Sam Andrews

Ocean background with the podcast logo

Podcast spotlight: Oceanography

Produced by Pine Forest Media, Oceangraphy is a weekly marine science podcast exploring the latest ocean research, climate science, and environmental discoveries.

What does Beatriz Naranjo wish for the ocean?

That it doesn't suffer the consequences of humanity's selfishness




¿Qué desea Beatriz Naranjo para el océano?

Que no sufra las consecuencias del egoísmo de la humanidad.



#MakeAWishOnAFish

Notebook, business cards, postard, mics, a tripdod, conference badge, and metal fish laid out on a desk

I’ll be at Oceanology International next week in London!

I’m really looking forward to spending a couple of days walking the floor, learning about new developments in ocean technology + lots of lovely conversations.

If you’re attending and would like to connect, feel free to say hello

"Thrive with life"

That's what Arianne from SeaBubbles wishes for the ocean


#MakeAWishOnAFish

ocean background with the Canadian Network for Ocean Education (CaNOE logo

Association spotlight: Canadian Network for Ocean Education (CaNOE)

The Canadian Network for Ocean Education (CaNOE) is a registered non-profit and charity dedicated to advancing ocean literacy across Canada.

a mother polar bear napping with an awake cub peeking out behind her

It's International Polar Bear Day!

Which seems like a perfect opportunity to embrace your inner polar bear 🐻‍❄️
Swim
Eat
Nap

Image: Merit Jensen Carr / Polar Bear Town (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

You're very welcome 😆

illustration of mussels with the words "Why is the ocean so powerful? Because it has lots of mussels"

Why is the ocean so powerful?

Because it has lots of mussels 🤦‍♀️

I'm not saying problem-led communication doesn't have its place - it does. There is no single "way" to do ocean communication, but I can't help but wonder if, instead of mostly giving people something to fight against, giving them - us - something to move towards could have value.

I've been working in ocean communications for a while now, and I spend a lot of time delving into the science of science communication, trying to learn from other forms of knowledge, and learning from others. I don't have the answer - I don't think anyone does.

Maybe some futures need to be big and expansive, connecting the ocean to things like housing, food, jobs, and wellbeing. Maybe some need to be smaller and local - one harbour, one estuary, one cove.

If we can imagine a more positive ocean future that includes us, could it change how we engage?

Could it change our relationship with the ocean, bringing it closer to us?

Could it change what actions we feel we can take - and crucially do take?

Could it help give us agency?

• Cleaner coastal water that makes our beaches swimmable and our seafood safer
• Thriving local fisheries that support jobs and food security
• Innovation and technology that create new careers in the blue economy
• An ocean that is alive with beautiful, weird, and awe-inspiring life

So what if, instead of starting with a problem we need to solve, we start with something more positive? Not just sharing examples of positive actions and positive change - those are important, but with a better future for the ocean - and for us. I'm thinking (broadly) about things like…

On top of that, ocean problems often feel like something that's happening "out there"

The health of the ocean is something that is important for all of us-many recognise that. We don't want to lose coral reefs, but these problems can feel less urgent, less immediate, something we can do less about

The weight of all these problems can feel overwhelming. Even dealing with one problem - just one single part of one problem - can feel too much, and even pointless. Even if there is a solution, maybe we've partly buried it under the weight of the problem.

Let's face it, the ocean is facing a lot of problems. Climate change, acidification, pollution, overfishing, illegal fishing, coasts eroding, loss of marine life, ecosystems like coral reefs, sponge reefs, kelp forests, and seagrass meadows under stress…

Black and white photo of people standing and swimming in the sea

This is going to be a bit of a jumbled thoughts thread, but I'm putting it out there anyway.

What if we stopped starting our ocean communications with a problem?

Photo credit: Kirill Fokin (Unsplash)

I think we inherently know that credentials and robust, transparent evidence alone aren't enough to build trust. We see it a lot in political discourse…. but maybe we forget this part too often in science communication.

The same body of evidence, the same person (or entity) delivering a message, may be perceived quite differently

One person may see, for example, a researcher from an established university sharing a robust piece of science. Another may question the researcher's motives or legitimacy

Trust is actually quite a subjective thing that is influenced by things like "does this message align with my values" and "is this relevant to my life."

It’s also shaped by how we perceive evidence, credibility, and expertise.

v

Last week, I went to a super-interesting @scicommcentre.eu webinar about misinformation and disinformation.

One of the very many interesting points discussed was the role of trust in science communication.

aerial view of water breaking on a sandy beach with the words "connect with the global ocean community" overlaid

Got an opportunity you want to share?

There's still time to share your job, postdoc, PhD, event, workshop, webinar, funding, internship or other opportunitity the next Opportunities Board update 👇

champ.ly/-4JCtjkC

front cover of the Marine Professional and the first page of the article featuring a beluga

The ocean is filled with wonderful sounds - and listening in can tell us a lot

I chatted with Lucille Chapuis (International Quiet Ocean Experiment) + Emma Carline (Ocean Sonics) about how hydrophones help us monitor the ocean for my latest in @imarest.bsky.social's Marine Professional

1) They live in the Gulf of Mexico and around the Florida Peninsula

2) They bury themselves in sand and lie in wait for sea snails, worms, and other tasty treats*

3) Don't touch! They've got prickly skin


*tasty to a batfish at least

looking down on a pancake batfish specimen. It looks like a pancake with eyes on its back, a tail and fins near the back

Did someone say.... pancake day 🤔😮😃🥞

While you're tucking into your tasty pancakes, why not admire this pancake batfish.

No guesses as to how it earned its name "pancake," but here's three things you might not know:


📷 Sandra Raredon/Smithsonian Institution (public domain)

“I work in ocean conservation, and I've flown internationally six times this year for conferences. Each time I board the plane, I feel overwhelming guilt. But I also tell myself that these connections matter, that the collaborations formed at these events will lead to bigger impact. I don't know if I believe that anymore, or if I'm just making excuses because I love the work and the travel.”

Even conservationists aren’t perfect...

"Each time I board the plane, I feel overwhelming guilt."

Share your own ocean confession anonymously 👇
champ.ly/U0adP8KQ

Who gets to decide conservation decisions? When one party kills something off that a larger group has been working towards, what does this mean for co-design and co-governance?

It’s also worth pointing out that the proposal for a conservation area was initiated by the town of Burgeo. It was not something forced on them.

The situation raises an interesting question...

It’s probably worth pointing out that this conservation area wasn’t actually kicking out commercial activities en masse. Apparently, 95% of the proposed area was open to fishing, tourism, shipping and other “compatible” activities.