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In this episode, we talk about a devastating crisis that unfolded this year in the San Francisco Bay. March to June 2025 saw an unprecedented 36 gray whales enter, and stay for extended periods in one of the West coast's busiest waterways. The result? A staggering mortality rate with over 20 dead whales—roughly half of all observed individuals—primarily from vessal strikes. We wanted to find out why and what can be and is being done about it. Scott Mercer brought in Josie Slaathaug (pronounced Slot-Howg) to talk about it. She's a cetacean specialist at the Marine Mammal Center and Sonoma State University graduate researcher. She created and maintained the bay's gray whale photo ID catalog, and shares how this extraordinary year contrasts sharply with 2024's minimal whale presence. Most disturbing is that many were, malnourished whales—yet many were in good body condition, actively feeding, and displaying rich social behaviors rarely documented in the bay before: spy hopping, chin slapping, bubble blowing, and forming tight pairs. The maritime community's response offers a glimmer of hope despite the heartbreak. Ferry captains shared real-time whale locations, vessels rerouted especially during nighttime hours, and the Coast Guard broadcast regular whale alerts. Despite these coordinated efforts, vessel strikes still claimed too many lives. Slaathaug's research, matching carcasses to living whales photographed days earlier, paints a poignant picture of an individual whale's final days. How might climate change and shifting Arctic feeding grounds be altering migration patterns? Can we develop more proactive protection measures before next year's migration? We talk about that and more.

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Leigh Anne Lindsey, Producer Sea Storm Studios, The Sea Ranch, North Sonoma Coast

Scott & Tree Mercer, Co-hosts/Producers, Mendonoma Whale & Seal Study, Mendocino and Sonoma Coasts.

Planet Centric Media is Media for a Healthier Planet. Resilient Earth is a project of this 501 (c) (3) non-profit that is developing & producing media to elevate awareness of the interconnectedness of all living things.

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A powerful wave of peaceful resistance swept across America on June 14, 2025, as over 5 million citizens gathered in 2,100 cities and towns for No Kings Day. From small coastal communities like Wallala to major metropolitan centers, Americans of all ages exercised their First Amendment rights to voice opposition against what many view as presidential overreach and environmental devastation.

The current administration's systematic dismantling of critical environmental agencies stands at the heart of many protesters' concerns. We explore how the gutting of scientific expertise at the EPA and NOAA threatens decades of environmental progress and our ability to address pressing challenges like climate change. When federal authorities released water from California dams without understanding the state's water systems, it highlighted a dangerous pattern of uninformed intervention that wastes precious resources and undermines state authority.

Through intimate conversations with local participants Wendy White and Sandy Wright, we discover the deeply personal motivations driving ordinary citizens to stand up for democracy and environmental protection. Their perspectives reveal how political decisions have real-world impacts on communities, from agricultural workers facing aggressive immigration raids to educators struggling to teach environmental stewardship while the government models the opposite.

Beyond documenting the protests, we examine concerning legislation currently moving through Congress that threatens marine sanctuaries, and we analyze the manipulation tactics being deployed to distract and divide Americans. By recognizing patterns of gaslighting, fear-mongering, and misinformation, we can better equip ourselves to protect

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Leigh Anne Lindsey, Producer Sea Storm Studios, The Sea Ranch, North Sonoma Coast

Scott & Tree Mercer, Co-hosts/Producers, Mendonoma Whale & Seal Study, Mendocino and Sonoma Coasts.

Planet Centric Media is Media for a Healthier Planet. Resilient Earth is a project of this 501 (c) (3) non-profit that is developing & producing media to elevate awareness of the interconnectedness of all living things.

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Beneath the waves, in the darkness of the deep ocean, lies one of Earth's last pristine wilderness areas – a place we've barely begun to understand. Now, a high-stakes race is underway to mine valuable minerals from the seafloor, with profound implications for marine ecosystems and our planet's future.

Richard Charter from The Ocean Foundation takes us on an eye-opening journey into the complex world of deep sea mining. He expertly breaks down the three distinct types of extraction threatening different ocean ecosystems: hydrothermal vents with their unique energy-transforming life forms, mineral crusts that form along seamounts, and polymetallic nodules scattered across vast stretches of seafloor. These aren't just minerals – they're living habitats that took millions of years to evolve.

What's particularly alarming is the permanence of any damage we inflict. Charter reveals that test mining tracks created 26 years ago remain perfectly visible today, as if freshly made. "If it took millions of years to evolve these life forms in the sea," he warns, "then we know that for them to come back, first of all they may come back in a different form, and it may take millions of years. This is beyond human scale."

While mining companies frame their work as essential for the green energy transition, providing minerals for electric vehicle batteries and renewable infrastructure, Charter challenges this narrative. He points out that automotive technology is already evolving beyond these specific metals, and effective recycling programs could meet many of our needs without risking irreparable harm to ocean ecosystems. Meanwhile, the deep sea may harbor undiscovered solutions to humanity's greatest challenges, including potential cancer t

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Leigh Anne Lindsey, Producer Sea Storm Studios, The Sea Ranch, North Sonoma Coast

Scott & Tree Mercer, Co-hosts/Producers, Mendonoma Whale & Seal Study, Mendocino and Sonoma Coasts.

Planet Centric Media is Media for a Healthier Planet. Resilient Earth is a project of this 501 (c) (3) non-profit that is developing & producing media to elevate awareness of the interconnectedness of all living things.

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What do marine mammals tell us about the health of our oceans? The answer might surprise you—and it's more urgent than ever as climate change transforms our coastal environments.

Adam Ratner, Director of Conservation Engagement at The Marine Mammal Center, takes us behind the scenes of the world's largest marine mammal hospital as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. From rescuing seven marine mammals in 1975 to today's operation saving up to 1,000 animals annually, the Center has become a global leader in understanding how these magnificent creatures serve as sentinels for ocean health.

The conversation reveals concerning trends, including the discovery that 30% of rescued marine mammals experience human disturbance or harassment before rescue. Ratner explains the Center's recent response to 14 whale deaths in the San Francisco Bay Area in just weeks—many showing signs of malnutrition related to warming Arctic waters where gray whales feed. These deaths echo the 2019-2021 Unusual Mortality Event that saw gray whale populations drop by approximately 30%.

Yet amid these challenges, there are remarkable success stories. The Center's work with endangered Hawaiian monk seals has helped increase their population from about 1,000 to over 1,600, with approximately 30% of all living Hawaiian monk seals owing their lives to conservation interventions. Ratner also describes surprising opportunities for urban wildlife viewing, like harbor porpoises visible from the Golden Gate Bridge and humpback whales feeding within view of city skylines.

Whether you're a wildlife enthusiast, concerned about climate change, or simply curious about the ocean, this episode offers practical guidance on responsible wildlife viewing and ways anyon

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Leigh Anne Lindsey, Producer Sea Storm Studios, The Sea Ranch, North Sonoma Coast

Scott & Tree Mercer, Co-hosts/Producers, Mendonoma Whale & Seal Study, Mendocino and Sonoma Coasts.

Planet Centric Media is Media for a Healthier Planet. Resilient Earth is a project of this 501 (c) (3) non-profit that is developing & producing media to elevate awareness of the interconnectedness of all living things.

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The battle for California's coast has erupted once more as offshore drilling returns to Santa Barbara and threatens to spread northward along the entire Pacific coastline. This alarming development follows Trump's late April executive order, which targets even our most protected ocean areas—National Marine Sanctuaries—for oil and gas exploration for the first time in history.

Richard Charter, Senior Fellow at the Ocean Foundation and veteran defender of our coastal ecosystems, explains that this aggressive push by the administration targets specific areas off Bodega Head, Sea Ranch, Gualala, Point Arena, and Mendocino Village. Unlike previous attempts to drill offshore, this one specifically targets marine sanctuaries—areas that took decades of scientific research and public advocacy to establish as protected zones.

The consequences of offshore drilling disasters are etched into California's history. From the infamous 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill to the 2015 Refugio disaster (where oil traveled 150 miles along the coast) and the 2021 Huntington Beach pipeline rupture, California has repeatedly suffered from industry negligence. These aren't just environmental catastrophes—they directly threaten coastal economies dependent on tourism, fishing, and recreation.

What's particularly disturbing is how the administration is dismantling protections from within. Many NOAA scientists have resigned rather than approve drilling permits in sanctuary waters. Safety regulations designed to prevent another Deepwater Horizon disaster are being removed. Even President Biden's January withdrawal of the Pacific coast from oil development—a legally binding protection that courts have upheld—is being simply ignored.

The public has until June 16th to comment on the proposed five-year offshore leasing program through SaveMyCoast.org. Charter reminds us that California's coast isn't just any coastline—it's a global model for marine protection, with carefully designed networks of protected areas studied by planners worldwide. The ecosystem here supports one of the planet's most productive upwelling systems, essential not just for marine life but for the oxygen we breathe.

As Peter Douglas, founder of California coastal protection, famously said: "The California coast is never saved, it's always in the process of being saved." Now is the time to continue that fight.

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Leigh Anne Lindsey, Producer Sea Storm Studios, The Sea Ranch, North Sonoma Coast

Scott & Tree Mercer, Co-hosts/Producers, Mendonoma Whale & Seal Study, Mendocino and Sonoma Coasts.

Planet Centric Media is Media for a Healthier Planet. Resilient Earth is a project of this 501 (c) (3) non-profit that is developing & producing media to elevate awareness of the interconnectedness of all living things.

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Seacology is a charitable organization headquartered in Berkeley, CA that works to preserve island ecosystems and cultures around the world, as well as conducting annual educational ecotourism trips. Founded in 1991 with the work of ethnobotanist Paul Alan Cox, the high risk of extinction for island fauna and the decline in coral reef ecosystems drives Seacology's focus on projects in which villagers agree to help protect living nature for a specified time in return for things like new buildings, electricity, clean water, or other services - and they work with local businesses to make that happen.

To date, Seacology has completed"

• 441 Projects
• in 70 Countries
• with 1.5 million acres protected

Plus, they helped construct new facilities and provided programs including educational materials, vital medical services, and environmental training. In addition to helping local people on islands like those in Fiji, the Philippines, and Samoa, their projects have helped protect mangrove forests, sea turtles, and one of the rarest primates in the world.

Seacology also awards an annual Prize to indigenous islanders for their efforts in conservation and cultural preservation. The organization has also helped raise emergency funds following destructive tsunamis and other natural disasters. It has won the United Nations Climate Secretariat's Momentum for Change climate action award, was nominated for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize, and was the top recipient last year of the $250K Lipman Family Prize for outstanding vision, inspiration and impact.

Prior to heading Seacology, Duane Silverstein served for 18 years as Executive Director of the Goldman Fund, a San Francisco based philanthropic foundation where he ove

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Thank you for listening, subscribing, & supporting Resilient Earth Radio!

Leigh Anne Lindsey, Producer Sea Storm Studios, The Sea Ranch, North Sonoma Coast

Scott & Tree Mercer, Co-hosts/Producers, Mendonoma Whale & Seal Study, Mendocino and Sonoma Coasts.

Planet Centric Media is Media for a Healthier Planet. Resilient Earth is a project of this 501 (c) (3) non-profit that is developing & producing media to elevate awareness of the interconnectedness of all living things.

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This conversation is a lead up to the annual Sea Turtle Week each June, which kicks off with World Ocean Day June 8th and ends on the 16, Sea Turtle Week. 7 sea turtle species are highlighted each day along with one of the threats they face. Join Brad Nahill’s See Turtle organization and more than 150 global partners in raising awareness for sea turtles and our ocean planet. SEE Turtles is the organizer of Sea Turtle Week starting on June 8th with World Ocean Day. These are days used to honor and highlight the importance of sea turtles. Not only are sea turtles beautiful animals, but they also show incredible perseverance and resiliency – after all, they have been nesting on beaches for millions of years.

In this episode, we speak with the President of the organization SEE Turtles - and note that it is spelled SEE, not Sea. Brad has worked in sea turtle conservation, ecotourism, and environmental education for 20 years. For these efforts, he received the prestigious Changemakers Award from the World Travel and Tourism Council in 2019 on behalf of the organization SEE Turtles.

Brad is the editor and lead writer of Sea Turtle Research and Conservation: Lessons From The Field published in (2020) and a co-author of the Worldwide Travel Guide to Sea Turtles published in 2014). He is a National Geographic Explorer, was awarded the President’s Award for his work as the chair of the Awards Committee of the International Sea Turtle Society, has authored several book chapters, blogs, and abstracts on turtle conservation and ecotourism, and has presented at major travel conferences and sea turtle symposia.

Brad has a BS in Environmental Economics from Penn State University and has taught ecotourism at Mount Hood Community College in Oregon.

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Thank you for listening, subscribing, & supporting Resilient Earth Radio!

Leigh Anne Lindsey, Producer Sea Storm Studios, The Sea Ranch, North Sonoma Coast

Scott & Tree Mercer, Co-hosts/Producers, Mendonoma Whale & Seal Study, Mendocino and Sonoma Coasts.

Planet Centric Media is Media for a Healthier Planet. Resilient Earth is a project of this 501 (c) (3) non-profit that is developing & producing media to elevate awareness of the interconnectedness of all living things.

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Today’s episode is brought to you by Flukes International and is the 2nd half of an Earth Day 2025 conversation we had with Ralph Chami who is Co-Founder/CEO of Blue Green Future, a large team of innovators and thought leaders for natural capital finance and a nature-based economy. Ralph has over 32 years of experience as a financial economist, 25 of those years at the (IMF - the International Monetary Fund). That’s coming up next, right after we hear from Zack Klyver of Flukes International.

Zack is also working with Blue Green Future and helped arrange this Earth Day 2025 conversation with Ralph Chami. And in this 2 part conversation, Ralph spoke with us about the importance of connecting people with nature and forging a new contract for sustainable prosperity and well-being. In part 1, he explained the disconnect between the nature system and the market system, emphasizing the need to make living nature visible and valuable to markets. Ralph argues that by demonstrating the financial value of nature living for itself, such as whales and elephants providing ecosystem services, we can engage the market system in protecting and restoring nature. He highlights the urgency of this mindset shift, given the limited time to address environmental challenges.

We join now halfway through our conversation as he begins speaking about their work in the Amazon with Gaia Amazones founded by Dr. Martín von Hildebrand and run by his son, Francisco or Pacho. Plus, more on what Blue Green Future is doing for the restoration of bison (and why) with the indigenous people in Montana, USA.

See more of what Blue Green Future is doing through YouTube videos posted by one of their co-founders, Dinah Nieberg https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Dinah

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Thank you for listening, subscribing, & supporting Resilient Earth Radio!

Leigh Anne Lindsey, Producer Sea Storm Studios, The Sea Ranch, North Sonoma Coast

Scott & Tree Mercer, Co-hosts/Producers, Mendonoma Whale & Seal Study, Mendocino and Sonoma Coasts.

Planet Centric Media is Media for a Healthier Planet. Resilient Earth is a project of this 501 (c) (3) non-profit that is developing & producing media to elevate awareness of the interconnectedness of all living things.

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We still have time to make a positive impact on the future of life on this planet.