Episodes

Tree-Free Products are disrupting industries that have relied on the same wasteful materials for more than a century, and the shift is happening faster than most people realize. In this episode, we explore how Emerald Ecovations produces over 370 sustainable alternatives without cutting down a single tree, dramatically reducing carbon emissions, water use and ocean-bound pollution. Ralph Bianculli shares why legacy companies resist change and how younger decision-makers are pushing corporate pur...

Mass penguin die off explained, a crisis that wiped out ninety five percent of some African penguin colonies, raises a heartbreaking question: how does a thriving species fall to fewer than ten thousand breeding pairs and almost no one sees it happening? This episode uncovers the chain reaction that pushed an entire population toward collapse, from vanishing sardines to the brutal timing of the molt that left tens of thousands of penguins starving. One of the most emotional discoveries in the re...

Marine Wildlife Victory raises a powerful question: what does it take to finally protect some of the ocean’s most threatened giants, and why did it take this long? In this episode, you will hear how manta rays, devil rays, and several shark species faced years of intense pressure from overfishing and international trade, and why the world finally agreed they needed stronger protection. The emotional turning point comes when we uncover that manta ray gill plates were so valuable in global markets...

Northern Right Whale crisis: For years, scientists and advocates have watched this critically endangered species decline due to ship strikes, fishing gear entanglement, and rapid ocean change. This episode asks a crucial question: Does the first population increase in years signal real recovery or just a temporary pause in a long-term crisis, and what must change now to keep that number rising? Whale conservation stories: Oceana campaigner Nora Ives brings clear insights into how monitoring eff...

Supermarket tuna raises a disturbing question: What’s behind your canned tuna? In this episode, you uncover the hidden human cost of the global tuna industry, including the devastating story of fisherman Deby Putra Bunanda, whose health collapsed after months at sea supplying tuna for major supermarket brands. His experience reveals a deeper and darker truth about forced labor, long deployments without oversight, and the human suffering behind one of the world’s most common foods. The surprising...

Ocean crisis: COP30 Belém exposed massive gaps in climate action, and the ocean will carry the burden. In this episode we break down the missing fossil fuel commitments, the weak climate finance language, and the two track political system that threatens to push ocean science into the background. These decisions matter because the ocean is already absorbing the heat and carbon that our climate system cannot handle. Climate justice: Indigenous communities and coastal nations called for a stronger...

How Deep Sea Mining could permanently disrupt the ocean’s most important animal routes, and most people have never thought about it. This episode asks the critical question: what happens when mining operations collide with species that rely on vast migratory pathways to survive? We break down the science in a way that makes the stakes impossible to ignore, from whale communication and sea turtle navigation to seabird feeding routes and shark migrations. Whales: Our guest, Dr. Andrew Thaler, exp...

Fish Farm Clean Up reveals the hidden reality beneath a quiet coastline in Methana, Greece, where a ghost fish farm left behind more than forty tons of plastic cages, nets, metal frames, pipes, and even sunken boats. What looked peaceful on the surface hid a toxic underwater scrapyard that had been breaking apart and polluting the Saronic Gulf for years. Shocking Footage from this cleanup shows how abandoned aquaculture sites become long-term pollution hotspots. The divers, Healthy Seas Foundat...

Whales don’t get cancer as often as you might expect, and in this episode you learn how the bowhead whale’s unique DNA repair system is helping scientists understand cancer prevention and healthy aging. This Arctic giant lives more than 200 years, grows to airplane size, and still avoids the runaway mutation patterns that lead to tumors in other species. Whales don’t get cancer at high rates because their cells repair DNA damage with remarkable accuracy, and recent studies show that bowhead wha...

Fish feed in aquaculture is at the center of a complicated global story that most people never hear about. In this episode, Andrew sits down with marine biologist and policy expert Marine Cusa to explore the hidden world of fishmeal, fish oil, feed ingredients, and the surprising connections between aquaculture, wild fisheries, West African communities, and even penguin populations in Antarctica. Marine breaks down what actually goes into the pellets fed to farmed fish, why transparency is lacki...

Orcas vs Great White Sharks is more than a dramatic headline—it’s a sign of how ocean ecosystems are shifting before our eyes. New drone footage shows orcas in the Gulf of California attacking and killing juvenile great white sharks in what scientists believe are nursery zones. The footage, captured in 2020 and 2022, reveals orcas flipping young sharks onto their backs, inducing tonic immobility, and surgically removing their livers—a precise and efficient hunting technique that may reshape pred...

Seagrass meadows are among the most vital yet overlooked ecosystems on our planet. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin explores a new 19-year study from Moreton Bay, Australia, which shows that seagrass coverage and diversity are declining over time despite short-term recovery periods. This long-term research reveals that while short-term studies might show seagrass bouncing back after storms or floods, the bigger picture tells a story of gradual loss and ecological transfo...

Animals affected by climate change are showing us how fragile our ecosystems have become. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, host Andrew Lewin speaks with Dr. Helen Killeen, a marine ecologist whose research connects seabird reproduction to shifting ocean temperatures, prey diversity, and climate pressures across the northern hemisphere. Animals affected by climate change, from seabirds in the Arctic to those in the Pacific, serve as living indicators of ocean health. Helen explains h...

Marine Conservation Projects are driving real wins: green sea turtles downgraded to least concern in many regions, North Atlantic right whales showing a small but meaningful uptick, and a new vaquita calf sighting offering hope. In this episode I explain the common thread behind these stories, targeted local projects, science monitoring, and laws that actually get enforced, and I share practical ways you can support the people doing the work. From night patrols that protect turtle nests to whal...

Bill Gates and Climate Change have become a trending topic after the billionaire philanthropist argued that the world is too focused on cutting carbon emissions and not focused enough on improving human welfare. In this episode, I unpack what Gates said, why it caused such a reaction, and how his argument connects to decades of work in climate justice and climate equity. Many climate justice organizations have long emphasized that people struggling with hunger, illness, or poverty cannot priori...

North Atlantic right whales have been teetering on the edge of extinction for decades, with fewer than 400 individuals left. But recent reports hint at a small sign of hope: the population may finally be stabilizing, or even slightly increasing. In this episode, Andrew Lewin explores what that really means. Conservation efforts, from slower ship speeds to ropeless fishing gear, are starting to make a difference—but are they enough to ensure these whales survive? Andrew breaks down the latest sc...

Art and Ocean Science are merging in ways that bring new life to marine research and conservation. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, host Andrew Lewin speaks with the creative minds behind Ocean Networks Canada's "Surfacing Secrets" project, a groundbreaking collaboration where sculptors, theatre directors, and scientists explore how art can help people see, feel, and understand the ocean in fresh ways. Ocean creativity takes center stage as guests share how sculpture can represent u...

Nova Scotia Whale Sanctuary has officially received provincial approval, marking a monumental step toward creating Canada’s first ocean refuge for retired whales. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin explains how this decision moves the Whale Sanctuary Project closer to reality, what challenges remain before the sanctuary opens, and why this could change the way the world cares for marine mammals. Andrew also dives into how the Whale Sanctuary Project built the foundation f...

AI and Water are more connected than most people realize. As artificial intelligence continues to expand, the data centres that power it are using millions of litres of water every day to stay cool. This invisible demand is creating ripple effects across our freshwater systems, and ultimately, our ocean. In this episode, Andrew Lewin uncovers how AI’s explosive growth is reshaping global water use. From groundwater depletion and saltwater intrusion near coastal data hubs to desalination dischar...

Green sea turtle conservation shows us what’s possible when people, policy, and passion align. Once nearly wiped out by overharvesting and habitat loss, the green sea turtle has made an inspiring recovery after decades of global protection. In this episode, Andrew Lewin shares a deeply personal story of encountering a turtle nest in Florida with his daughters and reflects on how that moment connects to today’s IUCN Red List update. But while the turtle story offers hope, the latest report warns...

Coral reefs suffering from climate change are no longer a warning for the future, they are happening now. A landmark scientific report reveals that warm-water reefs have already passed a tipping threshold due to global heating, leading to widespread die-offs and threatening the biodiversity and coastal protection they provide. For the millions of people who depend on reefs for food and livelihoods, this is not just an ocean issue but a global crisis. Global heating is pushing other critical sys...

Madagascar Environment is at the center of this engaging conversation with Dr. David Ebert, a world-renowned shark scientist and co-host of Beyond Jaws. In this episode, we uncover the unique challenges and opportunities that Madagascar’s marine ecosystems face, from biodiversity conservation to the pressures of unsustainable fishing. Shark science takes on a new dimension as Dr. Ebert shares his experiences conducting fieldwork in Madagascar and how these insights contribute to our global unde...

Vaquita stands as one of the rarest marine mammals on Earth, with fewer than 20 left in the wild. In this episode, we explore what the near-extinction of the vaquita teaches us about the future of sharks and why their survival is critical to the health of the ocean. Sharks play an essential role in keeping marine ecosystems balanced, yet they face many of the same threats that doomed the vaquita: bycatch, overfishing, and weak enforcement. This episode dives into the parallels, the urgency of a...

Marineland beluga whales remain at the center of a heated national debate after Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans denied the park’s request to export 30 whales to a marine theme park in China. In this episode, Andrew Lewin explores the unfolding crisis, from the park’s claims of financial hardship to the legal, ethical, and political questions surrounding the whales’ future. Marineland beluga whales could face an uncertain fate as the park warns it may not be able to care for them, ra...