This week on Ecolution, RTÉ's climate action podcast for young people, we take to the high seas to meet some amazing people who are making it their mission to protect the giants of the ocean.
We look at two differing approaches to conserving whales in our oceans. In one case a group catalogues the Right Whale in the seas off the coast of Georgia and Florida. And another one which advocates direct action to stop whaling ships from hunting whales.
Subscribe to Ecolution Podcast on RTÉ, Apple or Spotify - press play up top to listen now!
Melanie White is the North Atlantic Right Whale Conservation Project Manager at the Clearwater Marine Research Institute in Clearwater, Florida. In the episode she talks about their efforts to document the last remaining Right Whales. At time of interview it's thought that there are fewer than 400 of these huge creatures left in our oceans.
They are critically endangered as a result of overhunting in previous centuries; and now due to ship strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and a decline in birth rates. She discusses the need for clean oceans to give these huge sea mammals a fighting chance.
And we get on board the John Paul DeJoria, a ship that’s part of the Paul Watson Foundation’s Sea Shepherd fleet.
According to their website: "Sea Shepherd’s mission is to protect and conserve the world’s oceans and marine wildlife. We work to defend all marine wildlife, from whales and dolphins, to sharks and rays, to fish and krill, without exception."
Their work has landed them in hot water on more than one occasion as they advocate direct action; Putting themselves and their ships between the whalers and the whales.
Whilst moored in safe port in Dublin two of our cub reporters met one of the volunteers, Dior, who spoke about life on board, her childhood experience with whales and why she feels the need for us to protect whales.
We also hear from children at Stepaside Educate Together and our Youtube Panel who share their thoughts on whales and our oceans.
Check out this playlist on RTÉ Kids Youtube for more panel discusiions with our young activists.
Whether the action you take for our oceans is learning more about the life we need to protect with Marine Protected Areas off our coast, or keeping rubbish out of our waterways, we all have a part to play. And you can plan for it. Because whales need our help.
Ecolution is produced by Nicky Coghlan, with production assistance from Aoife O'Neill. It's hosted by Evie Kenny.
And for more great audio content for young people visit rte.ie/jrpodcasts.
