Ocean Currents Radio Program

Harbor porpoise disappeared from San Francisco Bay in the 1960's and 70's and in recent years have returned heartily. Biologist Bill Keener from the Golden Gate Cetacean Society talks about their return and filmmakers Jim Sugar and Jessica Sison talk about the film The Return of the Harbor Porpoise to San Francisco Bay, a award winning film that documents the history and good news story of the return of the porpoises to the once periled waters of the bay.

Hear some salty stories about sea foraging/fishing on the Northern CA coast as written about by expert sea forager/educator/fish monger Kirk Lombard.

Guest Dr. Aurora Torres of the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research talks about the growing crisis of sand mining. Overexploitation of global supplies of sand is damaging the environment, endangering communities, causing shortages and promoting violent conflict. Learn how an international team is looking at this issue through a systems integration approach.

Guest Cyndi Dawson a lead policy advisor on the Marine Protected Area Network in CA to the CA Ocean Protection Council, part of the CA Natural Resources Agency talks about the status of the entire state network of MPA’s, what baseline monitoring, education/outreach, enforcement and ongoing community partnerships are doing to help better manage and plan for the best possible outcomes for improving biomass in and outside of MPAs.

Author Marah J. Hardt shares stories from her book Sex in the Sea: Our Intimate Connection with Sex- Changing Fish, Romantic Lobsters, Kinky Squid, and Other Salty Erotica of the Deep (book title)

Ecologists from Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge partnered with a mix of collaborators including artists to help breeding seabirds that were losing habitat to erosion. On the 2nd half of the show, learn about the California Academy of Sciences is mobilizing coastal visitors to "bioblitz" and share observations with photographs and I naturalist.

"If it smells like food, and looks like food, it must be food right?" New research highlights how plastics may take on the smells of typical food that seabirds like to eat. Learn more about this recent research with marine ecologist and UC Davis graduate Dr. Matt Savoca.

Learn about a new method for ocean farming designed to restore ocean ecosystems, mitigate climate change, and create blue-green jobs for fisherman. Bren Smith of Greenware shares how he left the field of commercial fishing to look for a sustainable model to continue to put food on people's plates.

The Pacific Fisheries Management Council instituted Rockfish Conservation Areas in 2002 in response to several species of valuable rockfish being designated "overfished." Learn about what they are, and what has changed in 14 years since the closure went into effect and what the future may hold for these long lived and tasty fish.

Krill are a keystone species, many animals in the food web depend on the success of this critical prey item. Jeff Dorman of the Farallon Institute talks what research and modeling tells us about the dynamics of krill. Some natural history, some research and regional conservation initiatives are discussed.

While efforts move forward to figure out ways to reduce global greenhouse gases and carbon emissions, efforts are also moving forward to figure out ways to sequester carbon. All along we've known marshes and coastal wetlands were good for habitat and fisheries and storm buffering and carbon storage, but the amount these blue/green edges can pull carbon out of the atmosphere, store it and provide a multitude of ecosystem services is a win win for the environment. Learn about how agencies and organizations are working to advance restoration of wetlands through local and national efforts.

California Seamount Coalition director, Samantha Murray shares the latest campaign to add protections to significant seafloor features off the California coast. Also, in later August the E/V Nautilus will be exploring in the Greater Farallones NMS deploying its deep sea ROV's in deep sea coral habitats and shipwreck regions. Learn how everyone can explore real time via telepresence. Also learn about some coastal maritime archeology efforts happening along the Sonoma coast at Fort Ross Historic Park.

A short update from Greater Farallones NMS about the current scoping period regarding Coast Guard discharge exemptions from sanctuary regulations. Also an update on whale entanglements and harbor seal pupping season.

Learn about the health benefits and uses of wild harvested seaweed. Guest Heidi Hermann of Strong Arm Farm in Healdsburg, Sonoma County harvests seaweed for commercial resale on the Sonoma Coast.

White abalone were once prolific in southern CA waters, but over harvesting, reproductive failure and infections have diminished this species to become the first invertebrate to make the endangered species list. NOAA has been working on a restoration action plan that includes culturing individuals in aquaculture laboratories. Meet Melissa Neuman of NOAA and Kristin Aquilino of UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab to hear the latest.