In reflecting on my #OceanConsvnUBC course, here are my big takeaways regarding ocean conservation:

1: although we rely heavily on the ocean for its many resources, the ocean is relatively undiscovered as only ~ 5% has been explored! #OceanConsvnUBC

2: we heavily depend on the ocean for fisheries but 2/3 of stocks are already exploited to the maximum sustainable yield and 1/3 are beyond that limit (source: FAO) #OceanConsvnUBC

3: so clearly we are impacting the ocean - but what does that look like? we are inputting: garbage, oil, fertilizers, CO2 and increasing outputs of the ocean by overfishing, oil extraction, mining, etc. #OceanConsvnUBC

4: ocean conservation as well as many other fields, are influenced by the idea of shifting baselines: (coined by Daniel Pauly) in which your reference point will be the earliest baseline you have and will act as your point of comparison for future changes #OceanConsvnUBC

5: we know that many species are being affected by climate change and they have four ways in which they respond 1. move 2. acclimate 3. adapt 4. die (known as MAAD) #OceanConsvnUBC

6: community engagement is a great way to involve more people in conservation work especially via comanagement strategies #OceanConsvnUBC

7: recovery of marine systems can mean many things so we have to establish clear metrics for how recovery can be measured! #OceanConsvnUBC

8: There are many ways to fish, and each has a different impact on marine systems. Active gear: chases fish i.e. bottom trawling while passive gear: waits for fish to swim into the net i.e. longline fishingPassive gear is usually better in terms of conservation! #OceanConsvnUBC

9: we need to do our best to learn from fisheries management issues of the past such as the Atlantic Cod Fishery in Atlantic Canada so that people can maintain their livelihoods while simultaneously conserving oceanic resources like Cod! #OceanConsvnUBC

10: conservation is most effective when you try to check (smaller) things off your list as a way to ensure your work is having a clear impact! #OceanConsvnUBC

11: I really enjoyed getting to hear from so many wonderful guest speakers from all over the world which showed me how interdisciplinary this field is and how helpful it is to hear about ocean issues from many different perspectives. #OceanConsvnUBC

12: there is still so much for me to learn about conservation issues in Canada (& globally) and how historic events play a role in shaping our current issues #OceanConsvnUBC

13: fisheries are the biggest pressure on the ocean since it encompasses issues from pollution, economic issues, livelihood/social issues, dependence on stocks, etc. #OceanConsvnUBC

14: policy & politics are a big part of conservation! They are essential in framing what organisms and regions will be protected from major pressures. #OceanConsvnUBC

15: it’s important to use your voice to vote for initiatives you support! i’m trying to learn more about how political issues affect ocean policy #OceanConsvnUBC

16: when advocating for ocean issues, it’s important to appeal to people’s hearts and minds! #OceanConsvnUBC

17: we often hear about a lot of negative issues associated with the ocean so it’s always good to remind ourselves there are positive stories and #OceanOptimism #OceanConsvnUBC

18: it’s important to discuss the changes you want to make with the people who will implement the changes and those who will be affected by the changes. #OceanConsvnUBC

19: we should be open minded about what defines knowledge since this helps paint a more well rounded picture of conservation issues #OceanConsvnUBC

20: we should think more about how we communicate science by knowing our audience #OceanConsvnUBC