In the latest episode of Rising Tide David and Blue Frontier’s Natasha Benjamin talk with Reef Check Executive Director Jan Friewald. For 30 years his organization has been developing citizen science projects to survey and protect both coral reefs and kelp forests around the world. Jan, who studied marine biology in Germany before moving on to complete his PhD on Marine Protected Areas in California talks with us about the differences between coral and kelp, the threats they both face from a warming ocean, how they’re growing their pool of volunteers through training young people who might not otherwise have access to scuba diving and how El Nino and the next marine heatwave might impact kelp forests (and corals) and how people will respond. So, dive in with us on this latest and highly informative Rising Tide the Ocean Podcast.

Additional Resources

Reef Check — Saving reefs worldwide & empowering people to save our reefs and oceans. Let’s work together to create a sustainable future through education, research, and conservation.

In the latest episode of Rising Tide – the Ocean Podcast David and Vicki talk with filmmaker Ben Judkins whose award-winning documentary ‘The Cigarette Surfboard’ tells the story of eco-surfer Taylor Lane who built his first cigarette surfboard from 10,000 plastic cigarette filters he collected cleaning up California beaches. It goes on to tell the story of his improved models ridden by professional surfers committed to protecting the health of the ocean. He talks about the growth of the movement to hold Big Tobacco responsible not only for the cancers of its victims but also for the water polluting toxic plastic waste it generates. All that plus some Gnarly surf footage to discuss.

Additional Resources

The Cigarette Surfboard — A DOCUMENTARY USING CIGGY BUTTS & SURFING TO BUILD OCEAN MINDFULNESS & STEWARDSHIP. Impassioned surfer Taylor Lane builds a functional surfboard with 10,000 cigarette butts collected from California beaches. The Cigarette Surfboard becomes a platform to learn from professional surfers who are working to protect the ocean, and the symbol of a grassroots campaign to hold Big Tobacco accountable for their toxic, plastic waste. Surfing is the medium, but the message is universal.

In the latest episode of Rising Tide the Ocean Podcast David Helvarg and Vicki Nichols Goldsteinr talk with Jordan Flagel about Giant Clams. Jordan is the lead environmental scientist with IMARCS – the International Marine Science and Carbon Sequestration Foundation. Along with his work with coral reefs and mangrove forests Jordon studies these unique Indo-Pacific mollusks – and yes, they really are giants – growing up to five feet and weighing over 500 pounds. For those of us who’ve seen them in the wild reefs of the Pacific they have amazingly soft bright mantles in electric blues, greens, orange, turquoise, brown, white and black. Along with discussing restoration of these endangered wonders of the ocean Jordan also talks about his work studying how the algae in their mantles might help restore coral reefs after bleaching events. So, lots to cover and let’s snap to it on this latest episode.

Additional Resources

IMARCS Foundation — Pioneering novel research in reef restoration and coastal conservation

through innovative marine science practices.

Blue Frontier / Substack — Building the solution-based citizen movement needed to protect our ocean, coasts and communities, both human and wild.

Inland Ocean Coalition — Building land-to-sea stewardship - the inland voice for ocean protection

Fluid Studios — Thinking radically different about the collective good, our planet, & the future.