Nature is protected by laws on paper, but what happens when those laws are not enforced? On the high seas, beyond national borders, illegal fishing, whaling, and environmental exploitation often operate in legal gray zones. Environmental lawyer and author Sarah Levy joins the show to unpack how international ocean law actually works, where it fails, and why enforcement remains the biggest challenge in marine conservation.

Law and activism collide in this deep dive into Sea Shepherd, Captain Paul Watson, and the controversial role of aggressive nonviolence in protecting marine wildlife. We explore how direct action has influenced global whaling declines, how illegal fishing vessels are tracked and prosecuted, and whether NGOs working alongside governments can strengthen international environmental law.

The High Seas Treaty is finally in force, but will it truly protect biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction? From enforcement loopholes to deep sea mining risks, this episode examines whether international agreements can deliver real ocean protection or whether it will take bold action to give marine conservation real teeth.

Buy the Book:

Support Independent Podcasts: https://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon

Help fund a new seagrass podcast: https://www.speakupforblue.com/seagrass

Join the Undertow: https://www.speakupforblue.com/jointheundertow 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

Nature is absorbing more heat than we realize, and most of it is going into the ocean. Global ocean heat content has reached record highs, confirming what climate scientists have warned for years: the ocean has absorbed more than 90 percent of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases. Data from NOAA and findings summarized in the IPCC AR6 report show a continued upward trajectory, with no sign of stabilization.

Ocean heat is not just a statistic. It is driving stronger marine heatwaves, coral bleaching, shifting fisheries, oxygen loss, and rising sea levels through thermal expansion. Peer reviewed research published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences and Nature Climate Change confirms that both the magnitude and frequency of extreme ocean warming events are increasing. The ocean has buffered atmospheric warming for decades, but ecosystems are beginning to show clear stress signals.

If the ocean continues to store heat at this pace, marine ecosystems will face compounding pressure from warming, acidification, and overfishing. The key question is no longer whether the ocean is warming, but how much additional heat it can absorb before ecological thresholds are crossed.

Support Independent Podcasts: https://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon

Help fund a new seagrass podcast: https://www.speakupforblue.com/seagrass

Join the Undertow: https://www.speakupforblue.com/jointheundertow 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

Seagrass meadows may be the most powerful climate solution underwater, and almost no one is talking about them.

Research published in Nature Climate Change shows that seagrass ecosystems store vast amounts of carbon in their sediments, sometimes for centuries. Unlike forests, much of this carbon is locked below ground in oxygen poor environments, reducing the risk of rapid release. But when seagrass meadows are degraded, that long-stored carbon can return to the atmosphere.

A study in Science Advances demonstrates that large scale seagrass restoration can significantly enhance blue carbon sequestration while rebuilding ecosystem function. At the same time, NOAA documents how seagrass supports fisheries by acting as nursery habitat for commercially important species and protecting shorelines from erosion and storm damage. The UNEP Blue Carbon report makes it clear that coastal ecosystems like seagrass are essential for both climate mitigation and adaptation, yet they remain underfunded in global policy frameworks.

If seagrass stores carbon, strengthens fisheries, and protects coastal infrastructure, why are we still underinvesting in one of the most efficient natural carbon sinks on the planet?

Seagrass Spotter: https://seagrassspotter.org/

Support Independent Podcasts: https://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon

Help fund a new seagrass podcast: https://www.speakupforblue.com/seagrass

Join the Undertow: https://www.speakupforblue.com/jointheundertow 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

Ocean fish populations are under pressure, and public money is still part of the problem. The World Trade Organization adopted a Fisheries Subsidies Agreement to curb harmful funding tied to illegal fishing, but major loopholes remain. Billions of dollars in government support continue to prop up industrial fleets that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing.

Research published in Nature estimates that governments provide approximately 35 billion USD annually in fisheries subsidies, with the majority considered harmful or capacity enhancing. While the WTO agreement marks progress, it does not yet eliminate subsidies that expand fleets or intensify fishing pressure on already stressed stocks. The OECD continues to track uneven reform efforts across countries, showing that global fisheries governance remains inconsistent.

Can fish populations truly rebuild while governments continue to finance fleet expansion? This episode breaks down the science, the economics, and the political reality shaping the future of global fisheries.

Support Independent Podcasts: https://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon

Help fund a new seagrass podcast: https://www.speakupforblue.com/seagrass

Join the Undertow: https://www.speakupforblue.com/jointheundertow 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

Atlantic fish stocks sit at the center of a new political push to expand commercial fishing in federal waters. A recent U.S. executive action signals increased access for industrial fleets, raising critical questions about how economic policy aligns with science based fisheries management.

The United States promotes its fisheries system as one of the most sustainably managed in the world, built on stock assessments, annual catch limits, and rebuilding plans overseen by NOAA Fisheries. Yet globally, more than one-third of assessed fish stocks are already overfished, according to the FAO. When access expands, fishing pressure does not vanish, it shifts.

This episode examines the legal authority behind offshore fishing expansion, the role of science in setting quotas, and what happens when political priorities move faster than precaution. Are Atlantic fisheries protected by science, or vulnerable to politics?

Support Independent Podcasts: https://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon

Help fund a new seagrass podcast: https://www.speakupforblue.com/seagrass

Join the Undertow: https://www.speakupforblue.com/jointheundertow 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

Microplastics are now found in the deepest ocean trenches, Arctic ice, seafood, drinking water, and even human blood. Headlines often claim that all plastics are toxic, but what does the science actually say?

Recent research has detected microplastics in human lungs, placentas, and cardiovascular tissue, raising urgent questions about inflammation, chemical exposure, and long term health risks. At the same time, scientists caution that not all plastics behave the same way, and toxicity depends on polymer type, additives, breakdown processes, and exposure levels.

This episode breaks down the difference between plastic pollution, chemical leaching, and biological impact. It explores what we know about endocrine-disrupting additives like BPA and phthalates, how microplastics move through marine food webs, and what remains uncertain in current human health research. If plastics are everywhere, the real question is not whether they exist, but what they are doing inside ecosystems and inside us.

Anthony's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-merante/

Support Independent Podcasts: https://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon

Help fund a new seagrass podcast: https://www.speakupforblue.com/seagrass

Join the Undertow: https://www.speakupforblue.com/jointheundertow 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

Marine Protected Areas are expanding faster than ever, but new research raises an uncomfortable question: are they actually protecting top predators? Satellite tracking of silky sharks shows that even inside designated protected zones, highly migratory species frequently move into heavily fished waters. If sharks cross invisible boundaries every day, how effective are those boundaries in the first place?

Shark conservation and ocean governance collide when industrial fishing fleets concentrate along MPA borders and enforcement resources struggle to keep up. Studies reveal that some protected areas allow extractive activities, while others lack the monitoring capacity needed to deter illegal or unregulated fishing. The result: declining shark populations in places that are supposed to be safe havens.

Ocean science and policy must align if marine protection is going to work. This episode examines the silky shark case, border fishing pressure, enforcement gaps, and the growing debate over whether some MPAs are delivering real conservation outcomes or simply drawing lines on a map.

Follow the show to stay informed on the science shaping the future of our ocean.

Support Independent Podcasts: https://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon

Help fund a new seagrass podcast: https://www.speakupforblue.com/seagrass

Join the Undertow: https://www.speakupforblue.com/jointheundertow 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

Marine Protected Areas are expanding worldwide, but new research shows that protection on paper does not always translate to protection in reality. Satellite tracking of silky sharks reveals that highly mobile predators regularly cross MPA boundaries into heavily fished waters, exposing serious enforcement gaps. When fishing fleets concentrate along invisible ocean borders, even large reserves struggle to deliver real conservation outcomes.

Shark conservation and ocean governance are at the center of this story. Studies published in peer-reviewed journals and vessel tracking data from Global Fishing Watch show that industrial fishing pressure can persist inside or along the edges of protected zones. Weak enforcement, multi-use designations, and migratory behavior create loopholes that undermine top predator recovery.

Ocean policy and enforcement gaps raise a bigger question: if marine protection exists only on a map, does it count? This episode examines silky sharks as a case study, then expands to global MPA effectiveness, industrial fishing pressure, and what true protection should look like in the open ocean.

Subscribe to stay informed on the science shaping ocean conservation.

Support Independent Podcasts: https://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon

Help fund a new seagrass podcast: https://www.speakupforblue.com/seagrass

Join the Undertow: https://www.speakupforblue.com/jointheundertow 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

Coral Reef Recovery is happening faster than many scientists once believed possible, but only under the right conditions. Long-term monitoring from the Caribbean and Indo Pacific shows that reefs can regain coral cover and rebuild three-dimensional structure when fishing pressure is reduced, water quality improves, and protections are enforced. The idea that reefs are doomed after bleaching events is being challenged by real data collected over decades.

Reef Resilience Science reveals that recovery is not random. Areas with healthy herbivore populations, strong marine protected area enforcement, and fewer back to back heat stress events show measurable rebounds in coral recruitment and structural complexity. Studies published in Science and Nature Climate Change highlight that while climate change raises the baseline risk, local management decisions strongly influence whether reefs collapse or rebuild.

Ocean Conservation Strategy becomes clearer when recovery case studies are compared to areas still declining. Flattening reefs are not inevitable; they are often the result of cumulative stress. When that stress is reduced, ecosystems respond. The evidence points to a simple but powerful conclusion: give reefs breathing room, and many of them fight their way back.

Listen to the full episode.

Support Independent Podcasts: https://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon

Help fund a new seagrass podcast: https://www.speakupforblue.com/seagrass

Join the Undertow: https://www.speakupforblue.com/jointheundertow 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

Coral reefs can still show living coral cover and yet be ecologically collapsing beneath the surface. In this episode, we break down new coast-to-coast reef assessments from Thailand that reveal a critical warning sign: reefs are losing structural complexity even when coral is still present.

Structural complexity, also known as rugosity, is what gives reefs their three-dimensional shape. That shape creates habitat for fish, supports predator-prey balance, fuels biodiversity, and protects coastlines from storms. New research published in Science and Nature Climate Change shows that repeated bleaching events and chronic stress are flattening reef architecture, reducing resilience and weakening ecosystem function long before coral disappears completely.

This episode explains why coral cover alone is no longer enough to measure reef health, what structural degradation means for fisheries and coastal communities, and how monitoring needs to evolve if we want real conservation progress.

Follow the show for clear, science-based ocean updates every weekday.

Support Independent Podcasts: https://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon

Help fund a new seagrass podcast: https://www.speakupforblue.com/seagrass

Join the Undertow: https://www.speakupforblue.com/jointheundertow 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