In the latest episode of the award-winning Rising Tide: the Ocean Podcast David and Vicki talk with retired NOAA Captain Craig McLean about the Trump administration’s attacks on the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. 20 percent of its workforce including weather forecasters and ocean and climate scientists have already been laid off and more than 10 percent of the budget cut and things could get worse.

Having spent his career as a ship’s master in the uniformed NOAA Corps and as a lawyer and administrator including Acting Chief Scientist during the first Trump administration when he stood up for scientific integrity during the Sharpie-gate scandal, Craig will give us his unique perspective on what’s going on, and the importance of what NOAA does day to day to help our economy, security and environment and what we can all do to protect its work. This is one you won’t want to miss.   

** Links & Resources **

NOAA : https://www.noaa.gov/

Dr. Carol Lichfield: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Litchfield

 Dr.Rita Caldwell: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_R._Colwell

United States Coast and Geodetic Survey: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Coast_and_Geodetic_Survey

 National Marine Sanctuary Program: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/

Blue Frontier: bluefront.org

Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.

Blue Frontier on Substack: https://davidhelvarg.substack.com/

Inland Ocean Coalition: inlandoceancoalition.org

Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protection

Fluid Studios: fluidstudios.org

Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

In our new episode of Rising Tide - the Ocean Podcast David Helvarg & Vicki Nichols Goldstein talk with friends Natasha Benjamin of Blue Frontier and Ana Blanco of the International Ocean Film Festival about their new role as co-directors of ‘Sequoias of the Sea.’ SOS as it’s also known is a 54-minute documentary film about the global crisis facing Kelp Forests. It tells that story through the lens of the people of Fort Bragg California, a former timber town on the state’s north coast. Natasha & Ana talk about the challenges of making the film and the challenges the people of Fort Bragg are facing as they try to create a new blue economy in the face of lost jobs, culture and sport that went away with the kelp. They also talk about its upcoming Première at the Ocean film festival in San Francisco on April 13 and how listeners can see it and learn more about the film and the marine forest.    

SEQUOIAS OF THE SEA: www.sequoiasofthesea.org

When a vital kelp forest vanishes, a coastal town's fragile ecosystem, ancient traditions, and livelihoods crumble, forcing a desperate fight for restoration in the face of climate change.

22nd Annual International Ocean Film Festival: https://intloceanfilmfest.org/

The global platform for ocean literacy and education throughout independent film. Since our inception in 2004, each year the IOFF features a four-day ocean engagement event for audiences from around the world.

Blue Frontier: bluefront.org

Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.

Blue Frontier on Substack: https://davidhelvarg.substack.com/

Inland Ocean Coalition: inlandoceancoalition.org

Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protection

Fluid Studios: fluidstudios.org

Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

This fall NASA launched the Europa Clipper spaceship on a mission to the Jupiter moon of Europa to see if life might exist in its subsurface ocean. In this episode of ‘Rising Tide the Ocean Podcast’ David & Vicki interview Dr. Kathy Crane who was key to the discovery and mapping of hydrothermal vents in the deep Pacific 45 years ago when new ‘chemosynthetic’ life including giant clams and tubeworms were discovered.  These are the kinds of deep ocean life that might exist on Europa and elsewhere in the universe.  We talk with Kathy about being a woman geologist in these famed days of deep-sea discovery as well as her work exploring the Arctic Sea bottom during the Cold War.  It’s a fascinating tale of science and the thrill of discovering new realms.  Dive in with us..

** Links & Resources **

Sea Legs, Tales of a Woman Oceanographer: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/kathleen-crane/sea-legs/9780813342856/?lens=basic-books

Blue Frontier: bluefront.org

Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.

Blue Frontier on Substack: https://davidhelvarg.substack.com/

Inland Ocean Coalition: inlandoceancoalition.org

Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protection

Fluid Studios: fluidstudios.org

Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

In our latest episode of ‘Rising Tide the Ocean Podcast’ David and Vicki check in on Nat Herz founder and reporter at The Northern Journal. After covering our 49th state (including one third of America’s coastline) for the Alaska Daily News and Alaska Public Media Nick set out on his own in 2022, creating an Anchorage-based investigative newsletter covering issues from public lands and water, energy, mining, fisheries, politics, dog sled racing, everything the Alaskan public has a right to know. Now a must read in Alaska with stories picked up by every media outlet in the state the Northern Journal is what you might get if I.F. Stone met a polar bear. We ask Nat about his take on Alaska in the world, how things might change – or not change – during Trump 2.0 and what it’s like covering a beat the size of Western Europe but mostly without roads. It’s a fascinating take on journalism on ‘The Last Frontier.’

** Links & Resources **

The Northern Journal: https://www.northernjournal.com/

Blue Frontier: bluefront.org

Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.

Blue Frontier on Substack: https://davidhelvarg.substack.com/

Inland Ocean Coalition: inlandoceancoalition.org

Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protection

Fluid Studios: fluidstudios.org

Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

In this episode of 'Rising Tide, the Ocean podcast,' hosts David Helvarg and Vicki Nichols Goldstein interview Melanie McField, the founder and director of Healthy Reefs for Healthy People. Melanie shares her journey from a childhood interest in marine biology to her work in Belize with the Peace Corps and beyond. She discusses the creation of the world's first science-based coral reef report card, which evaluates the health of the Mesoamerican Reef, the second-largest coral reef system globally. Melanie details the indicators used in the report card, including coral cover, macro-algae levels, herbivorous fish populations, and commercial fish stocks. She explains the impact of COVID-19 on fishing practices and reef health, the importance of protected areas, and the ongoing challenges of pollution and nutrient management. The conversation also touches on global reef stressors like coral bleaching and disease and the potential for coral restoration projects. Melanie expresses cautious optimism for the future, citing the dedication of conservation groups and innovative restoration efforts.

Protecting Alaska’s Wild Salmon: Challenges, Conservation, and Climate Change

Last fall we spoke with a University of Alaska scientist about the state of salmon. Today we speak with Tim Bristol, the Director of ‘Salmon State’, a Juneau based environmental initiative to protect and sustain Alaska’s wild salmon that include some of the largest runs in the world.  But all’s not well in their river and ocean home.

Working with Alaska Native people, commercial fishermen, river guides, and conservationists Salmon State aims to protect and restore these iconic fish.  We talk with Tim about some of the challenges they face from mining, logging, offshore factory trawlers and of course climate change.  We’ll also discuss the mixed signals Alaska’s getting on how the new Trump administration may deal with salmon.  So, join us for a fascinating and informative episode.  

** Links & Resources **

Salmon State: https://salmonstate.org/

Wild salmon power our economy, sustain our communities, underpin traditions, and fill our bellies.

Support the Rising Tide and donate to Blue Frontier: bluefront.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donation

Your gift of any size will help bring communities together to protect our coasts and ocean. 

Blue Frontier: bluefront.org

Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.

Blue Frontier on Substack: https://davidhelvarg.substack.com/

Inland Ocean Coalition: inlandoceancoalition.org

Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protection

Fluid Studios: fluidstudios.org

Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

Protecting Our Shores: Richard Charter on the Historic Fight Against Offshore Drilling and Biden’s Legacy of Ocean Conservation

In this episode of Rising Tide the Ocean Podcast David Helvarg & Vicki N. Goldstein talk with longtime anti-offshore drilling activist Richard Charter about one of President Biden’s last acts in office, his January 6th ban on future offshore oil and gas drilling permits along the entire Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the U.S. in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the northern Bering Sea off Alaska.

Richard, whose been a leader of citizen campaigns to protect offshore waters for 48 years discusses the legal strength of Biden’s declaration, the difficulties incoming president Donald Trump will have in trying to reverse these protections and why he thinks this is one of the greatest environmental victories since the establishment of our national parks. Check it out.

** Links & Resources **

Support the Rising Tide and donate to Blue Frontier: bluefront.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donation

Your gift of any size will help bring communities together to protect our coasts and ocean. 

Blue Frontier: bluefront.org

Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.

Blue Frontier on Substack: https://davidhelvarg.substack.com/

Inland Ocean Coalition: inlandoceancoalition.org

Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protection

Fluid Studios: fluidstudios.org

Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

In this end of year episode of the Rising Tide Ocean Podcast, David Helvarg presents a compilation of some of our leading ocean voices of 2024. The episode features commercial fisherman turned journalist Nick Rahaim discussing sperm whales in Alaska, artist Ray Troll sharing HIS fish-inspired art, Dr. Sarah Frias-Torres on her marine biology journey, author Shelby Van Pelt on her octopus book’s influence, Nancy Rabalais on the Gulf of Mexico's dead zone, Rear Admiral Andy Sugimoto on Coast Guard missions, Sherri Goodman on clean energy’s military advantages, Craig Foster on tracking underwater life, and Wendy Benchley on the revival of the Peter Benchley Ocean Awards. The episode highlights inspiring stories from 2024 and calls for donations to support ocean conservation efforts in 2025.

** Links & Resources **

Support the Rising Tide and donate to Blue Frontier: bluefront.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donation

Your gift of any size will help bring communities together to protect our coasts and ocean. 

Blue Frontier: bluefront.org

Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.

Blue Frontier on Substack: https://davidhelvarg.substack.com/

Inland Ocean Coalition: inlandoceancoalition.org

Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protection

Fluid Studios: fluidstudios.org

Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

Join hosts David Helvarg and Vicki Nichols Goldstein as they dive into the decades-long grassroots effort to transform 413 acres of the San Francisco Bay headland in Richmond, California, into the new Point Molate Park. Featured guest André Soto, a musician and activist, recounts the struggle against plans for a massive casino and high-end housing development. Discover the rich history of the land, from its origins as Ohlone land to its time as a naval fuel depot, and learn about the importance of community activism, environmental preservation, and political engagement in making this vision a reality. This episode of Rising Tide, the Ocean Podcast, celebrates a victorious moment for public education and conservation.

** Links & Resources **

Support the Rising Tide and donate to Blue Frontier: bluefront.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donation

Your gift of any size will help bring communities together to protect our coasts and ocean. 

Blue Frontier: bluefront.org

Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.

Inland Ocean Coalition: inlandoceancoalition.org

Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protection

Fluid Studios: fluidstudios.org

Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.

Destiny Bristol Kushin and Zinaida Melovidov currently reside in the Unangan community of St. Paul Island, Alaska. Destiny is a 20 year old college student working towards her associates degree in environmental sciences. Zinaida is an elder who has lived on the island almost all her life. Her and her granddaughter Destiny are here to talk about the environmental changes they have seen in their lifetimes.

** Links & Resources **

Support the Rising Tide and donate to Blue Frontier: bluefront.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donation

Your gift of any size will help bring communities together to protect our coasts and ocean. 

Blue Frontier: bluefront.org

Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.

Inland Ocean Coalition: inlandoceancoalition.org

Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protection

Fluid Studios: fluidstudios.org

Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.