The Ocean Foundation has continued its work to support, strengthen, and promote those organizations dedicated to reversing the trend of destruction of ocean environments around the world. We work with donors who care about our coasts and oceans to add value to marine conservation initiatives by providing conservation grants, hosting projects and funds, and collaborating with important campaigns and opinion leaders. As the community foundation for the oceans, we are fostering best-in-class projects and promoting solutions for healthy oceans and the people who depend upon them. We have been able to adapt to a changing economic climate while maintaining our integrity as honest brokers for marine conservation philanthropy

Dr. David E. Guggenheim — the “Ocean Doctor” — serves as Senior Fellow of The Ocean Foundation and Director of its Cuba Marine Research and Conservation Program.

The Ocean Foundation Annual Report
The-Ocean-Foundation_Annual-Report-2011.pdf

Languages:	English
Author:	The Ocean Foundation
Platforms:	Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Linux, Mac OS X
Requirements:	PDF Reader
Date:	December 1, 2011

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August 15, 2011: Our special guest is National Geographic Fellow and acclaimed chef, author, and speaker Barton Seaver, who seeks to restore our relationship with the ocean, the land, and with each other through dinner. His new book is For Cod and Country: Simple, Delicious, Sustainable Cooking. If you’re not hungry, you will be by the end of this show! Also: A giant sea monster discovered in the UK and a close encounter with the largest animal that’s ever lived.

The Ocean Doctor airs weekly on WebTalkRadio.net. Want to listen on your iPod, iPhone or mp3 player? Download the mp3 file or subscribe on iTunes and don’t miss a single episode. Or listen to us on your iPhone, Android phone, WebOS phone, BlackBerry or tablet, including the iPad, with the free Stitcher SmartRadio app. See the complete list of episodes. Follow The Ocean Doctor on Twitter — Become a Fan on Facebook! Submit a question and I’ll try to answer it on the air. Even better, record your question or comment on our special message line and I might play it on the air. Call: (805) 619-9194. You can also leave questions and comments for this episode below. Like the show? Learn how to become a sponsor.

Eating Our Way Out of the Ocean’s Problems — A Chef’s Perspective

Chef Barton Seaver (Photo: Katie Stoops)

National Geographic Fellow and acclaimed chef, author, and speaker Barton Seaver wants to restore our relationship with the ocean, the land, and with each other through dinner.

Seaver’s childhood in Washington, D.C., centered around the family dinner table. After graduating with honors from the Culinary Institute of America, he traveled extensively and found work at a small family restaurant in southern Spain. The casual, ingredient-based cooking style there would prove to be an important influence in his perception of food as an essential part of community.

A transformative trip to Morocco landed him in the seaside village of Essaouiera, where survival is directly linked to the oceans. His experience with the locals, who taught him generationsold fishing methods, helped shape his belief that, at its root, sustainability is both an ecological and a humanitarian issue.

Seaver returned to D.C. in 2005 and began his career as a chef, first with José Andrés at Jaleo, then as executive chef of Café Saint-Ex and later at its sister restaurant, Bar Pilar. In 2007, Seaver became executive chef of the sustainable seafood restaurant Hook in Georgetown, which made Bon Appétit’s Top 10 Eco- Friendly Restaurants and the Washington Post’s Top 50, Washingtonian Magazine’s Top 100. In a single year, the restaurant served 78 species of seafood, and Seaver’s devotion to sustainability led to national media attention.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium recognizes Seaver as a sustainability leader, and in 2008 he received both the Seafood Choices Alliance’s Seafood Champion Award and the title “Rising Culinary Star of the Year” from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. In 2009, he was named Esquire magazine’s Chef of the Year.

The Chef at Work (Photo: Katie Stoops)

Since then, he has focused on using his knowledge and experience to link seafood to broader socioeconomic, ecological, health, and cultural issues. Locally he sits on the board of D.C. Central Kitchen, an organization fighting hunger through personal empowerment, job training, and life skills. He also collaborates with the School Nutrition Association, the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School, Future of Fish, and other non-profit organizations supportive of his message that food is a catalyst for restoring health to ourselves, our communities, and our planet.

As a National Geographic Fellow, Seaver works with the global partnership initiative Mission Blue to increase awareness of the ocean crisis and inspire action. In 2010, he gave a TED Talk on sustainable seafood aboard the National Geographic Endeavour in Ecuador. He developed a list of ocean friendly substitutes for popular yet depleted seafood species, and co-created the Seafood Decision Guide to help consumers evaluate seafood based on health and environmental factors. Currently he hosts the National Geographic Web series Cook-Wise, where he introduces the fishermen, farmers, and scientists working to bring more sustainable food to the table.

Click to Order Your Copy of Barton Seaver's, "For Cod and Country"

Seaver’s recipes and insights have been featured in Cooking Light, O: The Oprah Magazine, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Lonny Magazine, ChopChop, the Washington Post, Fortune, TreeHugger.com, American University’s Kogod Magazine, and Vanity Fair. He has appeared on CNN, NPR’s All Things Considered and Weekend Edition, and Bloomberg Radio. He is also a regular guest on the radio show National Geographic Weekend with host Boyd Matson.

His three-part television series In Search of Food tells the story of the locavore movement through local farmers, chefs, and food specialists in New York, San Francisco, and Minneapolis. The series premiered on the Ovation network in May 2011.

A highly sought speaker, Seaver has been invited to give lectures at Harvard University, Yale University, Culinary Institute of America, National Geographic, and Duke University, as well as serve on numerous conference panels, including at the Aspen Environmental Forum, Blue Vision Summit, the National Restaurant Association Annual Convention, the Seafood Choices Alliance Sustainable Seafood Summit, and the Savannah Oceans Exchange. He has been selected to give featured or keynote addresses at annual meetings for Basel World 2011, The Nature Conservancy, School Nutrition Association, American Culinary Federation, and American Fisheries Society.

Like Barton on Facebook and follow him on Twitter

Pink Salmon Cakes with Dill and Mustard This has become a weeknight favorite at our house. The cakes are inexpensive and easy to put together. Add a side dish, and you have dinner for four.Two 7- to 8-ounce cans pink salmonSalt2 tablespoons mayonnaise2 teaspoons whole-grain mustardPinch of ground mace1/4 cup panko (Japanese-style bread crumbs) or fine dried bread crumbs1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill2 tablespoons butterLemon wedgesPreheat the oven to 400 degrees. Drain the salmon. Flake the fish into a bowl, being careful to remove any small bones or skin that may be mixed in. Season with salt and add the mayonnaise, mustard, mace, bread crumbs, and dill. Mix gently with your fingers until it is well combined. Form into four even patties about 1 inch thick and allow to sit for about 5 minutes to allow the bread crumbs to absorb the flavor. In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, heat the butter until foaming. Add the salmon cakes and cook until they begin to turn golden on the edges, about 5 minutes. Don’t touch them while they’re browning. Once the edges have browned, transfer the pan to the oven and bake for 5 minutes to heat through. Flip the cakes onto plates and serve with lemon wedges. Serves 4 Photos by Katie Stoops; Images and recipes reprinted with permission from “For Cod and Country” © 2011 by Barton Seaver, Sterling Epicure, an imprint of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.

Steamed Clams and Basil Pesto Steamed shellfish work with so many different flavors. Here I top clams with a bright basil pesto. It is a super-easy preparation and makes an elegant and easy weeknight meal.3 dozen littleneck clams, rinsed thoroughly (discard any that won’t close)1 cup white wine1/2 cup Basil Pesto (recipe below)2 tablespoons butter1 crusty baguette, sliced and toastedPlace the clams and wine in a covered pot over high heat. As the broth begins to boil, gently stir the clams to ensure that they cook evenly.Once all the shells are open (discard any that haven’t opened after 5 minutes), remove the clams from the pot and place them in serving bowls, leaving as much of the broth in the pot as possible. Carefully pour the broth into a bowl, leaving any sand that has collected in the bottom of the pot. Add the pesto and butter to the clam broth and stir to combine. Pour over the clams and serve with toasted bread.Serves 4 as an appetizer or light entrée Basil Pesto 1 cup walnuts 3 cloves garlic, peeled 1 cup canola oil (or, for added flavor, 3/4 cup canola oil plus 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil) Leaves from 1 pound fresh basil Salt Spread the walnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast in a preheated 350-degree oven for about 8 minutes. The nuts should be highly aromatic, and the thin skin should be flaky. Allow them to cool. Place the nuts in a colander and toss well with your hand to remove the flaky skin— it’s bitter and doesn’t purée very well, so it is best to get rid of as much as possible. After a minute of tossing, remove the cleaned nuts from the colander and discard any skin that has sloughed off. Place the garlic and oil in a blender. Purée until the garlic is incorporated. (The garlic in the oil will help keep the basil bright green.) Add the basil leaves and purée until the mixture becomes a smooth paste. Add the walnuts and pulse until the pesto is thick. Season to taste with salt. Photos by Katie Stoops; Images and recipes reprinted with permission from For Cod and Country © 2011 by Barton Seaver, Sterling Epicure, an imprint of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.

The Pliosaur “Sea Monster”

The Enormous Pliosaur (Image courtesy of BBC)

A Paddler’s Close Encounter with a Blue Whale

Links

• For Cod and Country – Chef Barton Seaver
• “How we can eat our way out of the seafood crisis” (Featuring Barton Seaver) – Grist
• “Seafood Becoming More Scarce? (Featuring Barton Seaver) – CNN
• “Colossal ‘Sea Monster’ Unearthed” – BBC
• “Gulf Spill’s Effects Unknown for Years?” – National Geographic

February 14, 2011: Crime Scene Investigation takes to the oceans with “Coral Reef CSI.” The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) is now the home of the international Coral Reef CSI program. This new partnership will expand the field of coral reef forensic investigation in coral reef locations around the world, offering more protection to these valuable and fragile ecosystems. Our guest, Rick MacPherson, Interim Executive Director and Conservation Programs Director at CORAL fills us in. Also: Discovery of the wreck of the Nantucket whaler, “Two Brothers” in Hawaii and a special expedition announcement by The Ocean Doctor!

The Ocean Doctor airs weekly on WebTalkRadio.net. Want to listen on your iPod, iPhone or mp3 player? Download the mp3 file or subscribe on iTunes and don’t miss a single episode. See the complete list of episodes.

Follow The Ocean Doctor on Twitter — Become a Fan on Facebook!

Submit a question and I’ll try to answer it on the air. Even better, record your question or comment on our special message line and I might play it on the air. Call: (805) 619-9194. You can also leave questions and comments for this episode below.

Like the show? Learn how to become a sponsor.

CSI Goes Deep.

CSI Goes Deep

The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) is now the home of the international Coral Reef CSI program. This new partnership, announced by CORAL today, will expand the field of coral reef forensic investigation in coral reef locations around the world, offering more protection to these valuable and fragile ecosystems.

“The Coral Reef CSI program is filling an important niche, as few marine protected areas have field investigators armed with the knowledge and tools necessary to hold responsible parties accountable for injuries to managed coral reef resources,” said Rick MacPherson, Interim Executive Director and Conservation Programs Director at the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL). “The program is a natural fit for CORAL because it is closely aligned with our own community-focused approach to reducing local reef threats in order to create and sustain healthy coral reef communities.”

This Week's Guest: Rick MacPherson, Interim Executive Director and Conservation Programs Director at the Coral Reef Alliance

Crime scene investigation (CSI) techniques have become famous through a host of popular television dramas, and the Coral Reef CSI program uses similar forensic science strategies underwater. Designed in 2006, the program has worked in thirteen countries and has trained over 300 marine protected area resource managers, enforcement officers, academics, and litigators in underwater evidence collection.

Through the program’s rigorous field training workshops, participants learn underwater forensic investigative techniques applicable to vessel groundings, destructive fishing, illegal extraction, and other negative impacts to coral

reefs. Participants also practice proper procedures for gathering and preserving evidence in the marine environment and receive expert advice on providing clear and concise analysis during decision-making processes such as court trials.

Coral Reef CSI Training - Belize (Photo courtesy of CORAL)

“By working together with CORAL, we look forward to expanding global efforts to improve coral reef investigation and enforcement,” said Dave Gulko, director of the international Coral Reef CSI field training program. “Through our partnership with CORAL, we plan to develop new educational and field methods for improving compliance and building support for coral reef conservation.”

A total of five Coral Reef CSI trainings are slated for 2011, including implementations in Honduras, Thailand, Indonesia, and Guadeloupe. Several new training modules focused on enforcement, field contaminant assays, and field sea turtle forensics are expected to be implemented later this year and into 2012.

The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) unites communities to save coral reefs. The organization provides tools, education, and inspiration to residents of coral reef destinations to support local projects that benefit both reefs and people. Originally founded in 1994 to galvanize the dive community for conservation, CORAL has grown from a small, grassroots alliance into the only international nonprofit organization that works exclusively to protect our planet’s coral reefs. Visit www.coral.org or call1-888-CORAL-REEF.

Coral Reef CSI Training - Belize (Photo courtesy of CORAL)

The Coral Reef CSI program, which arose from the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) Working Group on Coral Reef Enforcement and Investigation, was designed in 2006 as a way for coral reef managers, enforcement officers, investigators, and natural resource trustees to receive training in underwater natural resource investigative techniques. The training program encourages investigation, mitigation, and prosecution success for natural resource injury events and is generating regional and national level commitments for improved coral reef investigation and enforcement. The program’s web resources and tools are available at www.coral.org/coral_reef_csi.

Also: The wreck of the Nantucket Whaler, “Two Brothers” and an Expedition Announcement.

Marine archaeologists working in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands discovered the wreck of the “Two Brothers” a Nantucket whaling ship that went down 188 years ago after hitting a reef at the French Frigate Shoals, a treacherous atoll. What was a Nantucket whaler doing way out in the middle of the Pacific? Why is this particular wreck of such interest? And how does this wreck relate to the announcement the Ocean Doctor makes this week about an upcoming expedition? To find out, we roll out our time machine and head back to the early part of the 19^th century, when Nantucket, that tiny island of Massachusetts, was the international whaling capital of the world.

Links:

The Coral Reef Alliance

Nantucket Whaler Lost in Pacific Tells Its Tale at Last (NY Times)

Tip of the Week:

Audiobook from Audible.com

February 7, 2011: We tap into the best and brightest at the National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment in Washington, DC to get answers to the tough questions. An interview with Dr. David Yoskowitz, Chair of Socioeconomics at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, with jaw-dropping statistics on what the Gulf is worth. What we all assumed about dispersants that may be all wrong. And we follow the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling as it goes before Congress.

The Ocean Doctor airs weekly on WebTalkRadio.net. Want to listen on your iPod, iPhone or mp3 player? Download the mp3 file or subscribe on iTunes and don’t miss a single episode. See the complete list of episodes.

Follow The Ocean Doctor on Twitter — Become a Fan on Facebook!

Submit a question and I’ll try to answer it on the air. Even better, record your question or comment on our special message line and I might play it on the air. Call: (805) 619-9194. You can also leave questions and comments for this episode below.

Like the show? Learn how to become a sponsor.

The Tough Questions, Answered.

Where's the oil now? What's a Gulf Worth? The Tough Questions, Answered.

The National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment in Washington, DC is a who’s who in ocean research and conservation and a chance to really focus on the major issues ahead. If you want tough questions about the Gulf or the oceans answered, this is the place to be.

We hear from:

• Richard Harris, Science Correspondent, NPR
• Dr. Edward Overton, Professor Emeritus of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University
• Dr. John “Wes” Tunnell, Associate Director, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
• Dr. Charles “Pete” Peterson, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Marine Sciences, Biology and Ecology,  University of North Carolina
• Dr. David Yoskowitz, Chair of Socioeconomics , Associate Director, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
• Dr. Carl Safina, President, Blue Ocean Institute

Panel on Impacts of BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Left to Right: Richard Harris, NPR; Dr. David Yoskowitz, HRI; Dr. Charles “Pete” Peterson, UNC; Dr. Edward Overton, LSU; Dr. John "Wes" Tunnell, HRI (Photo: D. Guggenheim)

What's nature worth to you? The Ocean Doctor interviews Dr. David Yoskowitz, Chair of Socioeconomics, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies

Also: Our In-Depth Coverage of the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster Continues

Our show continues its in-depth coverage of the Gulf oil spill and once again we’re going deep. As promised last week, this week we take you to congress as the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, co-chaired by former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator, Bob Graham and former EPA Administrator, William Riley, has issued its final report and has entered its most crucial phase: Getting Congress to act on its recommendations.

The Commission co-chairs recently testified before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee. The reception was mixed. While in general the Commission commanded respect, there were attacks, primarily by oil-producing states.

Links:

National Council for Science and the Environment

National Commission on the BP Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling

Videofiles, Inc.

Blue Ocean Institute

Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Special thanks to the National Council for Science and the Environment and Videofiles, Inc. for their assistance in making this episode possible.

January 31, 2011: Our special guest this week is Jean-Michel Cousteau, who leads Ocean Futures Society, a nonprofit marine conservation organization which he founded in 1999 to honor his father’s legacy to carry on his pioneering work in exploring, filming and protecting the oceans.  Jean-Michel has produced over 80 films, received the Emmy and the Peabody Award among others. He was honored with the Environmental Hero Award by the White House. In February 2002, he became the first person to represent the Environment in the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Jean-Michel led the effort to return Keiko, the captive killer whale of “Free Willy” film fame, to the wild. With his team, Jean-Michel has been working for months to document the impact of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster. Also: Our in-depth coverage of the National  Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill continues.

The Ocean Doctor airs weekly on WebTalkRadio.net. Want to listen on your iPod, iPhone or mp3 player? Download the mp3 file or subscribe on iTunes and don’t miss a single episode. See the complete list of episodes.

Follow The Ocean Doctor on Twitter — Become a Fan on Facebook!

Submit a question and I’ll try to answer it on the air. Even better, record your question or comment on our special message line and I might play it on the air. Call: (805) 619-9194. You can also leave questions and comments for this episode below.

Like the show? Learn how to become a sponsor.

This Week’s Guest: Jean-Michel Cousteau

This Week's Guest: Jean- Michel Cousteau (Photo: © Carrie Vonderhaar, Ocean Futures Society)

If you enjoyed the many films of Jacques Cousteau, then you saw him by his father’s side on many of those expeditions. Jean-Michel Cousteau has carried on Jacques Cousteau’s legacy, honoring his father’s heritage by founding Ocean Futures Society in 1999 to carry on this pioneering work.

Ocean Futures Society is a non-profit marine conservation and education organization serving as a “Voice for the Ocean” by communicating the critical bond between people and the sea and the importance of wise environmental policy. As its spokesman, Jean-Michel serves as an impassioned diplomat for the environment.

He has produced over 80 films, received the Emmy, the Peabody Award, and many others.

In 2006, Jean-Michel’s initiative to protect the Northwest Hawaiian Islands took him to The White House where he screened his PBS-KQED documentary, Voyage to Kure, for President George W. Bush. The President was inspired and in June 2006, he declared the 1,200-mile chain of islands a Marine National Monument—at the time; the largest marine protected areas in the world.

Jean- Michel Cousteau (Photo: © Carrie Vonderhaar, Ocean Futures Society)

In February 2002, he became the first person to represent the Environment in the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. In the first attempt ever to return a captive orca to the wild, Jean-Michel led the effort of research and care for Keiko, the captive killer whale of “Free Willy” film fame, and in 2002, Keiko was returned to the wild.

Jean-Michel has been honored with the Environmental Hero Award, presented to him by then-Vice President Gore at the White House National Oceans Conference in 1998.

Jean-Michel Cousteau and David E. Guggenheim (Photo: Holly Lohuis)

The list of achievements goes on and on. I’ve known him for more than 10 years. He’s as full of energy today as when I met him – perhaps more – and one of his principal messages today is especially important: Enough talk, we need action! He is ever-thoughtful and inspiring . I caught up with Jean-Michel at the National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment a few hours before he delivered the John H. Chafee Memorial Lecture on Science and the Environment.

Also: Our In-Depth Coverage of the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster Continues

National Oil Spill Commission Co-Chairs Bob Graham (L) and Bill Riley (R) at the National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment (Photo: D. Guggenheim)

We continue to “go deep” in understanding the lessons revealed by the National Commission on the BP Oil Spill and Offshore drilling in its final report. Commission co-chairs Bob Graham and Bill Riley answered questions posed by PBS Newshour Senior Correspondent, Ray Suarez at the National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment in Washington, DC.

Tip of the Week

Read Jean-Michel’s new book, “My Father, the Captain: My Life With Jacques Cousteau” published by National Geographic. It’s a touching, in-depth portrait of his father and colleague. To quote Jean-Michel about his book: “Captain Cousteau was a complicated man. He was a man of many different personalities, many different moods. But this is how it is with all great men, yes? We know the public mask, but it is the private face that reveals a man’s true character. It is the man we know when the cameras are not filming.”

Links:

Ocean Futures Society

National Commission on the BP Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling

January 24, 2011: Like it or not, our kids are going to inherit an oiled Gulf and a troubled ocean, and their generation will ultimately have to deal with problems we’ve created. But how do we ensure they’re up to the challenge?  If you listen to multimedia artist and conservationist Mark Holmes, reaching our kids through the arts  is a powerful approach and that’s exactly what he’s doing with the newly-formed Institute for Ocean Literacy. Mark formerly worked at National Geographic where he launched the NationalGeographic.com web site and designed and art directed National Geographic Magazine. His music, graphic novels, and passion are helping to inspire our next generation. Also: Our in-depth coverage of the National  Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling continues as the Ocean Doctor guides you through the highlights of its final report.

The Ocean Doctor airs weekly on WebTalkRadio.net. Want to listen on your iPod, iPhone or mp3 player? Download the mp3 file or subscribe on iTunes and don’t miss a single episode. See the complete list of episodes.

Follow The Ocean Doctor on Twitter — Become a Fan on Facebook!

Submit a question and I’ll try to answer it on the air. Even better, record your question or comment on our special message line and I might play it on the air. Call: (805) 619-9194. You can also leave questions and comments for this episode below.

Like the show? Learn how to become a sponsor.

This Week: Ocean Love Through Music: The Institute for Ocean Literacy

This week's guest: Mark Holmes, Founder of the Institute for Ocean Literacy

Mark Holmes is a multimedia artist and conservationist. He has written, photographed, picture-edited, designed and illustrated features for scores of books, magazines and web sites. He has written and recorded a number of music projects for children and adults, and has performed at schools and marine conferences across the country. Currently, he is launching the Institute for Ocean Literacy (IfOL). IfOL, a project of The Ocean Foundation, is an organization committed to teaching ocean literacy through the arts. When not engaged in ocean issues, Mark teaches digital media design courses at the Corcoran College of Art + Design.

In the past Mark worked for National Geographic where he designed and art directed more than a hundred stories for National Geographic magazine. He went on to launch NationalGeographic.com, and managed the site for nearly ten years. Since then he managed magazine and web staffs for the Ocean Conservancy, Marriott International, and the World Resources Institute – where he is currently employed today.

On May 22, 2010 President Obama established the National  Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, co-chaired by former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator, Bob Graham and former EPA Administrator, William Riley. The Commission issued its report last week – on time and under budget – perhaps a first for a presidential commission. We continue our in-depth coverage and first look at the report.

Links:

Institute for Ocean Literacy (Download Mark’s music!)

National Commission on the BP Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling

January 17, 2011: The National  Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling has released its final report. What does it say and what are the lessons from this tragedy? The Ocean Doctor guides you through the highlights. Also: From The Ocean Foundation’s headquarters in Washington, DC, our panel of experts discusses other key ocean issues we should pay attention to this year.

The Ocean Doctor airs weekly on WebTalkRadio.net. Want to listen on your iPod, iPhone or mp3 player? Download the mp3 file or subscribe on iTunes and don’t miss a single episode. See the complete list of episodes.

Follow The Ocean Doctor on Twitter — Become a Fan on Facebook!

Submit a question and I’ll try to answer it on the air. Even better, record your question or comment on our special message line and I might play it on the air. Call: (805) 619-9194. You can also leave questions and comments for this episode below.

Like the show? Learn how to become a sponsor.

This Week: The BP Oil Spill Commission Speaks

We continue our in-depth coverage of the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster and take our first look at the Commission’s final report. Also: Our panel of experts and the other big issues we need to pay attention to this year.

On May 22, 2010 President Obama established the National  Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling, co-chaired by former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator, Bob Graham and former EPA Administrator, William Riley. The Commission issued its report last week – on time and under budget – perhaps a first for a presidential commission. We take our first look at the report, drawing from last week’s press conference.

Oil Spill Commission Video

Oil Spill Commission Final Report

Hard Copy and Kindle Edition Available at Amazon.com

Links:

National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling

Tip of the Week:

See the delightful 1983 movie, “Local Hero” starring Burt Lancaster, and be sure to enjoy the beautiful soundtrack by Mark Knopfler.

Dear Friends of The Ocean Foundation,

Once again, it is time to thank all of our donors and partners who have helped make The Ocean Foundation a success.

The past year has been a time of great growth for The Ocean Foundation as we continue our work to support, strengthen, and promote those organizations dedicated to reversing the trend of destruction of ocean environments around the world. We work with donors who care about our coasts and oceans to add value to marine conservation initiatives. We do this by providing conservation grants, hosting projects and funds, and collaborating with important campaigns and opinion leaders. As the community foundation for the oceans, we are fostering best-in-class projects and promoting solutions for healthy oceans and the people who depend upon them. We have been able to adapt to a changing economic climate while maintaining our integrity as honest brokers for marine conservation philanthropy.


The Ocean Foundation is our fiscal sponsor where Dr. David E. Guggenheim — the “Ocean Doctor” — serves as senior fellow.


Download The Ocean Foundation’s Annual Report 2010 or view online below

November 22, 2010: CONCLUSION: Village de l’Est, known locally as “Versailles” in New Orleans East, holds the highest concentration of Vietnamese outside of Vietnam. Settled in 1975 by Vietnamese refugees when Saigon fell to the Communists, the community’s residents bought boats and have fished the Gulf of Mexico — 80 percent of the community is dependent on fishing and the fishing industry. But in 2005, Hurricane Katrina nearly wiped the community off the map. Still recovering from that disaster, the BP oil spill now leaves the future of fishing uncertain in the Gulf. Now, in a partnership with The Ocean Foundation, the community is looking at next-generation land-based fish farming as a solution. Join The Ocean Doctor in a visit to this unique community that is determined to do whatever it takes to endure.

The Ocean Doctor airs weekly on WebTalkRadio.net. Want to listen on your iPod, iPhone or mp3 player? Download the mp3 file or subscribe on iTunes and don’t miss a single episode. See the complete list of episodes.

Submit a question and I’ll try to answer it on the air. Even better, record your question or comment on our special message line and I might play it on the air. Call: (805) 619-9194. You can also leave questions and comments for this episode below.

Like the show? Learn how to become a sponsor.

This Week: The Gulf’s Green Future and the Vietnamese Community of New Orleans East

The Vietnamese Community in New Orleans East has the highest concentration of Vietnamese outside of Vietnam

One of the hardest-hit communities by Hurricane Katrina and the BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill is again demonstrating its exceptional determination not only to survive, but to breathe new economic life into its community while establishing itself as a visionary leader in green business and technology. And all the while, the community continues to strengthen its cultural heritage. Its vision: The Viet Village Urban Farm Sustainable Aquaculture Park, a project that will bring green jobs and a vibrant business model to the region while offering a sustainable alternative to fishing wild stocks and environmentally unfriendly forms of fish farming/aquaculture.

New Orleans East (NOE) is a largely Vietnamese-American community located in the wetlands of Louisiana approximately 10 miles from downtown New Orleans. NOE families lost their homes, their jobs and indeed, their entire community support system following Hurricane Katrina and the needs among NOE communities remain significant. Five years after the storm, many homes remain vacant and more than 40 percent of NOE’s residents never returned. The Village de l’Est neighborhood in NOE is a community comprised of Vietnamese Americans (about 58 percent), African Americans (34 percent), Latino Americans (7 percent), and non-Hispanic Whites (less than 1 percent). This is a particularly vulnerable population, as 26 percent of the population lives below the poverty level and 40.6 percent are renters of temporary housing. Nearly 90% of Village de l’Est residents have returned to the community following Hurricane Katrina.

The "Squatting Market" in Versailles, New Orleans East

The timing of the BP oil spill disaster has been devastating to the this community as it is still tenuously recovering from the impacts of Katrina. In addition, the announced closures of the NASA Assembly plant in NOE and the Avondale Shipyard in south Louisiana, and the ongoing moratorium on deepwater drilling have had significant impacts on employment.

There are 40,000 Vietnamese living and working in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, and one in three work in the seafood industry. Vietnamese and Southeast Asian fisherman make up one-third of all shrimping vessels in the Gulf Coast. Many also work catching oysters, crabs and packaging seafood. The closure of nearly one-third of federal waters to fishing in the Gulf of Mexico due to the BP oil spill disaster has already had a devastating economic impact on the New Orleans East fishing and seafood services communities. Even as fishing closures are lifted, there is growing concern that the unprecedented level of use of dispersants in the Gulf has resulted in a massive infiltration of toxic substances into the marine food chain. The safety of seafood in the Gulf of Mexico may remain in question for many years, and the viability of the region’s seafood industry is now in question.

Former fisher and fishing industry worker, Sy Tran (left) addresses the group

In addition, oil and dispersants have directly killed numerous fish and other species and may have increased the size of the anoxic “dead zone” in the Gulf. Thus, even if claims that chemicals in dispersants do not constitute a threat to seafood safety are true, impacts to the Gulf’s productivity may have long-lasting consequences to commercial fishing.

There is increasing recognition that sustainable aquaculture can play a key role in the transition toward safer, more environmentally and economically sustainable seafood production, offering a viable, safe and sustainable alternative to fishing wild stocks and one that can bring strong economic benefits. Land-based, next-generation recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) offer a unique combination of conservation achievements, socioeconomic benefits, and potential for scalability. Such technology could lead the way toward a revolutionary transition of fish production.

Group photo following the 2-day sustainable aquaculture workshop

A land-based, sustainable aquaculture industry for NOE is envisioned as a component of the community’s proposed Viet Village Urban Farm project and as such, represents an investment in a long-term, profitable, sustainable and green-job-creating industry with significant environmental benefits. In addition, because RAS technology remains under-commercialized in the United States, the Viet Village Urban Farm Sustainable Aquaculture Park has the opportunity to serve as a national aquaculture hub and training center, as a showcase not only of next-generation aquaculture technology, but also of the business model and community-level benefits.

Additional Resources:

• “The Gulf’s Green Future: One Community’s Hopeful Example After the BP Spill & Katrina” (1planet1ocean)
• What is Next-Generation Aquaculture? (Aquaculture Developments)
• Mary Queen of Viet Nam Community Development Corporation