Ocean Currents Radio Program

California's ports that are busy with large ship traffic also overlap with some of the most important feeding areas for large whales, whales have found dead as a result from getting struck by these ships, find out what conservation groups, science groups, industry, and agencies like NOAA are doing to work together to reduce the impact on these endangered species.

How do the tiniest living things in the ocean dominate the food web and ocean processes? Learn about the many complexities of phytoplankton and find out how important it is not only to the ocean food web, but to us humans. Guest: Dr. William Cochlan- biological oceanographer

Hear Eben Schwartz from the CA Coastal Commission talk about the status of marine debris and coastal pollution reduction efforts in California

The Ocean Inside: An adventure afilm and art project exploring the deeper side of the ocean found in everyone.

Hear how the 2012 spring season is shaping up out on the Farallon islands and about the oceanographic conditions that dictate what wildlife will be breeding and feeding in the coming months. Also, hear about the Bluemind Symposium and how the Leatherback Sea Turtle may become the State of California's official marine reptile.

What will it take to raise the awareness of the ocean amongst our legislators and voters? Hear Daniel J. Basta, director of the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, NOAA, and Mike Dunmyer, Executive Director of Ocean Champions share their ideas about this issue.

Learn from NOAA Tsunami expert Dr. Vasily Titov, from NOAA's Center for Tsunami Research about the natural phenomena of tsunamis, as we remember the tragic March, 2011 tsunami that impacted the coast of Japan. We also focus on the aftermath of debris that entered the ocean after the tsunami and discuss how it is traveling and how the North Pacific Gyre system is moving debris across and around the Pacific.

Dr. Jim Delgado, Director of NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuary's Maritime Heritage Program talks about the various shipwrecks, cultural landscapes and stories that have shaped our society as we know today. How does the past, shape our future?

I talked with Barbara Emley, a San Francisco based fisherman (yes fisherman!) who fishes Salmon and Dungeness crab with her husband Larry. We cover many aspects of fishing policies, issues, the livelihood, and her most recent efforts to establish a San Francisco Fishermans coop.

Laura-Rogers Bennett, Senior Biologist Specialist with the California Department of Fish and Game and UC Davis Wildlife Health Center talks about the highly prized abalone snail and the impact of a late summer "Red Tide" that resulted in a huge die off and early recreational abalone fishery closure.

The first half of the show highlights the Pathstar program, a program that SF doctor Nancy Iverson started to help the native american Lakota tribe in Pine Ridge South Dakota, where participants come to San Francisco and complete a transformative swim in SF Bay from Alcatraz to shore, amongst several other educative activities. The 2nd half of the show I talk with Josh Adams, seabird ecologist with the Western Ecological Research Center, USGS. Josh talks about the incredible lifestyle of Sooty Shearwaters, their natural history and hotspots in the CA Current for them.

In July, 2010 several experts spoke at a special workshop convening educators, scientists, policy makers and the public in American Samoa highlighting the involvement of indigenous cultures with management and responsible use of ocean resources. This show highlights a few of the speakers at the workshop and is in two parts. Part one of two.

In July, 2010 several experts spoke at a special workshop convening educators, scientists, policy makers and the public in American Samoa highlighting the involvement of indigenous cultures with management and responsible use of ocean resources. This show highlights a few of the speakers at the workshop and is in two parts. Part two of two.

Dr. Curt Ebbesmeyer-retired oceanographer, professional beachcomber Curt has studied oceanographic currents his entire life. In the 1990s Curt founded the Beachcombers Network to connect some types of marine debris that washed up on shore with its sources. Every piece of debris has a human story, some more interesting than others. Curt's book, Flotsametrics and the Floating World describes the entire story and how science has advanced by tracking items like Nike Shoes and Rubber Duckies and their dispersal from container spills at sea.

David Reynolds, chief meteorologist of NOAA's National Weather Service forecast office in Monterey, CA talks about various ocean conditions and how they impact our weather. He also addresses how climate change may impact our weather on the coast of CA.

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.