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

This is a special episode. REEF Roundup co-host Graham travelled to Germany to record a documentary series, Forget-Me-Not, with Jan Maisenbacher, host of the Ocean Collaborations podcast. Up to 1.6 million tons of munitions lie in German waters, most of it dumped on purpose after the war ended. For decades, steel casings kept the explosive in. Now they are rusting. In this first episode: How it got there: we hear why the munitions are in the sea at all, from the sailors who dumped ammunition on the day the war ended to the Allied decision that the sea was the safest place for it. The first warning signs: we learn how mussels from a Kiel lab gave some of the first evidence that chemicals from the munitions were reaching living things. Why the risk is changing: we learn why the danger is actually rust, which is leading to more contaminants in the water and sea life every year. Germany's response: we meet the people behind Germany's €100 million Immediate Action Programme (Sofortprogramm Munitionsaltlasten), which has started bringing the munitions up and will build the world's first floating platform to destroy them at sea. Featuring Wolfgang Sichermann: Managing Director, Seascape. LinkedIn Andreas Beerlage: Seascape Special Projects Lead Uwe Wichert: retired German Navy officer and researcher on munitions in the sea Prof. Edmund Maser: Institute of Toxicology and Pharmacology for Natural Scientists, Kiel University. Profile Prof. Jens Greinert: Deep-Sea Monitoring, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. Profile Dr. Aaron Beck: Senior Scientist, Chemical Oceanography, GEOMAR. Profile Dieter Guldin: COO, SeaTerra. LinkedIn Henrik Schönheit: engineer and designer of SeaTerra's seabed crawler Carsten Stürmer: recovery specialist, Immediate Action Programme Stefan Mehlhase: Policy Officer for the Immediate Action Programme, German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUKN) Graham Patterson: co-host of REEF Roundup and Executive Director of REEF Scuba. LinkedIn Jan Maisenbacher: host of the Ocean Collaborations podcast. Website · LinkedIn · Apple Podcasts · Spotify GEOMAR, munitions in the sea CONMAR research project Kiel University, Institute of Toxicology (in German) German Environment Ministry (BMUKN), unexploded munitions in the sea BMUKN press release on the disposal platform contract (17 September 2026, in German) Seascape (in German) SeaTerra REEF Scuba Production: Forget-Me-Not is recorded and produced by Graham Patterson and Jan Maisenbacher. Music: original, composed for the series. Sounds: "Baltic Sea in Jantar" by GirlWithSoundRecorder (CC0, Freesound) "Clock ticks close to mic" by BonnyOrbit (CC0, Freesound) Support: the series was produced with support from Seascape GmbH, which coordinates Germany's Immediate Action Programme on legacy munitions for the Federal Environment Ministry. Seascape reviewed the episode for factual accuracy. Editorial control remained with the hosts. REEF Roundup is a program of REEF Scuba, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

In this episode, we sit down with Francesca Trotman, Founder and Managing Director of Love The Oceans, a grassroots marine conservation charity working in Jangamo Bay, Mozambique. Francesca traces the path from receiving a shark tooth at the London Aquarium on her eighth birthday to witnessing sharks being killed in Mozambican fisheries at nineteen and founding Love The Oceans at twenty-one. That experience forced her to reconsider the simplified conservation narrative she had grown up with, in which fishers are cast as the villains and conservationists as the heroes. The fishers she met were receiving only a tiny fraction of the value generated by the international shark-fin trade. The people and the sharks, she realized, were being exploited by the same system. That insight became the foundation of Love The Oceans’ holistic approach to conservation. More than a decade later, the organization’s work brings together long-term fisheries and coral reef research, megafauna monitoring, turtle protection, ocean literacy, swimming lessons, sustainable fishing, and gender equity. Francesca explains why ecological and human wellbeing cannot be treated as separate problems, and why science only becomes meaningful when it is connected to the lives, knowledge, and leadership of the people who depend on the ocean. Some topics we cover: How Francesca’s early fascination with sharks became a lifelong commitment to marine conservation Moving beyond the “conservationists versus fishers” narrative Love The Oceans’ evidence-based, holistic conservation model Building local capacity through ocean literacy, swimming, and sustainable fishing Why menstrual health and bodily autonomy are ocean-governance issues What actually drives long-term behavior change The challenges of funding grassroots conservation and long-term research Using drones, bioacoustics, underwater video, and DIVEVOLK smartphone housings Why conservation success should eventually make an outside NGO unnecessary Advice for people hoping to build careers or organizations in ocean conservation Mentioned in This Episode: Francesca Trotman on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesca-trotman-39b143ab/ Love The Oceans:https://lovetheoceans.org/ Love The Oceans on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/lovetheoceans/ Pascoal, an award-winning short film:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e85GEgFon2s Peixinho, the story of Bento Armando:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i72QGMyjbMc Love The Oceans’ DIVEVOLK coral-monitoring work:https://www.divevolkdiving.com/blogs/user-story/love-the-oceans-divevolk-coral-conservation-mozambique Period. End of Sentence.:https://media.netflix.com/en/only-on-netflix/81074663 The Outlaw Ocean by Ian Urbina:https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/538736/the-outlaw-ocean-by-ian-urbina/ Ocean Anatomy by Julia Rothman, with John Niekrasz:https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/julia-rothman/ocean-anatomy/9781635861600/ Support Love The Oceans:https://lovetheoceans.org/donate/ If you want to support the podcast or learn what more you can do to help the ocean, visit:https://www.reef-scuba.org/take-action Thanks as always to our Producer, Emily Pokou. A production of REEF Scuba:https://www.reef-scuba.org/

Dr. Dirk Petersen is the Founder and Executive Director of SECORE International, a non-profit organization with the mission to create and share the tools and technologies to sustainably restore coral reefs worldwide. During his PhD, Dr Petersen began studying the reproduction and breeding of corals; these studies formed the basis on which SECORE’s current work is built – together with the extensive expertise and experience of SECORE’s scientists. What started as a dedicated project of scientists, became officially a non-profit in 2015, and by now, Dr. Petersen has grown SECORE into a leading global institution in the field of restoration research, engineering and the implementation of Coral Seeding. This approach focuses on breeding coral offspring for restoration—in this way, their resilience is strengthened by promoting genetic diversity thus enabling adaptability and the possibility for the corals to thrive in our world’s changing conditions.  Over the last decade, SECORE has established a network of active practitioners across the Caribbean to apply Coral Seeding, is implementing advanced coral restoration technologies globally together with AIMS, and has expanded the implementation of Coral Seeding approach into the Indian Ocean with Mauritius as the base. There, full-scale training with regional partners will begin this September. Right now, SECORE is working to bring Coral Seeding to the Pacific together with partners from Australia and on-site partners. GUEST AND PEOPLE MENTIONED Dr. Dirk PetersenFounder and Executive Director, SECORE Internationalhttps://de.linkedin.com/in/dirk-petersen-06a5759 Sandra Mendoza-QuirozRestoration Coordinator, SECORE Mexicohttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sandra-Mendoza-Quiroz Dr. Margaret MillerChief Science Officer, SECORE Internationalhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-miller-36513b33 ORGANIZATIONS AND PROJECTS SECORE Internationalhttps://www.secore.org/ Australian Institute of Marine Sciencehttps://www.aims.gov.au/ FUNDEMARhttps://www.fundemardr.org/ Global Coral Tech Transfer Projecthttps://www.secore.org/en/news/25/global-exchange-of-knowledge-and-technology-to-significantly-advance-reef-restoration-efforts ReefSeedhttps://www.aims.gov.au/research-topics/environmental-issues/climate-change/coral-aquaculture/reefseed FEATURED RESEARCH Assisted sexual coral recruits show high thermal tolerance to the 2023 Caribbean mass bleaching eventhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11410220/ FOLLOW REEF ROUNDUP Websitehttps://www.reef-roundup.com/ Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/reefroundup/ REEF Roundup is a program of REEF Scuba, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.https://www.reef-scuba.org/

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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!)

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

In this episode, we sit down with Virgil Zetterlind, Director of Protected Seas, to discuss the critical difference between declaring a Marine Protected Area (MPA) and it actually leading to the intended positive outcomes we hope to achieve. It's a more complex topic than we often cover, but incredibly important. So grab a cup of coffee, perhaps a notepad, and a comfortable seat before you dive in. While global targets like 30x30 and the High Seas Treaty dominate the headlines, the reality on the ocean is that much of it is often a Wild West of overlapping regulations and limited visibility. Virgil walks us through how Protected Seas is solving this knowlege and data gap by mapping the global regulatory landscape with their Navigator tool and deploying autonomous radar systems (M2) to monitor compliance in real-time. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Visualizing the Invisible – How the Navigator tool standardizes complex, layered legal texts into a "Level of Fishing Protection" score, allowing users to see exactly what activities are allowed in any patch of ocean. Closing the Enforcement Gap – The transition from "paper parks", areas that are protected by law, but not in reality, to protected waters using M2 (Marine Monitor), a non-cooperative radar technology that tracks near-shore vessel movement without relying on AIS signals. The Economics of Protection – Data from Mexico and beyond proving that scuba divers are willing to pay a premium to visit fully protected areas, making a clear economic case for strict no-take zones. Data Over Intuition – A case study from California where radar data disproved the assumption that poaching happens at night, revealing that most illegal fishing occurred in broad daylight which shifted enforcement strategies. High Seas & 30x30 – The logistical challenges of implementing the new High Seas Treaty and the difficulty of tracking "Other Effective Conservation Measures" (OECMs) without standardized metrics. Protected SeasProtected Seas is a team of data scientists, mariners, and conservationists dedicated to bridging the gap between ocean policy and reality. Their open-access tools, including the Navigator map and M2 radar systems, empower governments, NGOs, and ocean users to understand regulations and improve compliance. Website: https://protectedseas.net Navigator Map: https://map.navigatemap.org M2 Marine Monitor: https://m2marinemonitor.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/protected-seas Mentioned Organizations & Tools Mapping & Navigation Apps Savvy Navvy (Boating App)Website: https://www.savvy-navvy.com Deckee (Boating Safety App)Website: https://deckee.com Google EarthWebsite: https://earth.google.com Google MapsWebsite: https://maps.google.com Conservation Technology & Enforcement Global Fishing WatchWebsite: https://globalfishingwatch.org Skylight (Maritime Intelligence)Website: https://www.skylight.global EarthRanger (Protected Area Management - Note: Referred to as "Earth Rangers" in transcript)Website: https://www.earthranger.com Conserve.ioWebsite: https://conserve.io Whale AlertWebsite: https://www.whalealert.org Furuno (Marine Radar Hardware)Website: https://www.furuno.com Conservation NGOs & Government WildAidWebsite: https://wildaid.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildaid Global ConservationWebsite: https://globalconservation.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/globalconservation NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)Website: https://www.noaa.govInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/noaa Dave Wiley (Research Coordinator, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary)Profile: https://stellwagen.noaa.gov/science/dave-wiley.html REEF Roundup & REEF Scuba REEF Roundup – Marine conservation podcast (this show)Website: https://www.reefroundup.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/reefroundup REEF Scuba – Nonprofit behind REEF RoundupWebsite: https://www.reefscuba.org

In this episode, we sit down with Tré Packard, founder and Executive Director of PangeaSeed Foundation, to explore how public art can turn abstract ocean science into something people can see, feel, and act on. From shark fin markets in Asia to large-scale mural festivals and fine art print releases, Tré walks through how PangeaSeed built a global model that funds conservation work, supports artists, and brings the ocean into city streets. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Art as a gateway to empathy – why emotional connection is as important as scientific literacy for driving change, especially for people who will never put on a mask or scuba tank. The origin of Sea Walls – how the uncovering of the largest shark finning operation in the world and a mural in a Sri Lanka sparked the idea of using large-scale public art as a democratic, free platform for ocean stories. Printed Oceans and the “business of conservation” – how limited-edition fine art prints create a circular economy that funds programs, supports artists, and brings conservation narratives into homes, schools, and workplaces. Cross-sector collaborations – examples of working with dive agencies, city governments, brands, and international institutions to align communications, funding, and science around local ocean threats. Longevity and resilience in ocean advocacy – lessons from 15+ years in the field, including burnout, hope, and how to keep going when the problems are heavy and long-term. PangeaSeed Foundation is a nonprofit working at the intersection of art, science, and education to advance ocean conservation. Through programs like Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans, Printed Oceans, and their Impact and Commissioned Programs, PangeaSeed connects scientists and communities with a global network of artists to turn complex marine issues into accessible visual stories. Their work addresses priority ocean challenges such as overfishing, plastic pollution, and climate impacts worldwide. PangeaSeed Foundation Website: https://www.pangeaseed.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pangeaseed Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans (PangeaSeed public art program) Website: https://www.seawalls.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seawalls Printed Oceans (fine art print program) Program page: https://pangeaseed.org/printed-oceans/ Tré Packard – Photography Portfolio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abovebelowphoto/ Other Mentioned Organizations Protect Blue Protect Blue Website: https://protect.blue Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/protect.blue Application / program pages Undercurrent (program page with application): https://protect.blue/undercurrent Blue Campus (community & program hub): https://protect.blue/campus PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Website: https://www.padi.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paditv United Nations & UN Ocean Conference UN Ocean Conference (information page): https://www.un.org/en/conferences/ocean2025 United Nations – main organization Website: https://www.un.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unitednations Influencer Database IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature Website: https://www.iucn.org Instagram (IUCN Congress): https://www.instagram.com/iucn_congress REEF Roundup & REEF Scuba REEF Roundup – Marine conservation podcast (this show) Website: ⁠https://reef-roundup.com⁠ ⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/reefroundup⁠ REEF Scuba – Nonprofit behind REEF Roundup Website: ⁠https://www.reef-scuba.org⁠ ⁠

In this episode of REEF Roundup we sit down with world renowned Dr. Jamie Craggs to learn about the fascinating topic of coral reproduction and how controlled coral spawning is increasingly becoming a go-to restoration tool. Jamie walks through the progression from his groundbreaking work at the Horniman Museum & Gardens — Project Coral to wider collaborations with Coral Spawning International, SECORE International, Tropical Marine Centre (BioCSL), and his work as Senior Marine Science Officer at MARS Sustainable Solutions — Building Coral. We also discuss a field project documented with Canon and Nature Seychelles, connecting science and public storytelling. Explore & follow the organizations mentioned: Horniman Museum & Gardens — Project Coral — Website: https://www.horniman.ac.uk/project/project-coral/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hornimanmuseumgardens/ Coral Spawning International — Website: https://www.coralspawninginternational.com/ SECORE International — Website: https://www.secore.org • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secore.international/ Tropical Marine Centre (BioCSL) — Website: https://tropicalmarinecentre.com • BioCSL: https://tropicalmarinecentre.com/uk/sector-bio-csl-coral-spawning-labs • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tropicalmarinecentre/ MARS Sustainable Solutions — Building Coral — Website: https://www.buildingcoral.com Canon (World Unseen: Coral Matchmaking) — Feature: https://www.canon-europe.com/view/world-unseen-coral-matchmaking-episode-1/ Nature Seychelles — Website: https://natureseychelles.org • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naturesey/ Learn more about the show and follow us at REEF Roundup — https://reef-roundup.com • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reefroundup/

In this episode, we’re honored to feature Rose Huizenga, founder of Coral Catch and co-founder of Gili Shark Conservation. Originally from the Netherlands, Rose has spent the past decade on Gili Air, Indonesia, transforming a dream to restore her island’s reefs into a powerful movement for ocean conservation and women’s empowerment. Through Coral Catch, Rose has built a sisterhood of local women—known as the Coral Catch Superwomen—who are trained as certified divers, reef restoration experts, and community leaders. These women are not only reviving reefs across Indonesia but also sparking ripple effects of change in their communities, proving that empowering women is a catalyst for stronger ecosystems and societies. For Rose, this mission is deeply personal. Every time she takes her daughters into the ocean, she’s reminded why she began: so the next generation can inherit a living, thriving ocean. Her vision is bold yet tangible—to empower 100 women to pursue conservation careers and 100 more to learn how to swim, ensuring a brighter future for both people and reefs. If you’re looking for a powerful story of how one person’s dream can ignite lasting change, this episode is a must-listen. Follow the journeys of the Coral Catch Superwomen on Instagram @coralcatch, and support their work at coralcatch.org/donate.