This is Marine Conservation | ocean science, stories, and solutions to protect our blue planet

Ep. 019: Ever wondered about the life of an oyster before it hits your plate?

This week's guest is oceanographer Jacqueline Rosa. She spent a year and a half monitoring the surface and bottom of the bay, plus six months raising oysters in three kinds of farming gear. One of those was Flip Farm, a New Zealand–designed system that's getting Rhode Island oyster farmers' attention. She did all of this after a decade away from school, working at marine science nonprofits and in outdoor education.

In this episode, we talk about:

Ep 018: Fishing charter captains don't care about conservation, right? Wrong.

Coral Aiello started working on her dad's charter boat as a 14-year-old mate. Sixteen years later, she's the captain and her dad works the deck. 

In this episode, Coral shares why she believes fishers care about the ocean more than most, how she brings fish tagging aboard her charters, and what her seat on the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council has taught her. Plus: warming waters, the "Professional Hooker" story, and going from law-school plans to captain's license.

We talk about being a w...

Ep 017: Melissa Hobson is one of the most published ocean writers around, with bylines in National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Scientific American, The New York Times, and The Guardian. After she was peer-pressured into learning to scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef, she slowly transitioned her career from PR to writing about the oceans. 

There are so many options for building a marine career that isn't "scientist," and Melissa shows us just how incredible a career in ocean writing can be. 

We talk about the portfolio-less cold email that landed her the cover of a di...

Ep 016: Dr. Liberty Boyd went to college to become a teacher, but walked out a sea turtle scientist. In this episode, we get into the decade-long question that pulled her in: what are sea turtles actually doing for 99% of their lives when they're not up on the beach nesting?

For her Ph.D. research, Liberty tracked turtles across the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Australia using cameras, underwater microphones, and Apple-Watch-style motion tags. She breaks down, in plain language, how each one works and what they revealed. We talk about turtles that steer around boats, why the jellyfish-eaters roam...

Ep 015: Did you know part of Narragansett Bay was closed to shellfishing since before World War II, and that it only reopened a couple of years ago?

I didn't fully understand what that comeback meant until I sat down with Chris Dodge, the Narragansett Baykeeper at Save The Bay. Chris holds one of only about 300 Waterkeeper positions on the planet, which basically makes him the eyes, ears, and voice of the Bay. I wanted to know what that job actually looks like day to day. Somewhere between raw sewage, a secret tunnel under Providence, and what he...

Ep 014: What happens when you see something that changes the entire course of your career... in the first six minutes of a Netflix show?

In this episode, I sit down with Imani Black, founder and CEO of Minorities in Aquaculture (MIA). Imani spent about five years as a commercial oyster farmer on the Eastern Shore of Maryland before Googling "how to start a nonprofit" in 2020 and building what's now a global network of around 600 members. She's an oyster enthusiast, a self-described dreamer and doer, and one of the most honest voices I've had on the show. She's...

Ep 013: Can film move the needle for marine conservation? The answer is an unequivocal YES.

Underwater cinematographer Erick Higuera is not only a genius with a camera, but he's also a marine biologist and passionate advocate for his home, the Mexican Pacific. He's been diving these waters since 1997, meaning he's had a front row seat to some of the worst environmental decline in the region, but also some incredible successes. We chat about some of these amazing examples of ocean recovery and protection, including the marine protected area in Cabo Pulmo and Revillagigedo National Park, North America's...

Ep 012: Sustainable seafood sounds simple... until you're standing at the counter, staring at five kinds of white fish with zero idea what to buy. 

In this episode, I'm breaking down five low-effort, high-impact tips for making better seafood choices, no marine science degree required! 

In this episode, we chat about why eating local matters, what eating low on the food chain actually means, which eco-labels are worth trusting (and which to take with a grain of salt), why ocean plants deserve a spot on your plate, and one easy swap you can make as soon as...

Ep 011: What would you say if someone told you there was a thriving coral reef in a bay full of industrial pollution, sediment runoff, and unusually warm water — and that it had been there for many years? You'd probably say that's impossible. Juli Berwald said the same thing, and then she got on a plane to Honduras to see it for herself.

Juli is an ocean scientist, award-winning author of Spineless and Life on the Rocks, and founder of the nonprofit Tela Coral. In this episode, we get into the mystery behind Tela Bay's improbable elkhorn coral po...

Ep 010: Earlier this year, I went to volunteer with a marine conservation organization in the Bali area of Indonesia... and within three days of arriving, I had quit. This episode is the story of what happened, and more importantly, what I learned from it, so you don't have to make the same mistakes I did.

This episode is really about something bigger than any one organization. It's about how to vet a volunteering program before you commit your time and money, what red flags to actually take seriously, how to listen to your gut...

Ep 009: Learning to dive was THE thing that jump-started my marine conservation career. But it taught me a lot more than just how to be a mermaid. I gained valuable skills and abilities that have boosted my resume, gotten me jobs, and kept me going in challenging times in my career.

I'm here to convince you to get in the water! Learning to dive might be one of the single most transformative things you can do if you want to work in marine science and conservation, not because it's required (although for many roles, it actually is...

Ep 008: What does it actually look like to build a conservation life on a tiny tropical island?

Siân Williams came to Gili Trawangan for six weeks in 2012, and thirteen years later, she's built an amazing career at the Gili Eco Trust. 

From running coral propagation projects using natural micro-fragmentation, leading Proyek Penyu (the only all-female turtle ranger team in Indonesia), and hosting Debris Free Friday, a weekly beach clean that's been going for over a decade... Siân is a powerhouse.

In this episode, we talk about:

- the dark sid...

Ep 007: What does it actually look like to build a career in marine conservation? In this episode, I sit down with Camille Lasbleiz (aka the Conservation Queen) on Gili Air, Indonesia, after we randomly realized on Instagram that we were two islands away from each other. (The universe really does deliver.)

Camille's story is so good. She went from wanting to be a dolphin trainer as a kid, to working with primates in the jungle, to a five-month "visa run" in Panama that turned her into a divemaster, to working as a snorkel guide in the Maldives...

Ep 006: If you’ve ever dreamed of working in marine conservation or becoming a marine scientist, especially in hands-on, field-based roles, this episode is for you.

In this honest and unfiltered solo episode, I’m sharing three things I’m learning in real time about building a career in marine science. This isn’t advice from someone who has “made it.” It’s perspective from someone in the messy middle: balancing seasonal field work, bartending shifts, continuing education, networking attempts, and ocean-sized dreams.

Together we'll chat about:

Ep 005: In this episode, I sit down with Nate Andrews, my boss and mentor at the RI DEM Division of Marine Fisheries. We chat about his original inspiration to be a scientist and the career path that led him to DEM.

Nate now works on the Access Point Angler Intercept Survey (APAIS), a program that studies recreational fishers and uses data to make important management decisions. We chat about how data collected from everyday anglers feeds into NOAA’s Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), and why accurate catch and effort data is essential for sustainable fishing. Nate ex...

Ep 004: What happens to fishing gear when it’s lost at sea? And how does it impact whales, fisheries, and our oceans?

In this episode, I’m joined by Fritz McGirr, a former touring percussionist turned marine biologist and self-proclaimed “ocean garbage fella.” Fritz works with the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where he helps recover ghost gear (ALDFG: Abandoned, Lost, or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear).

We talk about how derelict gear is located (from fisherman intel to sonar and grappling grids), what research...

Ep 003: What is the High Seas Treaty, and why is it being called one of the biggest ocean conservation wins in decades? In this beginner-friendly episode of This Is Marine Conservation, I break down the High Seas Treaty (also known as the UN agreement on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction) and explain what it means for the future of the ocean.

You’ll learn what the high seas are, why they’ve been so difficult to protect, how this treaty makes large-scale marine protected areas possible, and why protecting the high seas matters to everyone, even if you live...

Ep 002: What does conservation actually look like in everyday life — beyond policies, protests, and headlines?

In this episode, I’m sharing what I learned during a summer working in the field interviewing recreational saltwater fishers in Rhode Island. What began as a straightforward data collection job with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management quickly turned into an unexpected masterclass in conservation, stewardship, and the power of paying attention.

I talk about how recreational fishers often act as unofficial data collectors, why people protect the places they feel connected to, and how conservation values are pass...

Welcome to This Is Marine Conservation, the podcast dedicated to ocean protection, marine science, and the stories that bring our blue planet to life. I'm your host, Casey Snook—a marine scientist, environmental optimist, and lifelong ocean nerd.

This podcast is your go-to space for marine conservation, ocean discovery, marine biology, science communication, activism, and plenty of salty adventure. Here, you’ll learn real, practical ways to help the ocean no matter where you live. My guests and I explore the science, stories, and...

Ep 001: This Is Marine Conservation is a podcast for anyone who loves the ocean and wants to protect it—without feeling overwhelmed or hopeless.

Hosted by marine conservationist and field scientist Casey Snook, this show explores the science, stories, and solutions behind protecting our oceans. Through solo episodes and conversations with experts, you’ll learn how marine conservation really works, what careers in ocean science look like, and how everyday people can take meaningful action for a healthier planet.

Whether you’re a marine professional, a student, or simply someone who cares deeply about...