Ocean Unpacked

Episode Summary
Before the age of industrial fishing, the oceans were "seething with life." But the rapid rise of commercial fisheries, built to meet skyrocketing global demand for seafood, has shattered that picture. Today, fish stocks are pushed to the brink of collapse, nets the size of cathedrals sweep up everything in their path (whales included!), and fragile marine ecosystems are stripped bare. So how could seafood ever be sustainable? In this episode, we break down how to navigate your seafood choices, so you're not just eating well, but eating for the health of the oceans.
 
Timestamps:
(00:00) - Introduction: A picture of pristine seas
(03:04) - How much seafood do we eat today?
(04:19) - The evolution of commercial fishing in the past 100 years
(10:29) - What about the little guy? The power of small-scale fisheries
(12:34) - The problems with large-scale commercial fisheries
(17:30) - The dark side of the industry: the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing 
(22:14) - Is aquaculture the solution for overexploited oceans?
(31:12) - Mussels and Oysters: the superheroes of sustainable seafood 
(36:11) - How can certifications help us make sustainable seafood choices?
(40:44) - What should you look for to make sure the seafood you buy is sustainable?
(45:21) - Outro
 
Did you enjoy this episode? Follow, leave a review, and share it with your friends, family, and fellow ocean lovers.
 
If you have any questions or you want to hear more about a specific topic, feel free to reach out to us at oceanunpacked@gmail.com or through any of our social media pages below:
 
Instagram - @oceanunpacked
Youtube - www.youtube.com/@OceanUnpacked
Facebook -  Ocean Unpacked
 
Additional Resources:
The Unnatural History of the Sea by Callum Roberts
FAO: The State of the World’s Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024
The Bottom Line with Stephen Fry and Theo James by Blue Marine Foundation
The Outlaw Ocean: Crime and Survival in the Last Untamed Frontier by Ian Urbina
Ocean with David Attenborough by Silverback Films
Bottom trawling filmed like you’ve never seen before

Episode Summary
Join us this episode as we dive into the hidden world of ocean soundscapes with Professor Steve Simpson – yes, you “heard” right. The ocean isn’t the ‘Silent World’ many people believe it to be. They are in fact bustling with a cacophony of noise and sounds, from the pop of tiny shrimp snapping their claws to the low-frequency bellow of a blue whale. Throughout this episode, Professor Simpson will be helping us unpack the important role that sound plays underwater, the threat that human noise poses, and how his research is supporting habitat recovery in our oceans.
 
Our Guest
Professor Steve Simpson is a professor of marine biology and global change at the university of Bristol. He specialises in fish ecology, with particular interests in the behaviour of coral reef fishes, marine bioacoustics, and the effect of climate change on fisheries and marine ecosystems. Steve was also an Academic Advisor and featured scientist on Blue Planet 2, as well as Chief Scientific Advisor for Our Oceans. 
 
Timestamps
(00:00) - Introduction
(02:36) - Why is sound important for marine life?
(03:24) - What kinds of animal noises can we hear in the ocean?
(07:08) - What inspired Steve to begin studying underwater soundscapes?
(11:23) - How do you listen to the sounds of the reef? 
(15:16) - Citizen science through the ‘Calling in our Corals’ Project
(17:15) - Steve’s best imitations of his favourite fish noises 
(22:22) - How can bioacoustics help us to protect and restore ocean habitats?
(27:33) - Should we be worried about noise pollution from offshore wind farms?
(32:30) - The impact of climate change and noise pollution on ocean soundscapes
(40:15) - POP QUIZ for Steve!
(43:17) - A final message on Ocean Optimism 
(46:36) - Outro
 
Did you enjoy this episode? Follow, leave a review, and share it with your friends, family, and fellow ocean lovers.   
If you have any questions or you want to hear more about a specific topic, feel free to reach out to us at oceanunpacked@gmail.com or through any of our social media pages below:
Instagram - @oceanunpacked
Youtube - www.youtube.com/@OceanUnpacked
Facebook - Ocean Unpacked 
 
Additional Resources:
Calling in Our Corals Project
Settlement-stage coral reef fish prefer the higher-frequency invertebrate-generated audible component of reef noise
The sound of recovery: Coral reef restoration success is detectable in the soundscape
Impacts of anthropogenic noise on marine life
UK joins European offshore windfarm plan to create world’s largest ‘clean energy reservoir’

Episode Summary
 
In this episode, coral expert Dr Rhiannom Davies takes us into the fascinating world of corals - the ocean animals you probably didn’t even know were animals! From the fascinating way that corals grow and build entire reef ecosystems to the growing threat of climate tipping points, we explore why coral reefs are so important, how they might adapt in a rapidly warming ocean, and why the next few decades could be critical for the future of one of the planet’s most important animals.  
 
Our Guest
 
Dr Rhiannon Davies is a coral reef scientist from the University of Exeter studying how corals respond to environmental stress and climate change. Her PhD research focused on assessing the long-term condition and resilience of coral reefs in the Maldives, examining how reefs have responded to repeated mass bleaching events and what this means for coral recovery and restoration in a warming ocean.
 
Timestamps
 
(00:00) - Introduction
 
(03:04) - Are corals an animal, a plant or a rock?
 
(04:32) - Corals have reached a Climate Tipping Point
 
(06:05) - Welcome Dr Rhiannon Davies 
 
(10:32) - Why are coral reefs important for marine life and people?
 
(12:12) - What did coral reefs look like a hundred years ago?
 
(16:50) - Coral bleaching and how warming oceans impact reefs
 
(20:00) - What does it mean for corals to reach a climate tipping point?
 
(23:42) - Can corals adapt to climate change? 
 
(26:32) - What is being done to help corals?
 
(34:43) - Outro 
 
Did you enjoy this episode? Follow, leave a review, and share it with your friends, family, and fellow ocean lovers.   
 
If you have any questions or you want to hear more about a specific topic, feel free to reach out to us at oceanunpacked@gmail.com or through any of our social media pages below:
 
Instagram - @oceanunpacked
Youtube - www.youtube.com/@OceanUnpacked
Facebook - Ocean Unpacked 
 
Additional Resources:
 
Planet’s first catastrophic climate tipping point reached
 
The Global Tipping Points Report 2025 Summary
 
The Past and Present of Maldivian Coral Reefs

Episode Summary
 
Sea turtles are some of the world’s most beloved creatures, but also one of the most endangered. This episode dives into the fascinating world of sea turtles, uncovering new insights into their mysterious “Lost Years” and spotlighting a rare conservation success story that offers hope not just for sea turtles, but for the future of endangered species across the planet.
 
Timestamps:
 
(00:00) - Introduction
 
(02:33) - So why sea turtles? What’s all the hype?
 
(05:16) - What are threats facing sea turtles today?
 
(07:36) - New research on the “Lost Years” - where do turtle hatchlings actually go after leaving the nest?
 
(15:56) - A huge conservation win - Green turtles no longer endangered
 
(18:33) - What does this news mean for sea turtle conservation?
 
(24:02) - Outro
Did you enjoy this episode? Follow, leave a review, and share it with your friends, family, and fellow ocean lovers.   
 
If you have any questions or you want to hear more about a specific topic, feel free to reach out to us at oceanunpacked@gmail.com or through any of our social media pages below:
 
Instagram - @oceanunpacked
Youtube - www.youtube.com/@OceanUnpacked
Facebook -  Ocean Unpacked
 
Additional Resources:
 
New insights on sea turtle behaviour during the ‘lost years’
 
Green turtle bounces back from brink in conservation 'win'

On Ocean Unpacked, we’re going to be exploring the weird and wonderful world of our beautiful Blue Planet! Join us as we dive into some fascinating facts about life in our seas, dissect groundbreaking research in marine science, and share the latest ocean news making waves around the world.

Episode Summary:
 
In this episode, we dive into the world of some of the planet’s most ancient animals: sharks. From bizarre new species discovered in the deep sea to tracking pregnant hammerhead migrations, we unpack the latest discoveries in shark science and what it means in a rapidly changing ocean.
 
Timestamps:
 
(00:00) - Introduction
 
(02:08) - Evolution and ecology of sharks
 
(03:30) - Why do sharks matter for ocean health?
 
(05:02) - Are sharks really that dangerous?
 
(09:19) - Is there one species of shark to rule them all?
 
(11:32) - New species discovered off Western Australia
 
(14:28) - First ever recorded birthing migration of scalloped hammerheads!
 
(17:10) - The High Seas Treaty and what it means for sharks
 
(19:29) - Outro
 
Did you enjoy this episode? Follow, leave a review, and share it with your friends, family, and fellow ocean lovers.   
 
If you have any questions or you want to hear more about a specific topic, feel free to reach out to us at oceanunpacked@gmail.com or through any of our social media pages below:
 
Instagram - @oceanunpacked
Youtube - www.youtube.com/@OceanUnpacked
Facebook -  Ocean Unpacked
 
Additional Resources:
New species of Lantern shark discovered off Western Australia
First recorded birthing migration of Scalloped Hammerhead sharks
Outlaw Ocean: Crime and Survival in the Last Untamed Frontier
UN ‘high seas’ treaty clears ratification threshold, to enter into force in January