A $386 million network of nearly 900 ocean sensors stretching across five sites from Oregon to Alaska to Greenland was being quietly dismantled, with no warning to Congress and no explanation to the public. In this episode, we trace the fight to save the Ocean Observatories Initiative: what this network actually does, why it matters far more than most people realize, and how a Democrat from Oregon and a Republican from Alaska teamed up to pass a bill stopping it in the span of a day and a half.

We talk with Craig McLean, who spent more than 40 years at NOAA, including two stints as NOAA's Chief Scientist, about what's really at stake when ocean monitoring infrastructure disappears, and why this fight is part of a much bigger pattern. We also revisit a warning from a past guest, marine ecologist Dr. Andrew Thaler, that's looking less hypothetical by the day, and lay out exactly what you can do to help make sure this win sticks.

Craig McLean spent over 40 years at NOAA, where he founded the Ocean Exploration Program and served as NOAA's Chief Scientist, including being reinstated after being removed from the role for defending scientific integrity. He is now a senior fellow at the Ocean Foundation.

Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) led the bipartisan push for the Saving the OOI Act, featured here via Senate floor remarks.

Dr. Andrew Thaler, marine ecologist and conservation technologist, returns in spirit from a past episode where he broke down Project 2025's plans to dismantle NOAA.

Jack Barth, oceanography professor at Oregon State University, provided background on the Coastal Endurance Array via KATU News.

The Saving the OOI Act passed the Senate unanimously, pausing NSF's decommissioning of the Ocean Observatories Initiative pending a full review with stakeholder input. It was led by Senators Merkley and Murkowski and cosponsored by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).

Guest: Oliver Gunasekara, CEO & Co-Founder, Impossible Metals

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Making babies is expensive. For pretty much every species on the planet, reproduction is supposed to be the ultimate metabolic investment—a massive energy drain that can make organisms vulnerable to stress, predators, and environmental change. Except there's a small shark walking around the Great Barrier Reef that apparently didn't get the memo.

In this episode of our Ocean Lovin' series, we explore groundbreaking research from James Cook University that's forcing scientists to completely rethink what they know about the costs of reproduction. Epaulette sharks—those amazing little "walking sharks" that can literally stroll across reef flats on their fins—can produce complex egg cases with developing embryos inside without any measurable increase in energy use. Zero. Zilch. Nada. It's like building a house without buying any extra lumber.

Join hosts Andrew Kornblatt and Dr. Frances Farabaugh, along with returning guest co-host Dr. Skylar Bayer, as we dive into this surprising discovery with Professor Jodie Rummer from James Cook University. We'll explore how her team measured something no one had measured before—the metabolic cost of egg-laying in sharks—and what they found challenges fundamental assumptions about reproduction in the ocean.

We'll learn about the "pay as you go" hypothesis, discover why a tiny organ might be working overtime without changing the whole shark's energy budget, and explore what this means for sharks facing climate change. From the controlled environment of the lab to wild populations scattered across the Great Barrier Reef, this research reveals that evolution has equipped some species with surprising tools for survival that we're only beginning to understand.

Content Advisory: This Ocean Lovin' episode deals with mature subjects related to marine reproduction. Please listen to the full episode before sharing with younger audiences.

Professor Jodie Rummer

The Discovery

The Science

Epaulette Shark Biology

Climate Change Implications

Future Research Directions

Primary Study: Wheeler, C.R., Awruch, C.A., Mandelman, J.W., & Rummer, J.L. (2025). "Assessing the metabolic and physiological costs of oviparity in the epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum)." Biology Open, 14(11). DOI: 10.1242/bio.062076

Lead Author: Dr. Carolyn Wheeler (recent JCU PhD graduate)

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After nearly two decades of negotiations, the world has finally agreed on a framework to protect the high seas - that vast expanse of ocean beyond any nation's control that covers nearly half our planet's surface. On January 17th, 2026, the BBNJ Agreement (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction), commonly known as the High Seas Treaty, officially enters into force, becoming international law.

Join us as we explore this historic moment with two experts at the heart of the effort. Jeremy Raguain, who works with the Alliance of Small Island States, shares insights on Africa's leadership in the negotiations and what meaningful capacity building looks like for developing nations. Rebecca Hubbard, Director of the High Seas Alliance, takes us through the coalition-building journey from 2002 to today, explaining the treaty's four pillars: marine protected areas, equitable benefit-sharing from marine genetic resources, environmental impact assessments, and capacity building.

This isn't just another international agreement - it's the missing piece that could finally allow us to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030, ensure that benefits from ocean resources flow equitably to all nations, and shift away from "parachute science" toward true partnerships. From small island nations reclaiming their identity as "big ocean states" to the complex work of enforcing protections in the world's most remote waters, this episode explores what becomes possible when the world comes together to protect what belongs to us all.

Whether you live on a coast or in a landlocked country, half the oxygen you breathe comes from the ocean. Its health is humanity's health. Discover why this treaty matters for everyone, and what you can do to support its implementation.

Featured Guests:

• Jeremy Raguain, AOSIS Fellowship Director & Ocean Governance Specialist
• Rebecca Hubbard, Director of the High Seas Alliance

Episode Length: 35-40 minutes

What happens when you combine marine biology expertise with immersive art? You get the world's only cartoon aquarium—and it's right here in Portland.

Join us as we explore the Portland Aquarium, an innovative art installation that's reimagining ocean education. Artist Mike Bennett and marine biologist Chanel Hason have created an experience featuring over 100 hand-painted marine species across six biomes—with zero live animals and maximum imagination.

Discover how this unique collaboration addresses real challenges in science communication: How do you show people a blue whale or giant squid when you can't keep them in captivity? How do you bring ocean education to communities without access to traditional aquariums? And how can art become a gateway to marine conservation?

From the technical details of getting sea otter tails scientifically accurate to the emotional power of painted seagulls with flapping wings, Mike and Chanel share the story of transforming a vacant downtown Portland space into a hub of creativity, education, and community connection—complete with support for real conservation work through the Elakha Alliance's sea otter reintroduction efforts.

Mike Bennett - Portland-based artist and creator of immersive educational installations including the Portland Aquarium

Chanel Hason - Marine biologist and Director of Outreach & Community Relations at Elakha Alliance

• The intersection of art and marine science education
• Advantages of artistic representations versus traditional aquariums
• Scientific accuracy in creative work (yes, sea otter tail length matters!)
• Bringing ocean education to landlocked communities
• Creating community spaces through immersive art
• Supporting marine conservation through creative collaboration
• The Elakha Alliance's work to reintroduce sea otters to Oregon

• Why Portland's cartoon aquarium features species you'd never see in a traditional aquarium—like blue whales and giant squid
• How Mike's childhood visits to the Baltimore Aquarium inspired a career in immersive animal education
• The viral success of Mike's pandemic-era "A, B, Sea" installation that attracted 1,000+ visitors to his front yard
• Chanel's emotional connection to seeing the first footage of a living giant squid
• How the installation transformed a downtown corner from "graffiti and cigarette butts" to "sidewalk chalk and bubbles"
• The truth about blobfish: why they look so different at the surface versus the deep sea
• Creating animatronic seagulls and working with composer RAC to bring the installation to life
• Plans for a portable version to bring ocean education to schools in landlocked states

Organizations:

• Elakha Alliance - Working to reintroduce sea otters to the Oregon coast
• Big Fish Lab at Oregon State University
• Imaginary Planet - Portland animation studio

The Portland Aquarium

• Location: Broadway & Alder, Downtown Portland, Oregon
• Open 7 days a week
• Instagram: @theportlandaquarium
• General admission: $14 | Children 2-12: $10 | Under 2: Free

Coming Soon: Zoo Aquarium Podcast - Mike and Chanel's upcoming show answering kids' questions about animals

"It's the only cartoon aquarium in the world, which I think is really special. And there's a blue whale in the aquarium and some wild deep sea critters that couldn't be held in captivity no matter how you tried." - Chanel Hason

The Portland Aquarium demonstrates how creative collaboration between artists and scientists can solve real problems in science communication and conservation outreach. By making ocean education accessible, affordable, and imaginative, Mike and Chanel are proving that wonder—and learning—can come in many forms.

Ocean Science Radio brings you the latest, greatest, and sometimes deepest stories in the ocean. Hosted by Andrew Kornblatt and Dr. Frances Farabaugh.

What happens after you flush? Most of us don't think about it—but maybe we should. In this eye-opening episode, we dive into one of the ocean's biggest but least discussed threats: wastewater pollution.

Join us as we talk with Jos Hill, Program Director for The Nature Conservancy's Wastewater Pollution Program and creator of the groundbreaking podcast "waste(d)water." Jos reveals the shocking scale of this crisis: 80% of wastewater worldwide is inadequately treated, 58% of coral reefs are exposed to wastewater pollution, and wastewater accounts for a staggering 40% of coastal nutrient pollution—nearly as much as agriculture.

Discover how even highly treated wastewater can devastate marine ecosystems, why coral disease outbreaks in the Florida Keys have been traced back to human gut pathogens, and how nutrient-rich wastewater is making coral reefs more vulnerable to marine heat waves and climate change.

But this isn't just doom and gloom—Jos shares inspiring recovery stories from Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii and Tampa Bay in Florida, proving that when pollution is addressed, ecosystems can bounce back. Learn about innovative nature-based solutions, including treatment gardens that clean water while growing food for coastal communities.

From the intersection of wastewater pollution and social justice to practical steps you can take in your own community, this conversation breaks the taboo around a topic that affects every person on the planet. As Jos reminds us: everyone goes to the toilet, so this issue is relevant to everyone.

It's time to start talking about the dirty secret of ocean pollution—because we can't solve problems we won't discuss.

Featured Guest: Jos Hill, Program Director, Wastewater Pollution Program, The Nature Conservancy

Learn more: Check out the waste(d)water podcast and follow @wastedwaterpod wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Dive into the freshwater frontier of ocean exploration as we explore how a revolutionary compact ROV is transforming underwater archaeology in the Great Lakes. Join us for the incredible story of the first comprehensive survey of shipwrecks in Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary, where cutting-edge technology meets centuries-old maritime history.

Discover how RHODY - a nimble, acrobatic underwater robot that can be transported in the back of a truck - recently surveyed 17 shipwrecks with unprecedented detail. From 3D photorealistic models created with gaming technology to students piloting sophisticated ROVs using Xbox controllers, this expedition is redefining what's possible in ocean exploration.

Hear the thrilling tale of Susanna Maycut, a student who made maritime history during a midnight shift, discovering a previously unknown shipwreck while processing sonar data for the first time. Learn how this expedition democratized ocean exploration by prioritizing student involvement, connecting with 15 classrooms in real-time, and even enabling a paralyzed student to pilot the ROV remotely from his home.

This episode showcases how modern ocean science is becoming more accessible, inclusive, and community-connected. From the spooky beauty of century-old shipwrecks preserved in Lake Ontario's cold waters to the practical applications of emergency response and archaeological documentation, RHODY represents the future of underwater exploration.

Whether you're fascinated by maritime archaeology, excited about technological innovation, or inspired by student-led discovery, this episode proves that some of our most incredible adventures are waiting right in our own backyard waters.

Guests:

• Adam Soule - Professor, University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography & Executive Director, NOAA Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute
• Holly Pettus - Project Manager, Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute & Deputy Expedition Leader, Lake Ontario Expedition