Forage fish may be small, but they help power the entire ocean food web. Species like sardines, anchovies, herring, capelin, and sand lance feed whales, seabirds, tuna, salmon, and many other marine predators. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin explains why these overlooked fish matter so much, what happens when they decline, and why industrial fishing, climate change, and weak ecosystem-based fisheries decisions can put entire marine ecosystems at risk. Protecting the ocean is not only about saving the biggest animals. Sometimes, it starts with protecting the smallest fish. Support Independent Podcasts: https://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Need help with your ocean non-profit, company, or project? Get the help you need with Pisces Oceans Inc.: https://www.piscesoceans.ca
Connect with Speak Up For Blue Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@speakupforblue Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc YouTube: www.speakupforblue.com/youtube
Why Ocean Nonprofits Keep Struggling to Raise Money
2026/05/15 | 39 mins.
Ocean conservation funding is one of the biggest challenges facing nonprofits today. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin speaks with nonprofit consultant James Misner about why so many mission-driven organizations struggle to raise money, even when their work is urgent and important. James explains why grants alone are not enough, why donors need to see the human connection behind ocean conservation, and why storytelling, relationships, and clear communication matter just as much as the science. This conversation is essential for ocean nonprofits, conservation professionals, science communicators, and anyone trying to build long-term support for protecting the ocean. Connect with James: Website: https://thekiposgroup.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmisner/ Support Independent Podcasts: https://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Need help with your ocean non-profit, company, or project? Get the help you need with Pisces Oceans Inc.: https://www.piscesoceans.ca
Connect with Speak Up For Blue Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@speakupforblue Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc YouTube: www.speakupforblue.com/youtube
The People Saving the Ocean Are Burning Out
2026/05/14 | 6 mins.
Ocean conservation is often framed as hopeful, inspiring, and mission-driven. But behind the scenes, many scientists, advocates, educators, and communicators are dealing with burnout, financial instability, emotional exhaustion, and the pressure to stay optimistic while ocean problems keep getting worse. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, we look at the emotional cost of trying to save the ocean. From temporary contracts and unstable funding to social media pressure and the personal grief of watching ecosystems decline, conservation work can take a serious toll on the people doing it. This episode asks an important question: if protecting the ocean is long-term work, why are so many of the people doing that work still forced into unsustainable careers? Support Independent Podcasts: https://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Need help with your ocean non-profit, company, or project? Get the help you need with Pisces Oceans Inc.: https://www.piscesoceans.ca
Connect with Speak Up For Blue Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@speakupforblue Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc YouTube: www.speakupforblue.com/youtube
Why Good Ocean Science Still Doesn't Lead to Action
2026/05/13 | 10 mins.
Ocean science can tell us what is happening to marine ecosystems, fisheries, climate impacts, and protected areas, but that information does not always reach the people who need it most. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, Andrew Lewin looks at the communication gap between researchers, policymakers, media, industry, and the public. The problem is not always a lack of science. Often, it is that the science moves slowly, social media moves instantly, and decision-makers do not always receive clear, accessible information in time to act. This episode explores why scientific papers can be difficult for the public to access, how misinformation spreads faster than careful research, and why ocean conservation needs stronger science communication, storytelling, and public engagement to turn knowledge into action. Support Independent Podcasts: https://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Need help with your ocean non-profit, company, or project? Get the help you need with Pisces Oceans Inc.: https://www.piscesoceans.ca
Connect with Speak Up For Blue Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@speakupforblue Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc YouTube: www.speakupforblue.com/youtube
Are Ocean Scientists Becoming Fundraisers Just to Survive?
2026/05/12 | 10 mins.
Ocean conservation depends on science, but what happens when marine scientists spend more time chasing funding than doing the research itself? In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, we look at the hidden financial pressure behind ocean conservation. Research vessels, field expeditions, monitoring programs, satellite tools, underwater robotics, staff, permits, and long-term analysis all cost money, and funding is becoming harder to secure. We also explore why communication is becoming essential for scientists and conservation organizations. Storytelling, public trust, media, podcasts, social media, and digital strategy are no longer side projects. They may be the difference between a conservation project surviving or disappearing. Support Independent Podcasts: https://www.speakupforblue.com/patreon Need help with your ocean non-profit, company, or project? Get the help you need with Pisces Oceans Inc.: https://www.piscesoceans.ca
Connect with Speak Up For Blue Website: https://bit.ly/3fOF3Wf Instagram: https://bit.ly/3rIaJSG TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@speakupforblue Twitter: https://bit.ly/3rHZxpc YouTube: www.speakupforblue.com/youtube
Dive into the Depths: Join Andrew Lewin on 'How to Protect the Ocean' – Your Gateway to Exclusive Ocean Insights! Explore the latest, uncharted realms of ocean science and conservation that you won't find anywhere else. Andrew takes you on an inspiring journey to uncover the hidden gems of oceanic discovery and initiatives. Tune in to discover how you can transform your life for a better ocean, one episode at a time.
The How To Protect The Ocean is your resource to keep you informed on the latest ocean news; teach you how to speak up for the ocean; and, how you can take action to live for a better ocean.
There is so much information on the ocean and the issues that are affecting it that it can be difficult to find optimism in the future of the ocean. Climate change, overfishing, plastic pollution, water pollution, and coastal development have altered the ocean in ways that have negatively changed the way we use it.
The repercussions of climate change, including the ominous specter of rising sea levels, the relentless march of warming ocean temperatures, and the ominous shadow of ocean acidification, have not only altered the very fabric of our coastlines but have also conjured fiercer storms and summoned floods with growing frequency. The fossil fuel industry may whisper in your ear that the situation is insurmountable, an inescapable fate. However, this podcast is here to unveil a different narrative, one that empowers you to take action. It illuminates the path to change by casting your vote for leaders committed to implementing climate-rescuing policies and by offering invaluable insights into how each of us can shrink our individual carbon footprint.
The grim reality of overfishing casts a long shadow, fueled by governmental shortcomings in the stewardship of both commercial and recreational fisheries. Within the delicate balance of our oceans, every fish population possesses a threshold - a point at which the relentless harvest of fishermen begins to erode their numbers. The management of these aquatic resources is a formidable task, as the elusive currents of the sea often defy easy tracking. Furthermore, the menace of illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing looms large in many nations, adding to the crisis.
Yet, a glimmer of hope shines through the depths. A beacon for responsible consumption emerges in the form of seafood programs, guiding conscientious individuals toward choices that safeguard our oceans. By heeding these programs, you not only savor the delights of sustainable seafood but also become an informed guardian of marine ecosystems.
The relentless scourge of plastic pollution has unleashed an epidemic of death upon the denizens of our oceans. It's a ruthless killer, claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of marine mammals, majestic sharks, grandiose fish, gentle sea turtles, and the graceful sea birds that soar above. The malevolence of this crisis knows no bounds, with microplastics infiltrating even the remotest depths of the ocean and etching their presence along every coastline.
To mount a defense against this ecological cataclysm, the clarion call for action echoes on the international and national stages. It beckons governments far and wide to adopt resolute policies, wielding the power to outlaw the menace of single-use plastics and demanding the meticulous detoxification of our supply chains. In this grand battle to safeguard our seas, the fight against plastic pollution knows no borders.
The ominous specter of water pollution looms large, a consequence of our thoughtless disposal into the arteries of our planet – our streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans. This callous act reverberates, sending shockwaves through the intricate ecosystems of our coastal havens, where the likes of coral reefs, resilient mangroves, and swaying seagrasses thrive. But alas, this intrusion is not benign; it bears the capacity to corrode and dismantle these vital sanctuaries, the very lifeblood of countless fish and the steadfast guardians of our vulnerable shorelines.
Yet, amidst the unsettling tide of pollution, there emerges a ray of hope. Through individual resolve and visionary government policies harnessed with cutting-edge technology, we can stem this toxic deluge. Water treatment systems stand as stalwart guardians, armed with the ability to sift out the insidious nutrients that fuel destructive algal blooms. The power to heal our waters and preserve the sanctity of our coastal treasures lies within our grasp.
Coastal development, driven by human desires to construct homes or fortify the shoreline against erosion, represents a significant intervention in the natural order. Yet, these changes, while initially confined to the coastal zone, often send ripple effects that extend far beyond their original boundaries, casting a shadow of unintended consequences.
The repercussions of altering coastlines resonate through interconnected ecosystems, occasionally triggering a cascade of events that can inflict profound harm on distant areas. In doing so, this well-intentioned transformation can unwittingly imperil the lives and livelihoods of communities residing in the wake of its impact. It is a stark reminder that our actions along the coast carry a profound responsibility, not just to the immediate environment but to the greater web of life and society that depends upon it.