SUFB 1167: Why Marine Scientists Write Letters To Protect Biodiversity

Published: June 4, 2021, 4 a.m.

It starts with trying to solve a problem. Dr. Rebecca Helm, Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina Ashville, wanted to make sure ocean species such as jellyfish and other non-commercial species are protected in the High Seas. She complained about it on Twitter and people responded with the same sentiment. She turned to her Twitter friend, Nichola Clark from the Pew Charitable Trusts, and a marine policy scientist that specialized in the High Sea. 

Nichola knew the ropes and how to put the movement Rebecca was building into good use, especially since there was a Biodiversity Treaty being negotiated at the United Nations. The movement continued and two years and one global pandemic later, a scientific letter was written and sent to the UN to outline three things the scientists wanted out of the treaty.

Listen to the episode to find out what those three things are. 

Are you a scientist? Sign the letter: http://www.protectthehighseas.com/

Contact me to download the document Nichola mentioned called "A Path to Creating the First Generation of High Seas Protected Areas" 

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