Ocean Matters

Finance – Protecting The Ocean

Ocean Matters is getting down to business. That’s the business of investing in the ocean, its future as well as the communities that rely on it. There are lots of exist

Learning from Indigenous Fisheries

There are several stories in this series which explore the connectivity between species, but how often do we consider the connectivity between a species, people, land and

Ecosystems – Land, Marine, and The “In Between”

Bizarrely, when it comes to ecology – marine systems and land systems are studied separately. But we need to better understand the “in between”. Travelling from vast ra

Eels – Are you in the fan club?

The more you find out about eels, the more fascinating they become... Even on the scale of the surprises that nature can throw at us.    The European eel starts its life

BONUS – People Power

In episode 12, we heard about the changes our ocean has faced in recent years and why it’s important to remain ‘ocean optimists’ in the fight against climate change. One

Witness for a Changing Ocean

Everyone who studies the ocean recognizes that many parts of it are in a state of flux – always changing.  That is the natural state of things.  But sometimes changes bec

BONUS – The Future of Coral Reefs

With COP26 having been and gone, one thing is clear - we need positive climate action. But while climate change has been edging its way into the public consciousness, sci

COP26 – Fighting for our Ocean

COP26 is taking place in Glasgow, with the eyes of the world on the decisions being made, and climate change is finally getting the serious attention that scientists and

BONUS - Turtles in Culture, Past and Present

There’s no doubt that turtles are well-loved animals that have had a huge impact on cultures around the world and throughout history. But there’s a fine line between cele

Turtles – Survivors, Navigators, Voyagers

Turtles are survivors, navigators, voyagers: criss-crossing Earth’s seas while continents moved and oceans grew and shrunk.  But the modern ocean is presenting them with

BONUS - Magnificent Manta Rays

In episode 9, we discovered that plankton is a vital food source for manta rays so producer Izzie Clarke finds out more about these magnificent animals. What are the diff

Plankton - A Miniature Kaleidoscope of Life

It’s often said that small is beautiful, and that’s true in the ocean too. But in the huge blue expanses of our planet, the small aren’t just beautiful – they’re essentia

BONUS – Human Rights Abuse at Sea, with Ian Urbina

"These crews are typically working 20 hours straight before they have maybe a two hour break" Fishing is having a huge impact on the lives of humans.  Slavery, abductio

Fisheries – What needs to change?

For most of us, fish come from a shop. They’re either laid out on ice in their full glory, neatly packaged in cans or hidden away inside fish fingers. An estimated 179 mi

BONUS - Dr Mark Meekan: My Time with Sharks

“Some of the most exciting discoveries are still out there.” - Dr Mark Meekan Sharks are incredibly adapted to life in the ocean, but scientists still have so much more

Sharks – Masters of the Ocean

Today we know of at least 1,200 species of shark, and we’re still finding more. Sharks are a critical part of life in the ocean. But the numbers don’t lie, these magnific

BONUS – Charles Darwin’s Island Discovery

In this bonus episode of Ocean Matters, producer Izzie Clarke explores the very first theories of how islands are formed from Charles Darwin and his time on HMS Beagle. J

Isolated Islands - Adventures in Evolution

The tourist brochures are clear about what we should expect from a remote tropical island: bright blue water, white sand, some exotic shells and the odd coconut tree. But

BONUS - Dr Sylvia Earle

“The ocean found me, in a way…” – Dr Sylvia Earle In this bonus episode of Ocean Matters, host Helen Czerski speaks to explorer, oceanographer, and former Chief Scienti

The Deep Sea – Exploring the Unknown

When we look up at the night sky, we can see the cosmos in all its glory; the constellations are familiar friends that we learn as children.  But even though the deep oce