastline.
To mount a defense against this ecological cataclysm, the clarion call for action echoes on the international and national stages. It beckons governments far and wide to adopt resolute policies, wielding the power to outlaw the menace of single-use plastics and demanding the meticulous detoxification of our supply chains. In this grand battle to safeguard our seas, the fight against plastic pollution knows no borders.
The ominous specter of water pollution looms large, a consequence of our thoughtless disposal into the arteries of our planet – our streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans. This callous act reverberates, sending shockwaves through the intricate ecosystems of our coastal havens, where the likes of coral reefs, resilient mangroves, and swaying seagrasses thrive. But alas, this intrusion is not benign; it bears the capacity to corrode and dismantle these vital sanctuaries, the very lifeblood of countless fish and the steadfast guardians of our vulnerable shorelines.
Yet, amidst the unsettling tide of pollution, there emerges a ray of hope. Through individual resolve and visionary government policies harnessed with cutting-edge technology, we can stem this toxic deluge. Water treatment systems stand as stalwart guardians, armed with the ability to sift out the insidious nutrients that fuel destructive algal blooms. The power to heal our waters and preserve the sanctity of our coastal treasures lies within our grasp.
Coastal development, driven by human desires to construct homes or fortify the shoreline against erosion, represents a significant intervention in the natural order. Yet, these changes, while initially confined to the coastal zone, often send ripple effects that extend far beyond their original boundaries, casting a shadow of unintended consequences.
The repercussions of altering coastlines resonate through interconnected ecosystems, occasionally triggering a cascade of events that can inflict profound harm on distant areas. In doing so, this well-intentioned transformation can unwittingly imperil the lives and livelihoods of communities residing in the wake of its impact. It is a stark reminder that our actions along the coast carry a profound responsibility, not just to the immediate environment but to the greater web of life and society that depends upon it.
The How To Protect The Ocean is your resource to keep you informed on the latest ocean news; teach you how to speak up for the ocean; and, how you can take action to live for a better ocean.
There is so much information on the ocean and the issues that are affecting it that it can be difficult to find optimism in the future of the ocean. Climate change, overfishing, plastic pollution, water pollution, and coastal development have altered the ocean in ways that have negatively changed the way we use it.
The repercussions of climate change, including the ominous specter of rising sea levels, the relentless march of warming ocean temperatures, and the ominous shadow of ocean acidification, have not only altered the very fabric of our coastlines but have also conjured fiercer storms and summoned floods with growing frequency. The fossil fuel industry may whisper in your ear that the situation is insurmountable, an inescapable fate. However, this podcast is here to unveil a different narrative, one that empowers you to take action. It illuminates the path to change by casting your vote for leaders committed to implementing climate-rescuing policies and by offering invaluable insights into how each of us can shrink our individual carbon footprint.
The grim reality of overfishing casts a long shadow, fueled by governmental shortcomings in the stewardship of both commercial and recreational fisheries. Within the delicate balance of our oceans, every fish population possesses a threshold - a point at which the relentless harvest of fishermen begins to erode their numbers. The management of these aquatic resources is a formidable task, as the elusive currents of the sea often defy easy tracking. Furthermore, the menace of illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing looms large in many nations, adding to the crisis.
Yet, a glimmer of hope shines through the depths. A beacon for responsible consumption emerges in the form of seafood programs, guiding conscientious individuals toward choices that safeguard our oceans. By heeding these programs, you not only savor the delights of sustainable seafood but also become an informed guardian of marine ecosystems.
The relentless scourge of plastic pollution has unleashed an epidemic of death upon the denizens of our oceans. It's a ruthless killer, claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of marine mammals, majestic sharks, grandiose fish, gentle sea turtles, and the graceful sea birds that soar above. The malevolence of this crisis knows no bounds, with microplastics infiltrating even the remotest depths of the ocean and etching their presence along every coastline.
To mount a defense against this ecological cataclysm, the clarion call for action echoes on the international and national stages. It beckons governments far and wide to adopt resolute policies, wielding the power to outlaw the menace of single-use plastics and demanding the meticulous detoxification of our supply chains. In this grand battle to safeguard our seas, the fight against plastic pollution knows no borders.
The ominous specter of water pollution looms large, a consequence of our thoughtless disposal into the arteries of our planet – our streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans. This callous act reverberates, sending shockwaves through the intricate ecosystems of our coastal havens, where the likes of coral reefs, resilient mangroves, and swaying seagrasses thrive. But alas, this intrusion is not benign; it bears the capacity to corrode and dismantle these vital sanctuaries, the very lifeblood of countless fish and the steadfast guardians of our vulnerable shorelines.
Yet, amidst the unsettling tide of pollution, there emerges a ray of hope. Through individual resolve and visionary government policies harnessed with cutting-edge technology, we can stem this toxic deluge. Water treatment systems stand as stalwart guardians, armed with the ability to sift out the insidious nutrients that fuel destructive algal blooms. The power to heal our waters and preserve the sanctity of our coastal treasures lies within our grasp.
Coastal development, driven by human desires to construct homes or fortify the shoreline against erosion, represents a significant intervention in the natural order. Yet, these changes, while initially confined to the coastal zone, often send ripple effects that extend far beyond their original boundaries, casting a shadow of unintended consequences.
The repercussions of altering coastlines resonate through interconnected ecosystems, occasionally triggering a cascade of events that can inflict profound harm on distant areas. In doing so, this well-intentioned transformation can unwittingly imperil the lives and livelihoods of communities residing in the wake of its impact. It is a stark reminder that our actions along the coast carry a profound responsibility, not just to the immediate environment but to the greater web of life and society that depends upon it.
2012 Episodes
Reverse
Picture a woman on a beach before sunrise, sorting the night's catch to feed her kids. Now picture a campaign poster that says "Stop eating fish." That poster just reached her. When conservation messages treat every fisher the same, the people with the smallest footprint stop coming to meetings, stop sharing catch data with scientists, and step out of the conversation entirely. Andrew walks through the Illuminating Hidden Harvests study from the FAO, Duke University and WorldFish, which found that small-scale fisheries land at least 40% of the world's wild catch and employ about 60 million people, roughly 90% of everyone who works in fisheries. Then he lays out four principles for a better approach: support the fishers already doing it well, aim pressure at the industrial systems with the biggest impacts, show communities how marine protected areas can feed their fisheries, and make the good choice easy at the moment of purchase. That last principle brings us to Vancouver, where chef Robert Clark and Jason Boyce of the Vancouver Aquarium created Ocean Wise, a simple symbol on the menu that grew into a national sustainable seafood program. You'll leave with one question to ask every time you buy seafood, and a clearer picture of how that question pulls the whole system toward better choices. Links mentioned in this episode Illuminating Hidden Harvests (FAO, Duke University and WorldFish, 2023): https://cgspace.cgiar.org/items/97623876-241e-4122-bac2-76e82180b292 Ocean Wise Seafood: https://ocean.org/seafood/ Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch: https://www.seafoodwatch.org/ WWF SASSI (South Africa): https://wwfsassi.co.za/ Takeaways Blanket "fishing is bad" messaging lands hardest on small-scale fishers and pushes them away from science and conservation Small-scale fisheries land at least 40% of global wild catch and employ about 60 million people, around 90% of fisheries workers Nearly 53 million more people fish to feed their own families, and about 4 in 10 small-scale fisheries workers are women Co-management covers only about 20% of small-scale catch, leaving lots of room to bring fishers into decisions Accountability belongs with how large industrial fleets are permitted, monitored and held to the rules Healthy marine protected areas can help fisheries through spillover into fishing grounds Programs like Ocean Wise, Seafood Watch and SASSI make sustainable choices simple at the counter Your action: next time you buy seafood, ask where it came from and how it was caught Support Independent Podcasts: https://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Need help with your ocean non-profit, company, or project? Get the help you need with Pisces Oceans Inc.: https://www.piscesoceans.ca 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
In 2023, a marine heat wave settled over Palmyra Atoll, a remote ring of coral islands about 1,000 miles south of Hawaii, and stayed for more than half a year. Some of the reef's most vibrant corals turned white. Joe Pollock of The Nature Conservancy, who monitors the reef, admitted he didn't know if it would come back. Three years later, he put his face in the water and found the reef floor covered in baby corals. In this episode, I break down why Palmyra recovered when so many reefs struggle. It comes down to an intact food web: parrotfish that graze algae off the reef, a bubblegum-pink crustose coralline algae that holds space for young corals, and sharks that keep the whole system in balance. Then we travel to Tsitsikamma, Africa's oldest marine protected area, where Rhodes University researchers found that protected red roman stayed active through an extreme cold spell while fished populations slowed down. Protected areas buy reefs time, and cutting emissions decides how much time they need. I close with one simple action you can take this year: submitting a short comment of support the next time a marine protected area consultation opens in your region. Here's the template from the episode, ready to copy and paste: "I support protecting this area because intact ecosystems recover faster from heat waves. Please give science-based protections full weight." Takeaways Bleached coral is starving, not dead, and can recover if the heat breaks in time Palmyra's reef recovered with a "sea of baby corals" whose parents survived the 2023 bleaching Corals that survive bleaching often tolerate heat better and can pass that tolerance to offspring Parrotfish, crustose coralline algae, and sharks form the "crew of three" that keeps a reef ready to recover Protected red roman in South Africa kept moving through a cold spell that slowed fished populations At 1.5°C of warming, 70 to 90% of coral reefs are projected to decline, so emissions cuts remain the primary fix One two-sentence comment on an MPA consultation counts Important Links and Calls to Action Copy-and-paste comment for your next MPA consultation: "I support protecting this area because intact ecosystems recover faster from heat waves. Please give science-based protections full weight." NPR: There are still nearly pristine coral reefs. They're a blueprint for coral restoration: https://www.npr.org/2026/09/18/nx-s1-5901157/coral-reefs-bleaching Chasing Coral (Netflix documentary): https://chasingcoral.com Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network 2025 Report (living coral down about 10% since 1980): https://gcrmn.net/2025-report/ Corals that survive bleaching gain heat tolerance (NPR): https://www.npr.org/2024/04/01/1241431817/coral-climate-change-heat-great-barrier-reef-bleaching Crustose coralline algae, the unsung architects of coral reefs (Smithsonian Ocean): https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/plants-algae/coralline-algae-unsung-architects-coral-reefs High apex predator biomass on remote Pacific islands (Palmyra predator density): http://researchgate.net/publication/33548989_High_apex_predator_biomass_on_remote_Pacific_islands Global decline of oceanic sharks and rays, 71% since 1970 (Nature): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-03173-9 Red roman study, Mlotshwa et al., Rhodes University (African Journal of Marine Science): https://doi.org/10.2989/1814232X.2025.2558738 IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C: https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/ Super Reefs framework (The Nature Conservancy, WHOI, Stanford): https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/super-reefs-heat-resilient-corals/ Mote Marine Laboratory releases hatchery-raised Caribbean king crabs: https://mote.org/news/mote-marine-laboratory-releases-first-hatchery-raised-caribbean-king-crabs-onto-floridas-coral-reef-marking-major-milestone-in-restoration-efforts/ New hope for Puerto Rico's coral reefs, sea urchin restoration (NOAA Fisheries): https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/new-hope-puerto-ricos-coral-reefs Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Marine Protected Areas: https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/mpa-zpm/index-eng.html Government of Canada, Consulting with Canadians: https://www.canada.ca/en/government/system/consultations/consultingcanadians.html US federal public comment periods (Regulations.gov, includes NOAA): https://www.regulations.gov Support Independent Podcasts: https://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Need help with your ocean non-profit, company, or project? Get the help you need with Pisces Oceans Inc.: https://www.piscesoceans.ca 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
Quick test: name one marine protected area in your country. If you came up blank, you're in good company. When an aquarium in Durban, South Africa surveyed its visitors, fewer than one in five could name a single MPA. Andrew Lewin explains why that silence is one of the biggest threats MPAs face, because a place nobody can name is a place nobody defends when it gets weakened, shrunk or quietly reopened. This episode follows South Africa's long road from protecting 0.4% of its mainland ocean to 5.4%, and the communicators who realized the science and consultations were done but the public was missing. They called MPAs "nature reserves of the sea," talked about what protection does for people, and built a simple map that let visitors find their own town beside a protected area. That idea grew into MPA Day, a celebration that started with a phone call to a handful of friends and now runs every 1 August in more than 25 countries with UN Ocean Decade endorsement. Andrew practices what he preaches by naming one: the Gully, a giant canyon off Nova Scotia where northern bottlenose whales hold their breath for over an hour. Then he hands you a five-minute task. Find the MPA closest to you, learn one species that lives there, and share it with the HTPTO community so we can build a list of places named by listeners around the world. Takeaways Most people can't name a single marine protected area, and that lack of awareness leaves MPAs exposed to quiet rollbacks Ocean protected areas have no gates or signs, so they need communicators to make them visible South Africa's 20 new MPAs took more than a decade of science and consultation, then needed public support to cross the finish line Framing MPAs as "nature reserves of the sea" connects a new idea to one people already know Explaining what MPAs do for people (more fish, tourism jobs, storm protection) builds support faster than biodiversity language alone A map showing protected areas near people's own towns was the most effective exhibit at the aquarium MPA Day grew from a few friends in 2021 to a global event endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade Your task: find your nearest MPA at protectedplanet.net and learn one species that lives there Links: For the call to action: Anywhere in the world: Protected Planet Canada: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Marine Protected Areas across Canada United States: NOAA MPA Inventory, which includes an interactive map viewer For the stories in the episode MPA Day: mpaday.org South Africa's MPA network: Marine Protected Areas South Africa, run by SANBI and its partners The uShaka survey and how the exhibit came about: The Ocean Project, a blog post by Judy Mann The Gully: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Gully MPA
Most people can't name a single marine protected area in their own country. Dr. Judy Mann-Lang found that out the hard way when she asked aquarium visitors to name one and they named the aquarium. With South Africa's new MPAs stalled on a minister's desk and oil and gas lobbyists in the room, she realized the ocean needed public support that didn't yet exist. That gap became MPA Day. Judy spent 30 years at uShaka Sea World in Durban, moving from education to CEO to conservation strategist, then five years with the Two Oceans Aquarium, earning a PhD on how effectively aquariums communicate conservation along the way. She and Andrew talk about layering messages for visitors who have never seen an aquarium, the Penguin Promises study that tracked whether people kept a conservation pledge a year later, why sustainable seafood is complicated, and the two shifts that made MPA Day work: explaining MPAs as nature reserves in the sea, and showing how they support people as well as biodiversity. You'll leave with a clearer sense of why invisible boundaries are so hard to love, how a single idea grew from one aquarium to celebrations around the world, and what you can do on 1 August next year. Judy also shares how she handles eco-anxiety: start in your own community, and get outside to the places that keep you inspired. Links mentioned in this episode MPA Day: https://mpaday.org/ Two Oceans Aquarium: https://www.aquarium.co.za/ Communication4Nature (African Conservation and Rangers): https://www.africanconservationrangers.org/new-page-2 Mission Blue Hope Spots: https://mission-blue.org ProtectBaltic: https://protectbaltic.eu/ Andrew's YouTube video on Palmyra Atoll's coral recovery: https://youtu.be/3gI2_DcZwqM Support Independent Podcasts: https://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Need help with your ocean non-profit, company, or project? Get the help you need with Pisces Oceans Inc.: https://www.piscesoceans.ca 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
You bought the fish with the green check mark. Investigators with The Outlaw Ocean Project then checked the supply chains behind hundreds of seafood companies making sustainability claims, and more than half had a documented crime or concern somewhere upstream. In the final episode of our fish feed series, Andrew Lewin looks at what sustainable seafood labels cover and where their audits stop. Follow fishmeal from Western Sahara to ASC-certified sea bass farms in Türkiye that supply UK supermarkets, and from the Golden Lead plant in Gunjur, The Gambia, to a certified shrimp feed mill in Vietnam whose customers ship to Canadian freezer aisles. Most certification audits focus on the farm, which means the origins of the feed often rest on paperwork. Andrew also explains why crew interviews at sea rarely happen in the conditions that would let workers speak freely. Then hear what happened in 2023, when investigators published trade records linking Uyghur forced labour to seafood sold in North America and Europe. Companies cut ties with named suppliers within a day. Visibility changed behaviour, and that is where you come in: one email to your grocery chain asking whether its seafood policy covers fish feed adds to the pressure that rewrites next year's supply chain report. Takeaways Seafood certification audits mostly focus on the farm and sometimes the processor, so fishmeal sources further upstream often go unexamined Fishmeal linked to Western Sahara and to a polluting plant in The Gambia has been traced toward certified feed mills and farms supplying major retailers Seafood Watch ratings cover environmental impact; labour risk sits in a separate business tool In 2023, seafood buyers cut ties with suppliers within a day once evidence of forced labour was public Canada (S-211), the UK (modern slavery statements) and Australia require large companies to report on forced labour in supply chains One email asking "Does your seafood policy cover fish feed?" is a simple, effective action Links and Important Notes: Food for Feed investigation (The Outlaw Ocean Project): https://foodforfeed.theoutlawocean.com/ The main hub for the series you built this week around. Bait to Plate tool: https://baittoplate.theoutlawocean.com/ This lets listeners trace companies themselves, which fits the episode's "you can see the chain" message. Canada: S-211 report catalogue (Public Safety Canada): https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/lbrr/ctlg/rslts-en.aspx?l=7 The government library catalogue holds filed reports under the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, so Canadian listeners can search their grocer directly. UK: Modern Slavery Statement Registry (GOV.UK): https://modern-slavery-statement-registry.service.gov.uk/ The government registry lets you search statements with filters. One caveat worth knowing: submission is still voluntary, and not every organisation has added its statement yet, so UK listeners may need to check the company's own website. Dr. Judy Mann-Lang / MPA Day: tease next week's episode with a link once it's live.
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States