How To Protect The Ocean

By Andrew LewinScience Nature

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Typical duration
17 min
per episode

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How To Protect The Ocean episodes

June 02 The Shark That Turns Fear Into Fascination
Blue sharks are one of the most beautiful and misunderstood predators in the ocean. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, we explore how this sleek, cold water shark can change the way people think about sharks, especially when they see one off the coast of Atlantic Canada.

Blue sharks travel enormous distances, follow ocean conditions, and play an important role in healthy marine ecosystems. They are predators, but they are also ambassadors for a better understanding of sharks. This episode looks at why sharks belong in the ocean, why cold Canadian waters are full of surprising life, and why fear can turn into fascination when people meet the right species.

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
6 min
June 01 The Cold Water Fish That Looks Dead, But Isn't
Ocean sunfish are one of the strangest fish on Earth. They can look like a giant floating dinner plate, drift sideways at the surface, and appear almost lifeless, but their strange behaviour is part of an incredible survival strategy.

In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin explores why the mola mola, also known as the ocean sunfish, spends time in cold Canadian waters. These waters may not look tropical or crystal clear, but they are packed with plankton, jellyfish, nutrients, and life. That productivity attracts whales, turtles, seabirds, sharks, and even one of the heaviest bony fish on the planet.

This episode is a reminder that cold water oceans are not boring. They are full of surprises, strange animals, and signs of healthy food webs hiding in plain sight.
10 min
May 29 How Do You Protect an Ocean Nobody Owns?
High Seas Treaty | Ocean Governance | Marine Protection

How do you protect an ocean that belongs to everyone and no one at the same time?

In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin speaks with Rebecca Hubbard, Director of the High Seas Alliance, about one of the most important ocean agreements in history: the High Seas Treaty.

The high seas cover nearly half of Earth's surface and contain some of the planet's most important ecosystems. Yet for decades, there has been no comprehensive way to create marine protected areas, assess environmental impacts, or coordinate conservation efforts in waters beyond national borders.

Rebecca explains how the treaty came together, why countries are racing to ratify it, what happens once it enters into force, and the challenges of turning a global agreement into real protection. We also discuss marine protected areas, enforcement, biodiversity conservation, and why the next few years could determine the future of ocean governance.

If you've ever wondered who is responsible for protecting the ocean beyond national waters, this episode is for you.

Listen now to learn why the High Seas Treaty could become one of the most important conservation tools of the century.
1 hr 12 min
May 28 The Hidden Fight Behind the High Seas Treaty
The High Seas Treaty took nearly 20 years to negotiate, not because countries disagreed that the ocean matters, but because ocean protection becomes much harder when money, power, access, and fairness are involved.

In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, we look at why protecting the high seas is so politically difficult. From industrial fishing fleets and marine genetic resources to enforcement, ratification, and accountability, this story shows why global ocean conservation is never just about science.

The treaty creates a framework for protecting biodiversity beyond national borders, but the real test is what happens next. Will countries turn the agreement into real action, or will it become another symbolic promise?
9 min
May 27 Will the High Seas Treaty Actually Change Anything?
High Seas Treaty implementation is now the real test for ocean conservation. The agreement was historic, but the hardest part was never getting countries to celebrate the deal. The real challenge is what happens after the headlines disappear.

In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin looks at whether the High Seas Treaty can actually change anything for biodiversity beyond national waters. The treaty creates a legal pathway for marine protected areas on the high seas, but enforcement, funding, political commitment, and accountability will determine whether those protected areas become meaningful or symbolic.

High seas conservation is not just about drawing lines on a map. It is about whether countries are willing to monitor activity, reduce illegal fishing, share marine genetic resources fairly, and treat the ocean as a shared responsibility instead of an unlimited resource.

Listen to the full episode. Follow How to Protect the Ocean for weekday ocean science updates.

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
11 min
May 26 Can High Seas Protected Areas Actually Work?
High seas protection sounds powerful, but can marine protected areas actually work thousands of kilometres from shore? In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin breaks down why creating protected areas beyond national waters is historic, but also incredibly difficult.

The episode explores the difference between paper parks and real protection, why enforcement matters more than most people realize, and how satellite monitoring, AIS tracking, Global Fishing Watch, political will, and long-term funding could determine whether the High Seas Treaty becomes a turning point or just another promise on paper.

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
11 min
May 25 Who Actually Owns the Ocean?
High seas conservation matters because nearly half of the planet lies beyond any one country's control. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, we ask a deceptively simple question: who actually owns the ocean?

Andrew breaks down what the high seas are, why international waters have historically been treated like a free-for-all, and why that approach no longer works in a world of industrial fishing, deep-sea mining interests, global shipping, and climate change.

This episode explains why the high seas matter to tuna, sharks, whales, sea turtles, global food systems, and climate stability, and why the High Seas Treaty could become one of the most important ocean protection tools of our time.

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
11 min
May 22 What Happens If Canada Runs Out of Forage Fish?
Forage fish may be small, but they hold Canada's ocean food web together. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin speaks with Jack Daly, marine scientist at Oceana Canada, about the new report Little Fish, Big Foundation and what it reveals about the state of forage fish across Canada.

These tiny fish, including capelin, herring, mackerel, sardines, and anchovies, feed whales, seabirds, cod, salmon, sharks, and coastal communities. But many stocks are depleted, poorly understood, or managed without the long-term planning needed to rebuild abundance.

This conversation looks at why forage fish matter, how overfishing affects the entire ocean food web, why some stocks may not recover if action comes too late, and what Canada can do to protect the small fish that so many species depend on.

Listen to the full episode to understand why protecting tiny fish may be one of the biggest steps toward rebuilding ocean abundance.

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
1 hr 2 min
May 20 The Tiny Fish Holding the Ocean Together Are at Risk
Small fish like sardines, anchovies, herring, and capelin may not get much attention, but they quietly power entire ocean ecosystems. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, we explore why forage fish are some of the most important species in the sea and how climate change could disrupt the food web in ways scientists are only beginning to understand.

As oceans warm and ecosystems shift, the abundance and location of these small fish are changing. That matters because whales, salmon, tuna, seabirds, cod, and countless marine predators depend on them for survival. If forage fish decline, the impacts could ripple through fisheries, coastal communities, and ocean biodiversity worldwide.

This episode explains why these overlooked species matter more than most people realize, what scientists are seeing in the data, and why protecting the smallest fish in the ocean may be one of the biggest conservation priorities of the future.

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
9 min
May 20 The Tiny Fish Whales Cannot Live Without
Forage fish are some of the most important animals in the ocean, but most people barely know they exist. Sardines, anchovies, herring, capelin, and other small schooling fish support whales, seabirds, salmon, tuna, and commercial fisheries.

In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin explains why forage fish are often overlooked, why their abundance matters more than people realize, and how protecting the ocean means protecting food webs, not just the famous species we love.

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
9 min

About How To Protect The Ocean

From the publisher's feed

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.