Ocean Currents Radio Program

Michael Stocker of Ocean Conservation Research, talks about the latest in underwater noise, especially associated with oil exploration and drilling.

The spring and summer months of 2010 were incredibly productive for migratory and local wildlife in the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries and all along the west coast of CA. Hear from Dr. Jaime Jahnke of PRBO Conservation Science about the observations made during the collaborative Applied CA Current Ecosystem Studies Program (ACCESS). On the second half of the show, hear from David McGuire from Sea Stewards as he talks about Sharktober Fest, a series of events and programs geared to increase awareness and appreciation for sharks. Scott Tye from Marin Surfrider Foundation closes the show highlighting water quality issues and events Marin Surfrider is hosting in October.

Hear about the expected climate change impacts that our coastal and ocean ecosystem in Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries may expect. What do we know now? What do decision makers need to do to prepare? What can we do?

Scot Anderson has been actively participating in white shark research at the Farallon islands and off the coast of Point Reyes. Hear about how a once feared animal, is now a species of concern.

Meet the leaders and students of a Bay Watershed Education and Training Program (BWET) program happening amongst the wilds of West Marin. Hear students talk about their experiences out and about,learning about the coastal ecosystem.

Can the ocean generate a sustainable source of energy for us? Learn about the local wave energy project on the Sonoma Coast and other projects that are being planned for in CA. Hear about the types of technology and what environmental impacts could exist.

Guest: Riki Ott, Marine Biologist/Author of Not One Drop: Betrayal and Courage in the Wake of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. In 1989 the landscape and coastal communities of Alaska/Prince William Sound and beyond changed forever following the Exxon Valdex Oil Spill. What happened? How did this effect the communities along the coast? Why did the litigation process take 20 years and the compensation only pay 10 cents on the dollar for the losses?

West Coast Regional Director for the National Marine Sanctuary Program Bill Douros shares insight into how resource managers plan for multiple uses in a productive ecosystem like we have here on the west coast, a concept known as marine spatial planning, while keeping in mind the connections between land and sea and broad ecosystem connectivity.

Hear about the rocky intertidal docent program with the California Academy of Sciences and the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and find out how you can get involved in helping to educate tidepool visitors about minimizing impacts and hear about the winter Coho Salmon spawning events in the Lagunitas watershed in Marin County, California

Learn about 3 different types of National Marine Sanctuaries in NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Program. Learn about the USS Monitor, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale, and Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuaries from the east coast to the Pacific Ocean. Learn about the history of the establishment of this National program.

Ocean Revolutionary J. Nichols talks about his collaborative science and conservation work with Loggerhead Sea Turtles in Mexico and his education, inspiration, conservation work that he continues to build on nationally and internationally with communities everywhere. J is a co-founder of Ocean Revolution, an organization that works to build youth stewards internationally for the ocean.

Deep-sea corals can live for hundreds of years, but have laid mostly undiscovered. Learn how and where these corals are found and how scientists are using them to understand our climate history on our planet. You may be surprised to find out where these corals are found!

This show is a compilation of interviews from presenters at the annual National Marine Educators Association Conference in Monterey, CA. The show starts with an overview of NOAA's marine debris program, a live interview with staff from Algalita Marine Research Foundation, and moves towards ocean literacy with an interview with Craig Strang and Dr. Felicia Moore, and ending up with an overview of surfing at the infamous Mavericks, with filmmaker/surfer Grant Washburn.

This intrepid group of divers dove SCUBA on Cordell Bank in the late 1970's and early 80's. Their explorations were instrumental in the designation of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary in 1989. 2009 is the 20th anniversary of the sanctuary's designation. The founder and leader of the expeditions talks about the very beginning and how this expedition to Cordell Bank started.

Dan writes about the historical whaling era where blue whales were nearly written off of the planet, then delves into their survival, their natural history, and what scientists have learned to help aid in their conservation and understand the wildness of this recovering species. Tune in to listen to Dan talk about this mysterious mammal.