The Thank You Ocean Report focuses on interesting and exciting California ocean topics such as marine mammals, the latest news on ocean health, timely ocean issues and fascinating ocean facts. Stories feature interviews with ocean experts, explorers, scientists, conservationists, government and business leaders. Listeners learn about ocean activities and recreation, surfing, fishing, boating, and the many ways we all can thank the ocean through conservation and stewardship.
In celebration of our upcoming 100th Thank You Ocean Report podcast, we launched a contest that let our supporters and fans select their favorite podcast. The winner: sharks!
The Project AWARE Foundation is a non-profit conservation organization working with divers around the world to conserve underwater environments. On this report, former Director Jenny Miller Garmendia talks about one of their projects that is aimed at protecting sharks. (This podcast was originally broadcast on September 6, 2010)
What is this threat and how can it affect our ocean world? What does it mean for organisms such as sea urchins? Dr. Gretchen Hoffman, Professor of Marine Biology at the University of California Santa Barbara, discusses her work with Ocean Acidification and why we should pay attention. (Photos courtesy of NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory)
On Earth Day, we often see the NASA photo from space of Earth as a Big Blue Marble, but what makes it blue? The ocean! We talked with Wallace J. Nichols about BlueMarbles.org, the global movement inspired by the Earth as a Blue Marble. The idea? Pass a blue marble through every person’s hand on earth, with a simple message of gratitude along with it. (Photo courtesy of Neil Osborne)
The Pacific Gyre is a slowly moving, clockwise spiral of ocean currents. We talked with Marcus Eriksen, the executive director of the 5 Gyres Institute, about ocean gyres and the Pacific Garbage Patch, said to be twice the size of Texas, floating between Hawaii and California. (Photo courtesy of NOAA Marine Debris Program)
Wallace J Nichols: Sea Turtles and Citizen Science: Play Now | Download (363)
Sea turtles are fascinating iconic symbols of the ocean. All species of sea turtles are threatened or endangered, and they connect us with many of the environmental challenges facing the ocean. We talk with Wallace “J” Nichols, research associate at California Academy of Sciences and champion of sea turtle conservation, about sea turtle survival and a groundbreaking effort in Baja, Mexico employing “Citizen Science.” (Photo courtesy of Wallace “J” Nichols)
Enjoy-But Do Not Disturb-Coastal Wildlife: Play Now | Download (1006)
While we enjoy observing coastal wildlife, it’s important to avoid disturbing them. Our guest Mary Jane Schramm, Media and Public Outreach Specialist with the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, says failing to be respectful and cautious when encountering harbor seals can have dire impacts on their population. (Photo courtesy of Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Photo Library)
On March 11, 2011, a powerful tsunami hit Japan, destroying cities and villages, and carrying tons of debris out to sea. Ocean currents are projected to carry some of that debris to U.S. shores, including the West Coast. It’s uncertain what is still floating, where it’s located, where it will go, and when it will arrive. Nir Barnea, West Coast Regional Director, NOAA Marine Debris Program, has the latest information.
America’s ocean treasures are right off our coasts! National marine sanctuaries are special ocean places that have a unique ability to touch people. Thirteen national marine sanctuaries and one marine national monument make up the National Marine Sanctuary System. Four are in California: Cordell Bank, Gulf of the Farallones, Monterey Bay and Channel Islands national marine sanctuaries. Dan Basta, Director of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, talks about how “America’s ocean treasures” help people change how they think about our ocean and create a “community of the committed.”
California King Tides Initiative: Glimpses into the Future of Rising Sea Levels: Play Now | Download (557)
King Tides are the highest predicted high tides of the year. Combined with winter storm events, these high water levels can show us how rising sea levels due to climate change might impact our communities in the future. The California King Tides Initiative is inviting the public to shoot (from a safe distance) and share photos online using social media to build a living record of current and future coastal areas vulnerable to inundation. Marina Psaros from the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve discusses how these photographs help us visualize the future impacts from sea level rise in your local community and all along the California coastline.
New California Law Protects Sharks Against Brutal Finning: Play Now | Download (357)
Shark finning is a practice of cutting the fins off of living sharks and dumping them back in the ocean to die. The fins are then dried and consumed in costly shark fin soup. California’s historic Shark Protection Act, banning finning, was recently signed into law, working toward ending the destruction of shark species globally. We talked with Assembly Member Paul Fong (D-Cupertino) who, along with Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), authored the groundbreaking bill supported by a host of organizations, agencies and citizens who celebrated the signing. (Photo courtesy of Terry Goss/Marine Photobank)
Shark finning is a practice of cutting the fins off of living sharks and dumping them back in the ocean to die. The fins are then dried and consumed in costly shark fin soup. California’s historic Shark Protection Act, banning finning, was recently signed into law, working toward ending the destruction of shark species globally. We talked with Assembly Member Paul Fong (D-Cupertino) who, along with Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), authored the groundbreaking bill supported by a host of organizations, agencies and citizens who celebrated the signing. (Photo courtesy of Terry Goss/Marine Photobank)
