THE WORLD’S LARGEST ILLEGAL FLEET AND INSIGHTS FROM AN OEANIC PIONEER
Pulitzer prize-winning author of The Outlaw Ocean, award winning investigative journalist, previous Ocean Impact Podcast guest and newly announced Storytelling Fellow with National Geographic, Ian Urbina, has published a gripping new investigation that highlights the dire human impacts of resource conflict and climate-driven biodiversity loss in the Sea of Japan - a highly contested area of ocean surrounded by the Koreas, Japan and Russia.
According to the joint investigation by The Outlaw Ocean and NBC, North Korean fishing boats carrying only a deceased crew on board have reportedly been washing up on Japanese shores. The probable cause has been traced back to the emergence of Chinese fishing vessels entering previously off-limits areas of the East Sea.
The Chinese vessels - of which there were nearly 800 in 2019 - appear to be in violation of U.N. sanctions that forbid foreign fishing in North Korean waters. The sanctions, imposed in 2017 in response to the country’s nuclear tests, were intended to punish North Korea by not allowing it to sell fishing rights in its waters in exchange for valuable foreign currency. It is important to note that since Chinese authorities do not make their fishing licences public, Global Fishing Watch said that there is no way to verify that all of the ships entering North Korean waters were authorised by the Chinese government.
To read our full blog post covering Ian’s investigation click here.
Insights and Wisdom From an Oceanic Pioneer
In our latest episode of the Ocean Impact Podcast Tim takes a breather and our podcast producer Josh Kirkman takes on the task of interviewing multiple world champion bodyboarder, bodysurfer, and internationally-acclaimed wave-riding pioneer Mike Stewart.
Recorded on Sunset Beach in Hawaii in March 2020, Mike discusses his learnings from a life in the ocean, his work innovating products for the enjoyment of countless numbers of people around the world, and his thoughts on how the surf industry might be able to ‘get off the plastics’ and be part of the solution to Planet Ocean’s woes.
This episode provides some great insight into the mind of a very unique individual and we’re sure that after listening to it many of you out there will join the ‘Church of Mike Stewart’ and dive in to enjoy and protect our vulnerable pale blue dot.
For more information and to follow Mike’s work please visit:
https://sciencebodyboards.net/
https://www.instagram.com/mikestewart/
Listen to the podcast following the links below:
Spotify
Soundcloud
Apple