In this latest episode of the Healthy Seas podcast, we dive into the revolutionary world of eDNA with Nicole Yeomans, the Offshore Industrials Lead and marine ecology expert at NatureMetrics. With a powerful commitment to making biodiversity measurable, NatureMetrics uses environmental DNA (eDNA) to reveal previously unseen insights into marine ecosystems. Now a finalist for the prestigious Earthshot Prize, NatureMetrics is showing how this cutting-edge technology has become an essential tool...

Ioakeim Diamantidis is the General Manager of Diopas, a family-run business based in Greece. For generations, Diopas has been a leader in producing fishing, aquaculture, and sport nets. Now, under the leadership of Ioakeim, the company is pushing the boundaries of innovation in the fishing industry.One of the standout achievements discussed in the episode is Diopas' pioneering development of the world's first recycled and recyclable fish farming nets. This breakthrough, in collaboration with ...

In our latest episode of the Healthy Seas Podcast, we explored an innovative approach to education that’s not just about learning—it’s about living and interacting with the world around us. Our guest, Dr. Aristea Kyriakou, founder of the European Outdoor Education Hub, shares fascinating insights on how outdoor education can transform not only how students learn but also how they connect with their environment.Outdoor education is more than just taking lessons outside. It’s a comprehensive me...

Edd Stockdale is the Coordinator of the Finnish Scientific Diving Academy at the Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki. Edd shares his expertise on scientific diving, a specialized field that merges diving skills with scientific research, particularly in marine biology and archaeology.Understanding Scientific DivingScientific diving is a unique discipline that requires rigorous training and a deep understanding of both diving techniques and scientific methods. Edd Stockdale ela...

Dr. Anna von Rebay is the founder and CEO of Ocean Vision Legal (OVL), the first law firm worldwide entirely specializing in Ocean Protection. OVL focuses on the enforcement of existing obligations to protect the marine environment (Ocean Litigation) and advocates for new laws to provide better protection standards for the Ocean (Ocean Rights).Understanding Ocean LitigationOcean litigation is a term coined by Dr. von Rebay, inspired by the growing climate litigation movement. In our dis...

We're diving into the murky waters of ghost farms with Veronika Mikos, the director of Healthy Seas. Ghost farms, a relatively unknown, but significant, threat to marine ecosystems and coastal communities, are the focus of this insightful conversation. Veronika guides us through the intricacies of what ghost farms are, where they are typically found, and their impact on communities, marine life, and ocean pollution.What Are Ghost Farms?Ghost farms refer to abandoned aquaculture or fish farmin...

Naude Dreyer is the co-founder of Ocean Conservation Namibia (OCN), a non-profit organization established in 2020 with a mission to rescue marine life, especially seals, entangled in plastic pollution and raise awareness about the devastating impact of this waste on our oceans. Through Naude's firsthand accounts, listeners gain insight into the heartbreaking reality of seals becoming ensnared in abandoned fishing gear, posing a grave threat to their survival and the health of our oceans....

Emily Owen is the Marine Program Director at WildAid, an organization at the forefront of marine protection efforts. With their recent Earthshot Prize win, WildAid is setting the bar high for global conservation initiatives.  In this conversation, Emily delves into one of WildAid’s specialties- the enforcement of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Highlighting the varied types of MPAs, from offshore sanctuaries to coastal reserves, Emily emphasizes their essential contribution to sustainable...

Dive into the depths of marine litter detection with Manuel Arias, an earth observation scientist at the Instituto de Ciencias del Mar in Spain in this episode of the Healthy Seas Podcast. As specialists in cleaning the seas and combating marine pollution, the Healthy Seas Foundation brings you an insightful conversation with Arias, who delves into the innovative technologies driving the detection and categorization of marine debris. From optical sensors on satellites to drones, explore...

In this special episode of the "Healthy Seas Podcast," we celebrate a decade of the organization's impactful work in marine conservation. Featuring guests Veronica Mikos, Director of Healthy Seas, and Maria Giovanna Sandrini from Aquafil, the episode delves into the unique partnership between a marine conservation group and a synthetic fiber producer. They reflect on the organization's growth, its role in promoting sustainability and a circular economy, and discuss future plans for marine...

The world's first octopus farm is on the cusp of being greenlighted, however, not without a global outcry. Today's guest, Dr. Elena Lara, is with the organization, Compassion in World Farming. She talks about what makes these animals so incredible- from their ability to solve problems to their uncanny talent for camouflage despite being colorblind! We explore the ethical and environmental considerations that come into play as the world seeks to supply the growing demand for seafood with the...

When it comes to supporting ocean clean-up efforts, oftentimes organizations are asked to report on the weight of everything they pulled out of the water. Seemingly, the higher the number, the more valuable the effort was. However, this is a flawed, and potentially dangerous, practice. For example, an almost weightless gill net could entangle and kill countless more animals than a heavy trawler net. It's also more likely to get wrapped up in boat propellers, posing a hazard and liability for...

What do you get when you combine environmental and historical conservation? The latest Healthy Seas project! In this episode, Pascal Van Erp from Healthy Seas and Ghost Diving, and Mario Arena from the Society for the Documentation of Submerged Sites (SDSS), share about their recent, exciting, eight-day expedition off Italy's Lampedusa Island. The area was the site of World War II's Battle of the Convoys which saw hundreds of ships, submarines, and planes brought down over a three-year...

Sharks have survived five global mass extinctions yet, now, many of their species are endangered due to human activities and myths. Cristina Zenato works to reverse this. She is an ocean and cave explorer, shark behaviorist and expert, dive instructor, speaker, writer, and conservationist. She has helped to change the perception of sharks through the close encounters she has with these animals. They often allow her to pet them and even remove hooks from their mouths! Cristina was a vital...

The Divers Alert Network Europe, otherwise known as DAN Europe, was created 40 years ago to protect divers. However, it started to realize that the divers' playground, the ocean, also needed protection. To that end, they created the Sustainability Tour, led by Alana Alvarez and Manuel Bustelo. The two of them are traveling across Europe and its surrounding areas in an electric Hyundai Kona, creating awareness as they go about the perils that the ocean is facing.  This year's focus is on...

Touted as the "Nobel Prize for environmentalism", the Earthshot Prize aims to find new solutions to the world’s biggest environmental problems by 2030. It is divided into five categories, one being "Build a Waste-Free World." Last year, Notpla had the honor of winning the prize in this category. Their mission is to replace single-use plastic packaging through their innovative invention based on seaweed. Samara Croci is the Senior Brand Partnership Manager with Notpla and she tells us about...

In this episode, Crystal speaks with Frederic Fougea as he gives us a glimpse behind the scenes of his newest documentary, Mediterranean Life Under Siege. The film and series take viewers on the journeys of some of the Mediterranean’s most precious species as they navigate survival around an increasingly human-dominated landscape. Some of the stories Frederic talks about are the unpredictability of working with animals, how he got some of those seemingly impossible shots, and which storyline...

The biggest shopping day of the year is fast approaching and the rampant overconsumption that has been known to accompany Black Friday has devastating effects on the planet. Rather than a complete boycott of the day, Healthy Seas has a better concept- Blue Friday! This is the idea of shopping sustainably and ethically.  Today's guests are Laura in Waterland, an oceans and sustainability advocate, and Curra Rotondo, the co-founder and CEO of the brand, Lefrik. We talk about why having a Blue...

In the winter of 2021, an unusually powerful cyclone called Storm Arwen wreaked havoc on the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France. In Scotland alone, on land, it was estimated that over 8 million trees were damaged or affected by the storm. The damage was no less under the water. Andrew Jack, a fisherman that works in the Moray Firth of the North Sea, lost almost 600 lobster traps in the angry sea. After contacting Duncan Simpson of UK Ghost Diving, the two collaborated (with their teams) on...

Healthy Seas ambassador, Gelareh Darabi, attended the UN Ocean Conference this past June and fills us in on the topics discussed and the progress made in protecting the world's oceans. We talk about new technology and inventions, economically prosperous opportunities in ocean conservation, and the advancement of marine pollution on the global agenda. But, perhaps the most important questions she addresses regarding this gathering of over 6000 participants are, "Who was missing" and "Was it...

In this episode, we hear from both Norbert Lee of Ghostdiving USA and Eric Nelson of Aquafil about their new U.S. partnership with Healthy Seas that recently kicked off in Los Angeles. They removed entangled fishing nets from the ship, the USS Moody, that was sunk for the Hollywood movie, Hell Below. Norbert talks about the near-impossible conditions they overcame that day and Eric tells us all about what Aquafil does with the nets after they are retrieved. This new partnership expands...

Veronika Mikos is the Director of Healthy Seas, a marine conservation organization established to tackle marine pollution caused by lost or abandoned fishing gear, otherwise known as ghost gear. As these materials drift aimlessly through the water, they get entangled on reefs and wrecks while continuing with their original purpose- to trap anything that comes within their path. Healthy Seas not only tackles this issue through clean-up, prevention, and awareness-raising, they contribute to the...