Forces for Nature

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It has been found that 70% of wild fish populations are either fully used, overused, or in crisis from overfishing. And with food demand projected to increase by 50% by 2050, there is simply not enough fish in the sea for fishing to be sustainable. Fish farming, otherwise known as aquaculture, is intended to supplement this demand. In fact, salmon aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production system in the world- although not without its own share of controversy. Parker Jefferson is a fly-fisherman in Cowichan, Canada, and has been an integral part of the success story for wild salmon in that area. We talk about the environmental and social importance of protecting these animals but also address how we can make choices that lessen the negative impacts of salmon aquaculture.

Highlights

• How are salmon culturally important to the First Nation Tribes of Western Canada?
• What are the negative impacts of salmon aquaculture in that area?
• How has Parker's community come together to restore and protect the populations of wild salmon in the Cowichan?
• How can salmon aquaculture lessen its negative impacts?

What YOU Can Do

• Choose wild or certified fish (some certifications can be found in the Resources below).
• Use a guide such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Guide to help make responsible choices, either on your phone or printed. The Environmental Defense Fund also has a guide called Seafood Selector.
• Ask "where did this fish come from" at restaurants and grocery stores. The more people who make it known that they care, the more businesses will ask their suppliers and distributors the same.
• Eat more plant-based meals

Resources

• Alexandra Morton
• Certifications
  Global Salmon Initiative
  Marine Stewardship Council (wild-caught fish)
  Aquaculture Stewardship Council (farmed fish)
  Best Aquaculture Practices Certification

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it at https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/

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Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Forces for Nature, EarthX Conference series!

The health of our oceans is critical—not just for marine life, but for our economy and future sustainability. Enter Ocean Exchange, an organization dedicated to accelerating solutions that improve ocean health and coastal resilience. And, one of only four groups in the United States that was awarded the recent NOAA Ocean Enterprise Accelerator grant!

In this episode, I sit down with Millicent Pitts, the Executive Director of Ocean Exchange, to explore how they’re funding and supporting game-changing innovations in the blue economy.

From cleaning up agricultural runoff to creating bio-based chemicals from coral reefs, these solutions are already making a difference. Over the past 13 years of giving non-dilutive grants to start-ups, the finalists in their process have raised $3.1 billion, mostly in seed and venture capital rounds.

Millicent shares the challenges these innovators face, why investors are finally paying attention, and how we can all play a role in supporting ocean health.

Highlights

• How Ocean Exchange helps fund and accelerate ocean-focused startups.
• The growing blue economy and why it matters.
• Innovations tackling biodiversity loss, pollution, and carbon sequestration.

What YOU Can Do

Even if you’re not an investor or scientist, there are ways to support these innovations and ocean health:

• Stay Informed – Follow and share updates from organizations like Ocean Exchange.
• Support Sustainable Businesses – Look for companies investing in ocean-friendly practices.
• Advocate for Stronger Policies – Support initiatives that regulate ocean pollution and promote clean energy.
• Reduce Your Own Impact – Minimize single-use plastics, choose sustainable seafood, and reduce carbon emissions.
• Get Involved Locally – Participate in beach cleanups or citizen science projects related to marine conservation.

Resources

• Ocean Exchange
• Water Warriors
• Cordelia Biosciences
• Ocean Rescue Alliance
• Silent Returns
• Minesto
• EcoSubSea

If today’s conversation sparked your curiosity, there’s no better place to dive deeper into topics like this than at EarthX, the world’s largest environmental gathering. Tickets for their event in April are on sale now at earthx.org. Be sure to grab yours and join the global community working toward a healthier, more sustainable planet.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Forces for Nature, EarthX Conference series!

What if nature itself could help clean up our most toxic messes? That’s the promise of bioremediation, a groundbreaking process that uses living organisms—like microbes, plants, and fungi—to restore polluted environments. In this episode, we’re joined by two guests who are leading the charge in this field: Cheyne Robertson, founder of Ergofito Bio, whose expertise lies in leveraging microbial solutions to heal ecosystems, and Rudy Montes, founder of Phoenix Harvest, a U.S. Army veteran turned environmental innovator working to transform toxic sites into thriving, sustainable landscapes. Together, we explore the science, challenges, and hope behind bioremediation, and the ways it could reshape our approach to environmental restoration.

Highlights

• What is Bioremediation?
• What role do microbes play in bioremediation?
• What are some real-life examples of Bioremediation in action?

What YOU Can Do

• Superfund cleanups often rely on federal funding through the EPA. Contact your representatives and advocate for increased funding and stricter enforcement of environmental regulations.
• Support legislation that holds polluters accountable for the costs of cleanup, ensuring the burden doesn’t fall solely on taxpayers.
• Learn about Superfund sites in your area using the EPA’s Superfund Site Locator Tool.

Resources

• Ergofito Bio
• Phoenix Harvest
• Get your tickets to EarthX
• Keep an eye out for Richard Harmer’s EarthX ProPlanet Podcast—coming soon!

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

This is another episode of the Forces for Nature, EarthX Conference series!
Theo E.J. Wilson is a TEDx speaker, social activist, and leader in fostering dialogue across cultural and ideological divides. While Theo may not come from a traditional environmental background, his work on social justice, understanding others' perspectives, and the interconnectedness of humanity makes him an ideal person to explore the link between social and climate justice. Theo shares his journey, the connections he sees between pollution, racism, and how we treat the planet, as well as the critical need for holistic thinking in solving these global issues.

One of the most moving moments? Theo’s beautiful spoken word poem, "I Am Humanity," which will leave you contemplating your role in shaping the future of our planet and our society. This is a can't-miss.

Highlights

• The importance of holistic thinking in solving the climate crisis.
• How understanding others' perspectives, even those who oppose you, can lead to meaningful dialogue and change.
• Again, the reading of his poem, I am Humanity.

Resources

• EarthX Leadership Circle: A platform fostering collaboration across ideological lines to work together on climate solutions.
• Get Early Bird Tickets to the EarthX Congress of Conferences in April 2025!
• TEDx Talk by Theo E.J. Wilson: His viral speech on his undercover experience in a white supremacist online community.

What YOU Can Do

• Buy from Ethical Companies: Support brands that prioritize sustainability and social responsibility.
• Spread Positive News: Use your social media to spotlight companies and individuals making positive strides toward environmental justice.
• Get Involved Locally: Engage with groups in your community working on environmental and social justice initiatives.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Send Crystal a text letting her know what you thought about the show!

Sharks have a bad rep. But Tadzio Bervoets is here to tell us why our fear should be replaced with respect and intrigue instead. These animals are keystone species that, if removed, can cause a cascading negative effect on the entire ocean ecosystem and human livelihoods- and it's already been witnessed in some places. We talk about how an obsession, not a fear, has been their main demise (an obsession for their fins), the unexpected way scientists get their hands on sharks, and how a trip to New York City can get you more bites than one to the beach.

Tadzio is the Director of the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance. He recently created the Caribbean Shark Coalition which aims to foster collaboration among various stakeholders in the greater Caribbean to increase the region's capacity for protecting sharks and rays.
What can YOU do to help sharks?

• When doing shark diving tourism, be sure you are going with a reputable and responsible tour operator.
  • Check if they are third-party certified.
  • Ask what their safety protocols are.
  • Be sure they don't let you swim too closely (there have been documented negative impacts on whale sharks because of improper diver interactions).
  • Make sure operators use very little food to lure in the animals so they don't become dependent on humans to feed them.
  • Don't be tempted by the lowest prices. If the standard cost is X, anything much lower is a red flag.
• To avoid sharks being caught as bycatch, support responsible fishing practices. You can use the Monterey Bay Aquarium's portable guide here.
• Don't buy any shark products, from jaws to leather to soup. If you would like a shark's tooth, buy a fossilized shark's tooth so as not to support the killing of these animals for their parts.
• Check to see if your fish oil supplement contains shark liver.
• Shark meat contains mercury. For your health, avoid eating it.
• Support policies for shark conservation and sound ocean governance.
• Donate to shark research and education efforts.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it at https://forcesfornature.com/becoming-a-force-for-nature-free-guide/
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review!

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook (Page / Private Group) and let me know what eco-actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Background music by Fearless Motivation Instrumentals: Meaning of Life.

Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that!

What difference for the world are you going to make today?