Episodes

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 ac...

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, rai...

Shark conservation: All The Sharks brings you into the water with filmmakers and scientists, exploring how camera choices, site selection, and safety shape close encounters with tiger sharks, hammerheads, white sharks, and whale sharks. You will hear candid stories about reading shark behavior, managing lighting on fast passes from silky sharks, and turning footage into conservation wins that help real populations. Underwater cinematography: From South Africa to the Bahamas and Bimini, we compar...

Marineland Beluga exports have been denied by Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans, igniting national debate over animal welfare, legality, and ethics. In this episode, Andrew Lewin breaks down what the 2019 law banning cetacean captivity means, why DFO refused Marineland’s permit to sell 30 belugas to China, and what options exist for the facility and the animals now caught in limbo. Marineland Beluga care has become an urgent issue as the park claims it cannot afford to maintain the wha...

Sustainability business: In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean , Andrew Lewin talks with Lee Stewart about how businesses can make sustainability a practical, measurable part of their operations. They explore how carbon tracking, waste reduction, packaging design, and supply chain improvements can build resilience while cutting costs. Ocean literacy: Lee shares experiences from Australia, Tonga, and New Zealand that show how business practices directly connect to the ocean’s health. They a...

Jane Goodall transformed the way we understand animals, conservation, and our place in nature. In this special tribute episode of How to Protect the Ocean , I reflect on Dr. Goodall’s incredible legacy and what her life’s work teaches us about empathy, science, and hope. From living with chimpanzees in Gombe to influencing ocean storytelling today, her impact spans generations and ecosystems. Jane showed us that animals are not resources, but individuals with emotions, intelligence, and culture....

Mentors: climate change is hopeless —at least, that’s the message many young scientists are hearing from the people they were told to admire. But what if giving up isn’t the only option? In this episode, I respond to a heartfelt email from a marine science student who refuses to stay silent, even when senior scientists tell her that solutions to climate change are naive, misguided, or politically inconvenient. Mentors: climate change is hopeless may be the mantra of a tired system, but this gene...

Explore the ocean floor is more than a scientific ambition, it is a global necessity. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean , Andrew Lewin speaks with Tim Kearns, Executive Director of Map the Gaps, about the upcoming Ocean Floor Explorer conference in Victoria, BC. They discuss why mapping the seabed is vital for science, conservation, and society, while uncovering how challenges like funding and technology can be turned into opportunities for global collaboration. Mapping initiatives are...

Fighting overfishing with AI is transforming how we protect the ocean. A new study revealed that nearly half of all coastal marine protected areas (MPAs) showed fishing vessel presence, with many ships operating “dark” without AIS tracking. This means that even in places meant to be safe havens for biodiversity, industrial fishing has been creeping in unnoticed. Satellites and artificial intelligence are changing that reality. By detecting untracked vessels and guiding patrols, this technology i...

Indigenous relationships with the ocean reveal powerful ways of understanding stewardship, culture, and conservation. This episode highlights how Indigenous communities have long held knowledge that connects people with marine ecosystems, guiding sustainable practices and deep respect for biodiversity. Indigenous relationships are also about resilience, as communities navigate challenges like climate change, resource extraction, and policy that often ignores traditional voices. By listening to t...

Fisheries subsidies are at the heart of one of the most important global trade agreements for the ocean. In this episode, I sit down with Dan Skeritt to break down the World Trade Organization’s new Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, discuss why it matters, and explore its implications for countries around the world. We explore how harmful subsidies have fueled overfishing, why some countries still haven’t ratified the deal, and how this agreement could shift billions of dollars toward sustainabi...

Ocean Book you need to read introduces listeners to Sea Change by Amanda Leland, a powerful and hopeful exploration of how individuals and communities can unite to protect our oceans. Amanda draws from her expertise and experience to highlight the urgency of tackling climate change, overfishing, and pollution, while also showcasing the innovative solutions already underway. Ocean conservation is not only about science, it is about people taking action. In this episode, Amanda shares inspiring st...

Great white shark DNA is one of the most puzzling mysteries in marine biology. Recent research has revealed that despite being one species, great whites have split into three distinct genetic groups across the globe. What’s even stranger: their nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA tell conflicting stories, leaving scientists scratching their heads. Shark philopatry —the tendency of females to return to their birthplace to give birth—adds another layer to this mystery. While philopatry has been well...

Advocacy for scientists is a skill that can transform how research impacts the real world. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean , host Andrew Lewin reflects on an article by Melissa Varga from the Union of Concerned Scientists that encourages scientists to step into advocacy roles. Andrew shares why many researchers hesitate to speak out, the cultural challenges within academia, and how advocacy can be integrated into a science career without sacrificing credibility. Ocean conservation al...

Sustainable fashion is more than a trend, it is a movement that connects what we wear to the health of our planet. In this episode, Andrew Lewin speaks with Courtney Barriger , CEO of Holding Court Inc., about how clothing design can reduce waste, prevent microplastic pollution, and empower people to make responsible choices. The discussion reveals the hidden costs of fast fashion, from synthetic fibers shedding microplastics into waterways to the massive environmental toll of textile waste. Oce...

Terracycle is proving that almost anything can be recycled, from cigarette butts to ocean plastics, transforming how the world thinks about waste. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean , Andrew Lewin speaks with Tom Szaky , the founder and CEO of TerraCycle , to explore how his company is creating global recycling programs that redefine sustainability and consumer responsibility. TerraCycle has become a leader in connecting corporations and individuals to solutions that keep waste out of l...

Shark Meat Fed To Students in Brazil’s public institutions has sparked outrage after Mongabay uncovered thousands of tons of mislabeled shark meat, including endangered species like angelsharks, being served in schools, hospitals, prisons, and elderly care centers. Labeled as “cação” or “angel fish,” these meals were consumed by thousands of unsuspecting Brazilians, raising urgent concerns for both public health and ocean conservation. Shark meat in Brazil carries dangerous risks due to high lev...

Oceana, working to protect endangered species, is at the heart of this powerful episode featuring Tara Brock, an environmental lawyer advocating for ocean life. Tara unpacks how the Endangered Species Act is used to protect humpback whales and sea turtles, and how legal tools like this remain essential to ocean conservation. As threats like ship strikes, climate change, and bycatch continue to rise, Tara explains why this legislation is still one of the strongest protections we have—and how it’s...

Starting an environmental nonprofit often begins with a vision and the determination to make a difference, but it also comes with challenges in funding, community support, and long-term sustainability. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean , Bart Oor and Sander Brienen share the story of how they created Balean, a platform designed to help independent projects and nonprofits access the support they need to thrive. Independent changemakers are reshaping how conservation work is done. Bart a...

Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument : For over a decade, these waters stood as one of the largest no-take zones on Earth, safeguarding corals, fish, and migratory species. But on day one of his presidency, Donald Trump erased the U.S. commitment to 30x30 and soon after issued Proclamation 10918, opening parts of the monument to commercial fishing. Marine conservation at risk : The rollback sparked lawsuits and reignited the debate over whether U.S. marine protections are too vulner...

Less than 400 left — that’s how many North Atlantic right whales remain in the world. These critically endangered whales are at the center of an urgent conservation story, but how the media communicates about them plays a powerful role in shaping public awareness and action. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean , Andrew Lewin sits down with Dr. Marcus Reamer, a new PhD graduate in science communication, to explore how newspapers and digital outlets covered right whale crises over the past...

Managing fishing vessels goes far beyond tracking where a boat is registered. In this episode, we dive into Oceana’s Beyond the Flag report to explore how large-scale fishing vessels are often flagged in one country but owned in another, creating dangerous loopholes that allow illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing to thrive. This legal and beneficial ownership opacity undermines ocean governance, drains resources from coastal nations, and hides the true power behind global fishing o...

Plastic pollution in the ocean is no longer just an environmental issue—it’s a public health crisis and an economic threat. In this episode, I break down the latest updates from the UN negotiations on a global plastics treaty, explaining why the talks in Geneva this month could set the course for the next generation’s relationship with plastic. From production caps to industry lobbying, the fight over how to address the problem is as intense as ever. Plastic pollution in the ocean also raises qu...

How 5 billion sea stars died is a story that shook marine ecosystems along North America’s Pacific coast. This episode dives into the groundbreaking discovery of the bacterium Vibrio pectenicida , the pathogen responsible for sea star wasting disease, which decimated up to 90% of sunflower sea stars. We explore how the loss of these predators caused sea urchin populations to explode, leading to widespread kelp forest destruction, and what new recovery strategies—such as captive breeding, probiot...