REEF Roundup: 🪸Coral Reefs🐠 and 🐙Marine Conservation🦈

Graham Patterson and Tamara Silverstone

Join us and meet some of the many amazing people who are doing exciting work to save the ocean for future generations, with a focus on restoration, ecology, and the environment. A production of REEF Scuba - reef-scuba.org. Co-production and editing by Emily Pokou.

  1. Briony Venn: Stop Krilling Antarctica + Bonus Update with Captain Paul Watson | S5E7

    May 20

    Briony Venn: Stop Krilling Antarctica + Bonus Update with Captain Paul Watson | S5E7

    In this episode, we sit down with Briony Venn, the Marine Campaign Organizer at the Bob Brown Foundation in Tasmania, Australia. Over 500,000 tonnes of Antarctic krill are harvested every year to make products that even the industry's biggest player has begun replacing with a plant-based version. Briony is working to end it. Krill, Euphausia superba, is the keystone species of the Southern Ocean. Whales, penguins, seals, and seabirds all depend on it. Yet krill biomass has declined by up to seventy percent in the last fifty years due to climate change, and the fishery is being expanded against that collapsing baseline. Briony unpacks the industry's misleading "less than one percent" claim, the role of certification bodies like the Marine Stewardship Council, and the campaign strategies her coalition is using to fight back. Before joining the Bob Brown Foundation, Briony left a career at Accenture to move into marine campaigning, first at Greenpeace UK and now in Tasmania. Her story is a reminder that anyone who cares about the ocean and decides to dedicate themselves to its protection can figure out a path to do so. This episode also includes a bonus conversation with Captain Paul Watson, who walks us through Operation Krill Wars, the Captain Paul Watson Foundation's and Sea Shepherd France's recent direct intervention against industrial krill trawlers in the Southern Ocean. He also highlights the European Parliament's subsequent motion for a five-year moratorium on the krill fishery. Support the Show Mentioned in This Episode: Briony Venn on LinkedIn Bob Brown Foundation: bobbrown.org.au SwisseKrills Campaign: swissekrills.org Captain Paul Watson Foundation: paulwatsonfoundation.org Sea Shepherd: seashepherd.org Greenpeace: greenpeace.org Blue Marine Foundation: bluemarinefoundation.com Aker BioMarine: akerbiomarine.com Swisse: swisse.com.au National Geographic: nationalgeographic.com WWF (World Wildlife Fund): worldwildlife.org CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources): ccamlr.org Marine Stewardship Council: msc.org Moral Ambition by Rutger Bregman How to Speak Whale by Tom Mustill Definitely check out the documentary, Ocean with David Attenborough If you want to support the podcast or learn what more you can do to help save the ocean, visit reef-scuba.org/take-action. Thanks as always to our Producer, Emily Pokou. A production of REEF Scuba.

    35 min
  2. Dr. Andrea Grottoli: Like Moths to a Flame, the Underwater Lights Saving Coral and the Mechanics of UZELA | S5E6

    Apr 29

    Dr. Andrea Grottoli: Like Moths to a Flame, the Underwater Lights Saving Coral and the Mechanics of UZELA | S5E6

    In this episode, we sit down with Doctor Andrea Grottoli, a Distinguished Professor of Earth Sciences at the Ohio State University and the inventor of the Underwater Zooplankton Enhancement Light Array (UZELA). Doctor Grottoli has spent thirty years studying coral feeding mechanics and the physiological collapse that occurs during bleaching events. Building on that knowledge, she is now rolling out an invention, designed to drastically improve outcomes and return on investment for global coral restoration efforts. UZELA relies on a simple biological truth: zooplankton are drawn to light like moths to a flame. By strategically placing upward-facing lights near coral outplants and nurseries for just one hour a night, UZELA concentrates zooplankton within a localized dome, significantly increasing the feeding opportunities for stressed and baby corals. We explore why these measures are necessary, the biological data proving their efficacy, and science behind it all. Some topics we cover: The Physiology of Coral Starvation: We all know a bleaching reef is a bad sign, but what's actually happening to an individual coral? The UZELA Breakthrough: How localized light increases feeding rates and what that means for stressed coral. Ecological Realities and Technological Limits: Why artificial light at night requires precise, nuanced deployment and why UZELA buys us time, but is one intervention among many that must support reefs facing local stressors and climate change. Mentioned in This Episode: Dr. Andrea Grottoli on LinkedinGrottoli Lab: u.osu.edu/grottoli.1/Coral Restoration Foundation: coralrestoration.orgMote Marine Laboratory: mote.orgThe Ohio State University School of Earth Sciences: earthsciences.osu.edu Thanks as always to our Producer, Emily Pokou. A production of REEF Scuba

    46 min
  3. Dr. Sambuddha Misra: Drinking Tea to Save Coral Reefs? The Mechanics of Enhanced Rock Weathering in Darjeeling | S5E5

    Apr 15

    Dr. Sambuddha Misra: Drinking Tea to Save Coral Reefs? The Mechanics of Enhanced Rock Weathering in Darjeeling | S5E5

    In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Sambuddha Misra, a chemical oceanographer, associate professor of earth sciences at the Indian Institute of Science, and the chief scientist at Alt Carbon. Dr. Misra has spent two decades studying how chemical weathering shapes the planet's climate over millions of years, and is now actively applying that science to draw down atmospheric carbon at scale. Alt Carbon's Darjeeling Revival Project is spreading finely crushed basalt, a byproduct of the Indian construction industry, across tens of thousands of acres of Himalayan tea estates. We explore the surprisingly elegant chain of geochemistry that removes CO2 from the air, supplies crucial micronutrients to degraded agricultural soils, and ultimately pushes alkalinity into the Bay of Bengal to buffer against ocean acidification. Some topics we cover: The Geochemistry of Accelerated Weathering: The literal mechanics of how crushed basalt, rainwater, and atmospheric CO2 interact to compress a million-year geological process into a single commercial cycle. Agricultural Yields and the Human Element: Why the physical application of basalt is done entirely by hand, and how this process is driving incredible crop yield increases in degraded soils. Measurement Bottlenecks and the Reality of Scaling: The grueling structural reality of verifying commercial carbon credits. Dr. Misra breaks down the exact science of tracking elements in open soil profiles, and why scaling this project will require inventing entirely new measurement technologies. Mentioned in This Episode: Alt Carbon: ⁠altcarbon.com⁠ The Darjeeling Revival Project: ⁠⁠⁠altcarbon.com⁠⁠⁠Isometric Registry: ⁠isometric.com⁠ Indian Institute of Science: ⁠https://iisc.ac.in/⁠ Thanks as always to our Producer, Emily Pokou.

    37 min
  4. Alice Guittard: Collaboration, Conflict, and the Black Sea | Special Episode

    Mar 31 ·  Bonus

    Alice Guittard: Collaboration, Conflict, and the Black Sea | Special Episode

    In this special episode, we depart from our usual format and partner with Jan Maisenbacher from the Ocean Collaborations podcast to sit down with Alice Guittard, who has spent the last five years with the Bridge Project focusing on the active management of a transboundary ecosystem: the Black Sea. The Bridge Black Sea Project was designed to advance knowledge, deliver research, and empower citizens to build a sustainable, climate-neutral blue economy. We explore the massive environmental challenges facing the sea, a marine ecosystem bordered by six nations and fed by the watersheds of more than twenty others. This conversation also examines the realities and logistical hurdles of attempting international scientific collaboration in the middle of an active war. Some topics we cover: The Tragedy of the Commons: The inherent risk when a shared resource collapses because individual actors are incentivized to exploit it simultaneously. This requires strict cooperation to prevent ecosystem failure. Environmental Casualties of War: The destruction of the Kakhovka dam in 2023 resulted in over fifty deaths, tens of thousands of displaced people, and impacted drinking water for over 700,000 individuals. It also released decades of accumulated agricultural chemicals and heavy metals directly into the sea. Data Blind Spots and Scientific Embargos: Severing ties with Russian researchers effectively blinded one-fifth of the Black Sea's monitoring network. We openly weigh the friction between transnational scientific preservation and geopolitical policy decisions. Special thanks to ⁠Jan Maisenbacher⁠ from the Ocean Collaborations podcast for facilitating this conversation, and thank you to our new co-producer, ⁠Emily Pokou who is helping take the show to new heights. Stay tuned for everymore interesting storytelling. Projects & Tools Mentioned: Bridge Black Sea Project: bridgeblacksea.org The Black Sea Digital Twin of Ocean: bridgeblacksea.org/index.php/black-sea-dto European Digital Twin of the Ocean: edito.eu The Black Sea Blue Economy Observatory: blackseabeo.eu BRIDGE-BS Living Labs: bridgeblacksea.org/index.php/living-labs The Coalition of cities, regions, islands, and ports for the Mission Ocean and Waters: co-waters.eu/coalition Organizations & Media: IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): iucn.org Ocean Collaborations Podcast: ⁠Apple Podcasts Link A Light in the Black: Keep an eye out for updates on our upcoming documentary. ⁠Trailer and more here⁠.

    28 min
  5. Sarah Levy and Captain Paul Watson: Direct Action for the Ocean, The Only Flag Worth Flying | S5E3

    Mar 10

    Sarah Levy and Captain Paul Watson: Direct Action for the Ocean, The Only Flag Worth Flying | S5E3

    In this episode of REEF Roundup we sit down with Oxford legal scholar Sarah Levy and legendary frontline conservationist Captain Paul Watson to discuss their new book, The Only Flag Worth Flying. In it they challenge the assumption that law enforcement belongs solely to the nation-state, arguing that when governments abandon their duty to protect marine ecosystems, direct action by non-state actors becomes both justified and necessary. This conversation explores environmental law, the weaponization of the legal system against conservationists, and the extents to which some people are ready to go in order to save our oceans. Key Topics Discussed: The Illusion of Protection: The difference between hard and soft law in international environmental agreements, and why treaties like the High Seas Treaty remain meaningless without enforcement. Embracing the Pirate Identity: How historical pirates and privateers bypassed bureaucracy to achieve results, and why being a "pirate" is an appropriate response to a broken legal system. The Post-State World Order: Examining the breakdown of the traditional rules-based order and the rising necessity for NGOs and civil society to push forward, even without permission. Aggressive Nonviolence and Legal Precedent: Captain Watson's strategy of intervening to uphold international conservation law, such as using the UN World Charter for Nature to win legal acquittals after sinking illegal whaling vessels. Weaponizing the Law: How the legal system, including Interpol red notices, is used by exploitative industries to target effective conservationists and whistleblowers. The Upcoming Krill Campaign: Details on the Paul Watson Foundation's imminent expedition to confront the Norwegian and Chinese krill fishery in the Southern Ocean to provoke an international legal precedent. The Power of the Present: Wisdom from American Indian Movement leader Russell Means on focusing entirely on doing the right thing in the present rather than worrying about the odds of winning. About Our Guests: Sarah Levy: An Oxford legal scholar whose work bridges the gap between socio-legal methods, indigenous rights, and environmental law. She is currently finalizing her PhD focusing on seal hunting activities in Canada. Captain Paul Watson: A frontline conservationist and the founder of both the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and the Captain Paul Watson Foundation. He has spent over 50 years defending marine wildlife through direct action. Resources Mentioned: The Only Flag Worth Flying by Sarah Levy and Paul Watson, available via Routledge and major booksellers. The Captain Paul Watson Foundation at paulwatsonfoundation.org. UN World Charter for Nature. BBNJ Agreement / High Seas Treaty.

    42 min
  6. John Bohorquez: Financing the Future of Our Oceans | S5E2

    Feb 18

    John Bohorquez: Financing the Future of Our Oceans | S5E2

    In this episode we look beyond the biology of conservation to examine the financial engine required to keep it running. We sit down with John Bohorquez, a specialist in ocean finance and the founder of the Blue Economy Solutions Lab, to bridge the often-separate worlds of marine science and finance. John walks us through the realities of the "Blue Economy," highlighting the staggering disparity between the ocean’s commercial market value and the $50 trillion in ecosystem services it provides annually. We discuss his latest research comparing reef management in the politically complex Red Sea versus the decentralized Caribbean, and why we must shift toward "transboundary" conservation for ecosystems that do not recognize human borders. Finally, we demystify the complex mechanisms of Blue Bonds and Debt-for-Nature swaps. John explains how nations are leveraging their sovereign debt to fund marine protection, moving from small-scale philanthropy to the trillion-dollar investments needed to meet global 30x30 goals. He also introduces new tools designed to help practitioners access these funds. Mentioned in this Episode John Bohorquez: https://johnbohorquez.com/ Blue Economy Solutions Lab: https://blueeconomysolutions.org/ Conservation Finance Alliance (CFA): https://www.conservationfinancealliance.org The Blue Nature Alliance: https://www.bluenaturealliance.org General Organization for Conservation of Coral Reefs and Sea Turtles in the Red Sea (SHAMS): https://shams.gov.sa/ Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences: https://www.bigelow.org High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (WRI): https://oceanpanel.org Caribbean Biodiversity Fund: https://caribbeanbiodiversityfund.org/ Protected Seas: https://protectedseas.net

    41 min
  7. Dr. Sylvia Earle: Transforming Seeing Into Knowing Into Action | S5E1

    Feb 4

    Dr. Sylvia Earle: Transforming Seeing Into Knowing Into Action | S5E1

    In this special episode of REEF Roundup, we share the unforgettable conversation we had with the legendary Dr. Sylvia Earle. Recorded on location at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, this interview captures an intimate moment with one of the world's most iconic oceanographers. Dr. Earle shares her perspective on the transformative power of scuba diving, describing it as a pivotal step that just recently began allowing terrestrial beings to explore the majority of our biosphere. We discuss the critical shift from viewing marine life as a commodity ("I want to eat you") to viewing them as individuals ("I want to know you"), and why divers, who witness the underwater world firsthand, have a unique privilege and responsibility to speak up for the ocean. Mentioned in this Episode Mission Blue (Sylvia Earle’s Alliance): @mission_blue IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): @iucn_congress The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species A Light in the Black (Our Upcoming Documentary!)

    12 min
  8. Linzi Hawkin of Protect Blue: Designing a Regenerative Ocean Culture | S4E5

    Jan 20

    Linzi Hawkin of Protect Blue: Designing a Regenerative Ocean Culture | S4E5

    In this episode of REEF Roundup, we sit down with Linzi Hawkin, co-founder of Protect Blue, and explore the special combination of thoughtful strategy and human joy that is essential to being impactful in your efforts to care for the ocean. Linzi shares her journey from running surf schools in Jersey to designing impact strategies for global NGOs. We dive deep into the dangers of "shiny" storytelling, the importance of nervous system regulation for ocean advocates, and why "water breaks" should be the first thing you seek out at the next ocean conference you attend. Key Takeaways Strategy & Stoke: Why ocean conservation needs both measurable impact data and the joy of connecting with the ocean to be sustainable. Beating Burnout: Practical advice on managing overwork and climate anxiety, including "sit spots" and setting boundaries (like Linzi’s "No-Call Fridays"). Impact VS Storytelling: Why we need funding and support for "scrappier," more authentic projects that support and celebrate those in the trenches doing the work. The "Robin Hood" Model: How Protect Blue takes high-level agency tools and makes them accessible to grassroots frontline communities. Featured Quotes "If you don't have time to meditate for five minutes, you need to meditate for five hours." — Linzi Hawkin "We're almost creating this really false narrative... like we're all just swimming with manta rays every day... I want to champion and celebrate some of that behind the scenes work." — Linzi Hawkin "Do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am - a reluctant enthusiast... a part-time crusader... Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure." — Edward Abbey (read by Linzi) Mentioned in this Episode Damon Gameau (Filmmaker, 2040): @damongameau SeaTrees (Ocean regeneration project): @sea.trees

    45 min
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Join us and meet some of the many amazing people who are doing exciting work to save the ocean for future generations, with a focus on restoration, ecology, and the environment. A production of REEF Scuba - reef-scuba.org. Co-production and editing by Emily Pokou.

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