Water We Doing?

Send us a textUnveiling Canada's Majestic Sharks: Insights from Marine Biologist Chris Harvey ClarkDive into an enthralling episode of the 'What Are We Doing?' podcast with host David Evans and marine biologist Dr. Chris Harvey Clark. Discover the diverse shark species inhabiting Canadian waters, including elusive Greenland and great white sharks. Explore intriguing topics such as the sharks' unusual diets, including moose and caribou, and cultural delicacies like 'Haukark' made from Greenland shark. Chris shares captivating anecdotes and insights from his extensive marine research, revealing the effects of climate change, noise pollution, and the importance of marine protected areas. With a spotlight on consumer responsibility and sustainable practices, this episode also previews Chris's upcoming book, promising thrilling adventures beneath the waves. Check out his book "In Search of the Great Canadian Shark".To learn more about sharks in Canada check out these resources:Sharks In CanadaSt. Lawrence Shark Observatory00:00 Deep Dive Interview: Sharks, Seas and Sustainability with Dr. Chris Harvey-Clark00:35 Meet Chris Harvey Clark: Canada's Shark Expert02:44 From Veterinary Science to Marine Biology: Chris's Journey03:29 A Diverse Career: Elephants, Hummingbirds, and Aquatic Species08:00 Innovative Conservation Efforts for Atlantic Whitefish10:20 Shark Species in Canadian Waters: An Overview13:42 The Fascinating World of Electric Rays25:39 Shark Encounters and Attacks in Canadian History36:55 Shark Encounters and Marine Life Observations37:15 Shark Behavior and Seal Predation Patterns38:33 A Diver's Close Encounter with a Great White Shark44:27 Marine Conservation Efforts and Publishing Books59:05 The Fascinating World of Greenland Sharks01:05:13 Consumer Choices and Environmental Impact01:13:55 Final Thoughts and Encouragement for ConservationThe Aquatic Bisophere ProjectThe ABP is establishing a conservation Aquarium in the Prairies to help tell the Story of Water.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textThe History and Ecosystem Impact of Sea Otters on Vancouver IslandThe podcast episode explores the history and ecological impact of sea otters on the west coast of Canada, particularly near Vancouver Island. Hosted by David Evans of the Aquatic Biosphere Project, the episode features Linda Nichol from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans who discusses the reintroduction of sea otters from Alaska after they were lost from the region. The conversation covers the ecological role of sea otters, including their effect on kelp forests through the control of sea urchins, and the broader ecosystem changes resulting from their return. The challenges of coexistence with local fisheries and Indigenous communities are addressed, along with the overall benefits to marine biodiversity, ecotourism, and carbon sequestration. The episode also discusses broader topics related to marine conservation and ocean noise pollution affecting cetaceans, emphasizing the complex interactions within marine ecosystems.Sea Otters:NCC Northern Sea Otters: Click here00:00 Introduction to Sea Otters00:40 Reintroduction Efforts and Challenges01:44 Podcast Introduction and Guest Introduction03:25 History of Sea Otters on the West Coast11:22 Ecological Role of Sea Otters21:48 Impact on Local Communities and Fisheries29:26 Effects of Human Activity and Conservation Efforts43:24 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsThe Aquatic Bisophere ProjectThe ABP is establishing a conservation Aquarium in the Prairies to help tell the Story of Water.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textHappy World Ocean day and we hope you are celebrating Ocean Week Canada!In this episode of the 'Water We Doing' podcast by the Aquatic Biosphere Project, host David Evans explores the incredible biodiversity of coastlines around the world and how humans can coexist with endangered species. Starting from Canada’s extensive coastlines, David discusses how these areas are biodiversity hotspots, essential for both nature and human activities. The episode takes listeners on a global tour, covering sea otters in Vancouver Island, little blue penguins in New Zealand, coastline dynamics in the Sundarbans of India and Bangladesh, and the impact of tourism on sea turtles in Greece. Lastly, David returns to Canada's east coast to discuss the resurgence of great white sharks. Throughout the episode, experts like Linda Nichol, Elvisa Van der leden, Dinyar Minocher, Dr. Liam Dixon, and Dr. Chris Harvey Clark provide insights into how humans and these marine species navigate the challenges of sharing coastal spaces. Sponsored by the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition and Grant MacEwan University's Environmental Studies Institute, this episode is a deep dive into ocean conservation and the importance of sustainable interaction with marine life.Did you know  the podcast is now available on youtube? Click here to check out the video version of the show!To learn more about:Sea Otters:NCC Northern Sea OttersLittle Blue Penguins:Finding Little BlueLittle Blue Penguins /KororaBengal Tigers and the Sundarbans:UNESCO World Heritage Sundarban FoundationSea Turtles in GreeceArchelon, The Sea Turtle Protection Society of GreeceGreat White Sharks in Canada:St. Lawrence Shark ObservatoryMacEwan UniversityThanks to the Environmental Studies Institute of MacEwan U for supporting creating the Podcast!Canadian Ocean Literacy CoalitionEmpowering Canadians to better understand, value, and care for the ocean! Thank you for your supportThe Aquatic Bisophere ProjectThe ABP is establishing a conservation Aquarium in the Prairies to help tell the Story of Water.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textWho do you call when an oil spill happens? And what would happen if we had a spill in the arctic ocean???In this episode we discuss oil spill, how to clean them up, and what's being done to prevent future spills from happening. We speak with Dr. Nancy Kinner who is at the font lines of cleanup and prevention research and has been there to assist during all of the major recent spills around the United States. Dr. Nancy Kinner is the Co-Director of Coastal Response Research Center at the University of New Hampshire. The Coastal Response Research Center stimulates innovation in spill preparedness, response, assessment, and implementation of optimum spill recovery strategies. The primary purpose of the Center is to bring together the resources of a research-oriented university and the field expertise of NOAA OR&R to conduct and oversee basic and applied research, conduct outreach, and encourage strategic partnerships in spill response, assessment and restoration.For more information on how to get involved or find out more click the links below:NOAA's Office of Response and RestorationFor more information on the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment click here.EOS: Changes are coming for Arctic ShippingCBC: Feds extend restrictions on Arctic offshore drillingCanada Bans Heavy Oil in the ArcticThe Aquatic Bisophere ProjectThe ABP is establishing a conservation Aquarium in the Prairies to help tell the Story of Water.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textWho do you call when an oil spill happens? And what would happen if we had a spill in the arctic ocean???In this episode we discuss oil spill, how to clean them up, and what's being done to prevent future spills from happening. We speak with Dr. Nancy Kinner who is at the font lines of cleanup and prevention research and has been there to assist during all of the major recent spills around the United States. Dr. Nancy Kinner is the Co-Director of Coastal Response Research Center at the University of New Hampshire. The Coastal Response Research Center stimulates innovation in spill preparedness, response, assessment, and implementation of optimum spill recovery strategies. The primary purpose of the Center is to bring together the resources of a research-oriented university and the field expertise of NOAA OR&R to conduct and oversee basic and applied research, conduct outreach, and encourage strategic partnerships in spill response, assessment and restoration.For more information on how to get involved or find out more click the links below:NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration For more information on the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment click here.EOS: Changes are coming for Arctic ShippingCBC: Feds extend restrictions on Arctic offshore drillingCanada Bans Heavy Oil in the ArcticThe Aquatic Bisophere ProjectThe ABP is establishing a conservation Aquarium in the Prairies to help tell the Story of Water.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textYou may have already heard about carbon footprints but today we focus on water footprints! We spoke with Dr. Lara Wöhler from the Water Footprint Network all about what water footprints are, why they are important and how how to calculate your own. Also get ready to be shocked at how much water it actually took to produce some of your favourite tasty treats and commonly used everyday things!You can learn more about Water Footprints on the Water Footprint Network website here.  Are you interested in calculating your own water footprint? Try the Water Footprint Calculator to see your own footprint!The Aquatic Bisophere ProjectThe ABP is establishing a conservation Aquarium in the Prairies to help tell the Story of Water.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textIn today's episode we speak with Dr. Ellen Bruno from UC Berkeley all about the economics of groundwater. Groundwater is water located in aquifers deep beneath the earths surface. We regulate the amount of water people can take from surface waters (lakes, rivers, etc) but underground it's a different story. Tune in to learn how economists like Ellen are working to add some ground rules to make sure we manage this resource sustainably. Interested in learning more or getting involved? See below for Dr. Ellen's recommendations on how to get involved:Public Policy Institute of California - Water Policy Centre - for great blogs and reports concerning California waterMaven's Notebook - Keeping an eye on all things California waterThe Dreamt Land: Chasing Water and Dust Across California by Mark Arax - A book focusing on how groundwater influences the agricultural development of California's central valleyThe Aquatic Bisophere ProjectThe ABP is establishing a conservation Aquarium in the Prairies to help tell the Story of Water.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textWater is our most important resource. How do we quantify and measure it? With economics of course! This episode is a crash course into the wild world of water economics.In this episode you will learn all about the economics of groundwater and get a snapshot of what is happening in California from Dr. Ellen Bruno. Dr. Bruno is an Assistant Professor at UC Berkeley where she focuses her time on understanding and developing market solutions to tackling this water economics issue.You may have already heard about carbon footprints but we talk all about water footprints in this episode too! You will hear from Dr. Lara Wöhler from the Water Footprint Network all about how to calculate your own water footprint. Also get ready to be shocked at how much water it actually took to produce some of your favourite tasty treats and commonly used everyday things! Can't wait? Check out their Water Footprint Calculator here! and you can Look Up the Water Footprint of common Items here.The Aquatic Bisophere ProjectThe ABP is establishing a conservation Aquarium in the Prairies to help tell the Story of Water.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textIn today's deep dive episode we take it to the experts to find out what we should know about water, security and peace.  We talk with Dr. Susanne Schmeier from IHE DELFT about how countries negotiate water agreements over shared water access.For more information about Dr. Susanne Schmeier's work click here to go to the IHE Delft website to learn more about their programs and research projects. And for more information on the Water, Peace, and Security Partnership that Dr. Susanne runs click here.The Aquatic Bisophere ProjectThe ABP is establishing a conservation Aquarium in the Prairies to help tell the Story of Water.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textFor more information check out ArcticNet and the North America and Arctic Defence Network (NAADSN).ArcticNet contributes to the development and distribution of the knowledge to inform policy development and adaptation strategies to help Canadians meet the challenges and opportunities created by modernization and climate change in the Arctic.NAADSN - The North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network is a collaborative network providing timely, relevant, and reliable expert advice on North American and Arctic defence and security topics.The Aquatic Bisophere ProjectThe ABP is establishing a conservation Aquarium in the Prairies to help tell the Story of Water.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textWater brings us together, but when there isn't enough to go around things get serious quickly. As the climate changes and water becomes less predictable on the landscape, conflicts over water will likely increase. Also as the arctic sea ice melts what does this mean for our security in the North and how will this affect us? What can we do?In today's episode we take it to the experts to find out what we should know about water, security and peace.  We talk with Dr. Susanne Schmeier from IHE DELFT about how countries negotiate water agreements over shared water access and we also speak with Dr. Rob Huebert over why Canadians should be concerned about the arctic and the threats we now face with the disappearance of sea ice.For more information about Dr. Susanne Schmeier's work click here to go to the IHE Delft website to learn more about their programs and research projects. And for more information on the Water, Peace, and Security Partnership that Dr. Susanne runs click here.For more information about Canadian Arctic Sovereignty and everything that Dr. Rob Huebert mentioned check out ArcticNet and the North America and Arctic Defence Network (NAADSN).ArcticNet contributes to the development and distribution of the knowledge to inform policy development and adaptation strategies to help Canadians meet the challenges and opportunities created by modernization and climate change in the Arctic.NAADSN - The North American and Arctic Defence and Security Network is a collaborative network providing timely, relevant, and reliable expert advice on North American and Arctic defence and security topics.The Aquatic Bisophere ProjectThe ABP is establishing a conservation Aquarium in the Prairies to help tell the Story of Water.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textThe future of our pharmaceuticals are from down under.... the surface of course!Coral reefs are the new tropical rainforests when it comes to drug research. When you think about it, how else do you protect yourself when you are a sea sponge, you can't move, don't have any spines or spikes and are free game for any of the thousands of species living nearby? Well chemistry of course! Turns out some of this chemistry may help with the future of our pharmaceuticals!In today's episode we chat with Dr. Marc Slattery from the University of Mississippi all about his work trying to uncover the future of pharmaceuticals from reefs around the world.For more information on the future of drugs from the sea and Dr. Marc Slattery's research click here. To watch his Ted talk "Drugs from the Sea: What do we lose when Coral reefs die?" click here.Interested in helping our coral reefs? Here are a couple organisations doing great work in Coral Reef Conservation, Restoration and Research!The Coral Reef Alliance  As one of the largest global NGOs focused exclusively on protecting coral reefs, the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) has used cutting-edge science and community engagement for nearly 30 years to reduce direct threats to reefs and to promote scalable and effective solutions for their protection.Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology works on coral reefs, tropical marine ecosystems that protect coastlines, support tourism, and provide nutrition to many island nations. Our focus is on defining biological traits that drive the differences in performance among corals and reefs.The Coral Restoration Foundation We are actively restoring coral reefs on a massive scale, educating others on the importance of our oceans, and using science to further coral research and coral reef monitoring techniques. The Coral Reef Research Foundation is based in Palau and does original research to acquire the knowledge needed to understand and make intelligent decisions related to conservation, climate change and resource management.The Mote Marine Laboratory Coral Reef Restoration Program in Florida, US develops and applies science-based strategies with the goal of restoring depleted coral reefs in our lifetime. Specifically, Mote researchers are working to optimize restoration using diverse coral genotypes (genetic varieties), prioritizing native genetic varieties that can resist SCTLD and other stressors such as increased water temperatures and ocean acidification.

Send us a textThe fact that we rely on Horseshoe crab blood to test all of our internal medical devices and vaccines is stunning! And the fact that we are affecting the environment in such a drastic fashion yet have a synthetic alternative that we can turn to is wild. Yet we still remain crab vampires in the name of healthcare!In this episode we learn all about Horsehsoecrabs, why we need them, what we do with their blood and why you should care! We talk with Dr. Larry Niles from the Horseshoecrab Recovery Coalition and boy do we get into it!For more information about the Horseshoe Crab Recovery Coalition Click here. Check out  Dr. Larry Niles blog about his work right here.The Aquatic Bisophere ProjectThe ABP is establishing a conservation Aquarium in the Prairies to help tell the Story of Water.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textThe future of our pharmaceuticals are from down under.... the surface of course!Coral reefs are the new tropical rainforests when it comes to drug research. When you think about it, how else do you protect yourself when you are a sea sponge, you can't move, don't have any spines or spikes and are free game for any of the thousands of species living nearby? Well chemistry of course! Turns out some of this chemistry may help with the future of our pharmaceuticals!And then to our crabbiest ally that you never knew about! The fact that we rely on Horseshoe crab blood to test all of our internal medical devices and vaccines is stunning! And the fact that we are affecting the environment in such a drastic fashion yet have a synthetic alternative that we can turn to is wild. Yet we still remain crab vampires in the name of healthcare! For more information on the future of drugs from the sea and Dr. Marc Slattery's research click here. To watch his Ted talk "Drugs from the Sea: What do we lose when Coral reefs die?" click here.For more information about the Horseshoe Crab Recovery Coalition Click here. Check out  Dr. Larry Niles blog about his work right here.The Aquatic Bisophere ProjectThe ABP is establishing a conservation Aquarium in the Prairies to help tell the Story of Water.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textWe're not in a material crisis, we're in an atoms and molecules crisis. Welcome to the age of metals.Polymetallic nodules sit on the sea floor and accumulate atoms from the Seawater. Every element on the periodic table is in solution in the Ocean. Halfway between Mexico and Hawaii there is a very high concentration of Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, and Copper which is all of the metals that we need for electric cars. So why are we still strip mining huge areas around the world when we could just be picking up rocks from the bottom of the ocean?"We go down from a ship on the surface. Then there’s a vehicle on the bottom. We haven’t come up with the word for it yet, it’s not really mining, it’s more like hoovering or vacuuming. We’re not destroying, we’re not fracking, we’re not grinding, we’re just picking rocks up." - Dr. Greg StoneListen to this episode for our full interview with Dr. Greg Stone, Chief Ocean Scientist from The Metals Company.To learn more about the Metals Company click here. To learn more about Dr. Greg Stone Click Here and to listen to his podcast the Sea Has Many Voices click here.The Aquatic Bisophere ProjectThe ABP is establishing a conservation Aquarium in the Prairies to help tell the Story of Water.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textCanada is the only country in the Pacific Ring of Fire that doesn't utilize geothermal energy production. Why aren't we taking advantage of this renewable resource right below our feet?In Canada ~80% of our energy use is for heating. In Northern Canada where average temperatures are -20 C, you don't need a lot of hot water t make a big impact to offset your heating needs.In today's episode you'll hear from Dr. Steve Grasby the President of Geothermal Canada. For more information about Geothermal Canada Click Here.The Aquatic Bisophere ProjectThe ABP is establishing a conservation Aquarium in the Prairies to help tell the Story of Water.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textToday we're discussing wave energy! Oceans cover 71% of the surface of the globe and guess what! Waves are everywhere! It's estimated that just the wave energy potential along the continental US could be 33-65% of the total electricity demand in the US. You'll hear from Michael Henricksen the CEO of WavePiston. WavePiston is changing the game when it comes to capturing and converting wave energy into electrical potential or desalinated seawater. Based in Denmark, they are creating a non-intrusive, simple, robust and low-cost solution to capturing the energy potential of the ocean. Interested in learning more about Wave Energy in Canada? Click here!To learn more about the WavePiston system Click Here.The Aquatic Bisophere ProjectThe ABP is establishing a conservation Aquarium in the Prairies to help tell the Story of Water.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textThe future of green energy of course involves water. The biggest increases in consistent renewable energy production all involve water. Of course the next issue is how do we store all of this green energy? Well the ocean may hold the answer to this question too. In this episode you will learn all about Wave Energy from Michael Henriksen, the CEO of Wavepiston. Wavepiston is changing the game when it comes to capturing wave energy and transferring it to electricity.You'll also learn all about the future of geothermal energy in Canada from Dr. Steve Grasby the President of Geothermal Canada. Canada is one of the only countries with active volcanoes that doesn't produce geothermal energy. Tune in to hear how Dr. Steve is planning on changing that.Now how can we store all of this green energy? Did someone say batteries? Or even better how about electric vehicles? Dr. Greg Stone the Chief Ocean Scientist from the Metals Company lets us in on the little secret sitting on the ocean floor that may revolutionize the future of electric vehicle batteries.The Aquatic Bisophere ProjectThe ABP is establishing a conservation Aquarium in the Prairies to help tell the Story of Water.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textGet excited for Season 2 of the Water We Doing? Podcast! Tune into the trailer to hear some sneak peaks from our future episodes! We will be exploring water security and its role in global conflicts, the science of oil spill response, the hunt for our future medical treatments in the ocean, and so much more!Our season kicks off on June 8th, World Ocean Day and new episodes will be released every Wednesday. Make sure you are subscribed you won't want to miss it! The Aquatic Bisophere ProjectThe ABP is establishing a conservation Aquarium in the Prairies to help tell the Story of Water.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Send us a textWhat's for dinner? Are we having sustainably caught Arctic Char from right here in Canada? Or are we easting an endangered species illegally caught from halfway around the world?Well unless you have a DNA testing kit there's no way to know. Seafood in Canada has been shown to be labelled incorrectly 47% of the time so you really have no idea what you are actually eating. How can we help support our honest fishermen and women and stop supporting criminal fishing organizations and save our oceans?Well tuning into today's podcast is a great place to learn from the experts who are working hard to sort this issue out!In today's episode you will hear from Sophika Kostyniuk the Director of Fisheries and Seafood of the Oceanwise Seafood Program. You'll learn all about how buying sustainable seafood can be as easy as looking for a Oceanwise logo when your at a restaurant or grocery store.