Conservation and Science

Tommy's Outdoors

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Are you tired of one-sided narratives about nature and conservation? Simplified takes that ignore the nuance and complexity of matters? This show brings you diverse perspectives on environmental stories, examining their ecological, social and political dimensions. Listen and become a well-rounded voice, empowered to foster dialogue and create change. I'm Tommy Serafinski and this is the Conservation and Science podcast, where we take a deep dive into topics of ecology, conservation and human-wildlife interactions (which, in most cases, means human-wildlife conflict). I talk with world-class scientists, members of environmental organisations, practical conservationists, farmers, nature writers, and last but not least, hunters and anglers. My conversations cover biodiversity, conservation, hunting and fishing, rewilding and more. Start with the acclaimed episode 163, “The EU Review of Wolf Protection Status.” It’s the perfect introduction to what this podcast has to offer.

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Top 10 Conservation and Science Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Conservation and Science episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Conservation and Science for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Conservation and Science episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

190: The Geopolitics of Whale Conservation with Peter Corkeron

Conservation and Science

11/05/24 • 56 min

Is the resumption of commercial whaling inevitable? What hidden geopolitical forces are shaping international whale conservation efforts? Let's dive (pun not intended) into the complex world of whale conservation with marine scientist Dr Peter Corkeron. In our conversation, Peter uncovers the surprising connections between military bases, national security, and the fate of the world's largest mammals.

From the history of industrial whaling to the current state of whale populations, our guest provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges facing whale conservation today. He explains how some whale species are making an impressive comeback while others teeter on the brink of extinction. But the real story goes beyond biology! Learn how US military interests in Japan may be influencing whaling policies, and why anti-whaling efforts that seemed successful for decades may now be faltering.

As commercial whaling threatens to resume, we argue for a new approach to whale protection. We discuss the limitations of current conservation strategies, the complex motivations behind pro-whaling interests and why simply allowing whaling to "fizzle out" is no longer a viable option. Finally, Peter offers his perspective on potential solutions, addressing underlying geopolitical factors and advocating for policy changes to protect whale populations more effectively.

155: Sixgill Sharks and Flapper Skates with Patrick Collins

Conservation and Science

08/02/23 • 53 min

The sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus) is the largest of the Hexanchiformes order of sharks, the most primitive living sharks, sometimes called “fossil sharks”. The sixgill, sometimes known as the blunt nose sixgill or cow shark, can grow to over 6 metres (20 feet) in length and weigh over a tonne. What’s interesting is that in Ireland one can catch one of these beasts with rod and line, most famously with the help of master skipper Luke Aston, who is not only a great friend of the podcast but was also our guest in episode 41.

There is very little known about these sharks and what they are doing in (relatively) shallow waters off the coast of Ireland. To explore this subject I was pleased to welcome back to the show Dr Patrick Collins, a marine biologist at Queen’s University Belfast, who was previously our guest in episode 81. During our conversation, we discussed our knowledge and understanding of these species of sharks.

In the second part of the show, we switched to Patrick’s main subject of research: the common skate complex. It was great to hear an update on the progress of research and conservation action since the last time we spoke in late 2020. You are going to hear about some of the findings for the first time here. Unfortunately, the news turns out not to be good.

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Podcast Intro

Conservation and Science

10/31/16 • 0 min

Welcome to Tommy’s Outdoors where we talk about the natural environment and human-wildlife interactions. With our guests - scientists, members of environmental organizations, conservationists, farmers, writers, and last but not least, hunters and anglers - I discuss various, often difficult and unpopular, aspects of the human relationship with nature. Biodiversity loss, conservation, hunting and fishing, rewilding, human-wildlife conflict are only some of the subjects we discuss. Follow or subscribe and find out just why Tommy’s Outdoors is the best place for all your environmental conversations.

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137: Salmonid Studies with Richard Kennedy

Conservation and Science

11/30/22 • 62 min

What are the differences between salmon and sea trout? What are their migration patterns when they get to the ocean? Find out what scientists from the Compass Project have learned about these fascinating fish from my conversation with Dr Richard Kennedy.

Salmonids are fascinating fish and that’s not only because of their life history strategy. They also have huge importance for the health of ecosystems. And, albeit to their detriment, they are also important for the economy. Of course, I cannot omit the fact that they are prized by anglers as sport fish. Even though we already had a general discussion about salmon in episode 63 and a talk with men facing the dangers of fighting with salmon poachers in episode 51, today we offer a different perspective with more of a focus on sea trout.

This is another episode dedicated to research conducted during the COMPASS project and as the title suggests we focus on salmonid studies. Our guest today is Dr Richard Kennedy who is a Senior Science Officer at AFBI (Agri Food and Bioscience Institute). During our conversation, we talk about the differences between salmon and sea trout, and their conservation status as well as dedicate a significant chunk of our discussion to the aims and achievements of the COMPASS project study.

And if after listening to this episode you still want a deeper dive you can check the scientific papers on Richard’s Research Gate profile.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Richard-Kennedy-7

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116: Subsistence Living in Alaska with Zephyr Sincerny

Conservation and Science

02/16/22 • 100 min

Alaska is considered by many to be the last frontier. One of the few remaining places where true pristine wilderness still exists. Without a doubt, this largest state in the United States is a fantastic place for outdoorsmen or anyone who wants to live close to nature and away from the crowds. This is because, although Alaska is huge, it has a tiny population located in just a few urban areas.

As you can imagine, hunting and fishing are in the blood of most Alaskans and ready access to the abundant and well managed natural resources makes it a perfect place for subsistence living. I’m using this term as defined in Alaska state law as the non-commercial, customary and traditional uses of fish and wildlife.

To discuss this topic I’m joined today by Zephyr Sincerny who is an outdoor guide, instructor and educator with long years of experience gained while working for Outward Bound USA and NatureBridge. He spends a lot of time growing food in his garden as well as hunting and fishing.

During our conversation, we discussed how Zephyr provides food for his family, year-round without the aid of a grocery store! We also got into discussing the effects of climate change, techniques of food preparation and the ethical and spiritual aspects of bowhunting. This is one special episode and I’m sure you’ll love every minute of it!

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Mentioned in this episode:

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How to Get Started in Deer Hunting in Ireland

The Hunter Conservationist Podcast brings you nuanced content about conservation, science and responsible hunting in Canada, so you can stay topped up on issues concerning your outdoor, hunting and fishing lifestyle, stay current on the latest in wildlife conservation, science and responsible hunting and be entertained by conversations with intellectual thinkers.

The Hunter Conservationist Podcast

100: Deer, Sheep and Fires with Ashley Glover

Conservation and Science

07/07/21 • 122 min

There are no two ways about it. It’s a milestone episode. Episode 100. To mark the occasion we get together with environmentalist, hunter and axe thrower, Ashley Glover to discuss some of the most interesting subjects from the past three years. And while the title says “Deer, Sheep and Fires,” in reality it should have said, “Deer, Sheep, Boar, Wolves, Mink, Trout, Seals, Woodland, Rhododendron and Fires.” You get the picture!

In our conversation, you will be able to identify episodes from Tommy’s Outdoors back catalogue that you might want to listen to. For your convenience, I have compiled below a full list of episodes discussed in our conversation. It is by no means a list of “best” episodes but just a list of those we mentioned.

Episode 20: Irish Wildlife Trust with Pádraic Fogarty

Episode 29: Forestry and Native Woodlands with Ciaran Nugent

Episode 51: Fighting Illegal Salmon Netting with Bertie Brosnan

Episode 54: The National Biodiversity Data Centre with Dave Wall

Episode 61: African Swine Fever Awareness and Prevention with Shane McAuliffe

Episode 68: Rewilding, Wolves and Biodiversity with Pádraic Fogarty

Episode 71: The European Federation for Hunting and Conservation with David Scallan

Episode 72: Seal Rescue Ireland with Mel Robinson

Episode 73: Quantitative Ecology with Kilian Murphy

Episode 77: Sweden is Hunting with Andreas Michalik

Episode 78: Human-Seal Conflict with Liam Flannery and Dan Brosnan

Episode 81: Skates and Marine Rewilding with Patrick Collins

Episode 88: Rewilding Scotland with Peter Cairns

Episode 89: Camera Trapping and Large Mammal Monitoring with Adam Francis Smith

Episode 92: Upland Ecology with Cathy Mayne

Episode 95: Białowieża Forest with Marta Klimkiewicz

Episode 97: Human-Wildlife Conflict with Amy Dickman

You will also receive hints of possible future episodes! I don’t usually give that information away, but hey! There is only one episode 100 for every podcast!

Finally, I would like to say a big “thank you!” to all my guests from previous episodes, for donating their time and sharing their views, experiences and knowledge. It is greatly appreciated. I would also like to give a very special thanks to all of you, my listeners! Thank you for your messages, your...

156: Save Blackswarth Road Wood with Phil Sturgeon

Conservation and Science

08/16/23 • 62 min

Some things are so tiny yet so central that they matter more than giant things elsewhere. This is a paraphrased message I got from Phil Sturgeon, an ex-techie and founder of Protect Earth charity, who dedicated his life to woodland creation and restoration. As it turns out, Phil is running a fundraiser to buy five acres of mature woodland in Crew's Hole, Bristol, for the long-term benefit of the community, wildlife and, of course, the climate. I have been following Phil’s work for some time now and he strikes me as a cool dude who does a lot of good work. So, without hesitation from either side, we decided to sit down and have a chat about the fundraiser and Phil’s work in a broader context.

While listening to our conversation, you will learn why Phil decided to start his charity, how he goes about identifying suitable sites for woodland creation, and what work he and his volunteers conduct while restoring or creating woodland. We also discuss common misconceptions about woodland creation or, as some call it, “planting trees”. There are a few things that can be done incorrectly, so it is interesting to hear what exactly those things are, as well as discuss what Phil and his crew do to avoid those mistakes.

I’m sure, that in the end, you’ll be convinced of the value of his work and you’ll break out a few quid to save the Blackswarth Road Wood. To find out more about the fundraiser, click here.

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175: SOTKA Wetlands with Veli-Matti Pekkarinen and Heikki Helle

Conservation and Science

04/09/24 • 58 min

Finnish SOTKA is a large-scale habitat restoration project and a part of a larger Helmi Habitats Programme aimed at restoring Finland’s biodiversity. It is run by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of the Environment. SOTKA’s objective is large-scale habitat restoration through wetlands rehabilitation, restoration of mires and catchments, non-native (i.e. invasive) predator control and building a network of resting areas for waterfowl.

It is also a great example of cooperation between hunting and non-hunting organisations for the benefit of nature. This type of cooperation is something I’ve always been a strong advocate of. So it was my great pleasure to invite to the podcast: Veli-Matti Pekkarinen, the Waterfowl Habitat Specialist from the Finnish Hunters’ Association and Heikki Helle, the Wetland Specialist at BirdLife Finland.

Listen to our conversation to learn more about SOTKA and Helmi projects. We also discuss the details of cooperation and specific actions that are undertaken to meet project objectives. I also enquired about the social perception in Finland of actions like predator control. Overall it was interesting to compare mindsets and attitudes in Finland with those in Ireland or the UK. Also, big shoutouts to Padraig Breen from NARGC who was instrumental in making this podcast episode happen.

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Expert Talk: Bowhunting Ethics and Practice

Conservation and Science

12/10/24 • 60 min

This episode is a real treat for all those who are interested in bowhunting, bowhunting culture and the ethics of bowhunting compared to rifle hunting. Everything sprinkled with a healthy dose of hunting stories.

It feels like I’m one of the only very few who talks about bowhunting with European listeners in mind. Indeed, I would like to see hunting with archery tackle being legalised and popularised on the old continent. In my view, the notions that it’s inhumane or somehow unethical are ill-advised and plain wrong. It is especially disturbing when such unwise opinions are expressed with confidence by hunters or veterinary practitioners who have no experience or previous exposure to bowhunting.

To talk about these matters I’m joined by expert bowhunter Jim Clark. In our conversation, Jim shares a wealth of knowledge about bowhunting as well as some of his personal stories. As always I didn’t shy away from asking him hard questions to tease out the potential downsides of using archery tackle over firearms.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable conversation and it only made me want to try my hand at bowhunting even more. I will keep talking about hunting with archery tackle to at least provoke a constructive discussion among European hunters and hunting organisations alike. If you would like to see bowhunting legalised, please leave a comment. What are your thoughts?

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Mentioned in this episode:

This is the Conservation and Science podcast Replay series, a curated collection of best episodes from last year. If you are new to the show, this is an excellent opportunity to catch up with the most popular episodes from the back catalogue. And if you’re a regular listener, maybe you missed one of those or want to listen to one of them again. Don’t worry! The new episodes are being published on the regular fortnightly schedule, so keep tuning in for the new content every other Tuesday.

121: Cries of the Savanna with Sue Tidwell

Conservation and Science

04/27/22 • 82 min

In this episode, once again, we’re going to take on the subject of hunting in Africa. Our guest is Sue Tidwell, the author of a wonderful book titled “Cries of the Savanna” that I reviewed in last week’s blog post. And since I really liked the book I was itching for the opportunity to talk with Sue.

We chat about a number of things. Why Sue decided to write and publish her first book. (Yes, as impressive as it is, it was Sue’s first publication even though she had always been, in her own words, a hobby writer.) We also discuss how she researched and marketed the book. Something that, as you can imagine, was a completely new experience for a hobby writer.

However, the bulk of our conversation focuses on stories from the book and the experience of a remote encampment deep in the Tanzanian bush. Sue shares how these events changed her perception of many important issues such as poaching and land management.

Do yourself a favour and buy “Cries of the Savanna” using the link below. And remember, buying books (or any other items) through the links provided here is the best way to support my work on Tommy’s Outdoors podcast.

Buy Sue's Book: https://tommysoutdoors.com/books/#savanna

Subscribe to Tommy's Outdoors: Conservation and Science Newsletter

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Recommended Books: tommysoutdoors.com/books

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Mentioned in this episode:

DOWNLOAD:

How to Get Started in Deer Hunting in Ireland

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