As California's Marine Protected Area Network goes through it's first update, or adaptive management process, there's a lot of chatter about deal-making and the upstanding process by which they were originally designated. Marcela Gutierrez-Graudins, founder and Executive Director of Azul, takes us back to what actually happened and who got to participate. The discussion explores the challenges of representation in ocean conservation and the need for a more equitable approach to managing marine resources. Anupa and Marcela delve into the complexities of environmental justice, particularly in relation to marine protected areas and the opportunity for marginalized communities. It highlights the need for equitable access to ocean resources and the importance of recognizing historical injustices in conservation efforts.

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Free the Beach, Robert Garcia

Speak up for California's MPAs

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Scientist, fisherman and shark expert, Brendan Talwar teaches us all about sharks. From what makes a fish a shark, to their morphology and behavior. The discussion covers threats to shark species around the world, conservation success stories, as well as safe handling and etiquette to protect both ourselves as fishers and the sharks we may encounter.

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semmenslab.org

Netflix: All the Sharks

sharkdocs.org

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Andrew Leising, a NOAA Fisheries research oceanographer teaches us the science behind El Niño, the signs, the impacts, and what we might expect in the coming months. The discussion provides insights into the effects of El Niño on marine ecosystems and the methods used to predict and track its development. The conversation delves into the impact of warm conditions on marine life, the effects on kelp and rockfish, the shift in squid movement, adapting fishing strategies, marine heat waves and ecosystem resilience, and of course, opportunities for anglers and divers.

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Andy’s work

El Niño info and visualizations

NOAA Fisheries article: 7 Ways El Niño and Large Marine Heatwave Could Affect West Coast Marine Species

The Coriolis Effect video

Blob tracker

The OOS’s

Climate prediction center

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Southern California shore fishing guides, Kaspar and Gary Kazazian give us their hot tips for summertime fishing. The conversation covers ideal features and conditions for shore fishing, the dynamic nature of surf fishing, identifying fishing spots and overlooked conditions, and suggested gear setups for the angler just getting started. It also highlights the impact of environmental changes on fishing experiences and the need for more voices to ensure balanced policies that can support conservation.

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NOAA - El Nino is here

www.californiasurffishing.net

Kaspar and Gary's Instagram

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April 13, 2026 marked the 50th anniversary of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, or MSA. Meredith Moore, Senior Director of the Fish Conservation Program at Ocean Conservancy, discusses the successes and limitations of the MSA, emphasizing the need for improved rebuilding plans and a stronger commitment to fisheries management. The conversation covers a range of challenges and opportunities in fisheries management, including the need for improved monitoring, the impact of underfunding and understaffing, the importance of integrating Indigenous knowledge, the slow pace of technology adoption, and the implications of climate change. It also addresses governance issues, habitat loss, prey species management, and the role of recreational fishing. The conversation emphasizes the need for political will, diverse representation, and public engagement in addressing these issues.

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Ocean Conservancy’s report, Drifting Off Course: Challenges in U.S. Fisheries Management and Charting the Path Forward

Fish ON AIR MSA 101 episode

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MSA 101: Corey Ridings introduces us to the Magnuson Stevens Act, the primary law for managing fisheries in the United States. We discuss its history, purpose, and impact through the lens of Corey's role on the Pacific Fishery Management Council. The conversation delves into the complexities of fishery management, covering topics such as navigating fishery advisory bodies, the concept of Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY), and community involvement in fishery decision making.

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Magnuson Stevens Act

Pacific Fishery Management Council

Council Roster

What went into creating California's Network of Marine Protected Areas and what was it like to be a part of the process? Ray Hiemstra takes us through his experience from creation til now---the science, challenges and bargaining that formed our MPAs as we know them, on to this adaptive management process he's waited over 10 years for. This conversation sheds light on the stakeholder process that established the MPAs on the South Coast and lays out a current proposal to expand one of those MPAs off of Laguna Beach.

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Orange County Coastkeeper

Support Laguna Beach SMCA expansion

Contact Orange County Public Works

There are many claims about what the science says about California's MPA Network. Dr. Kerry Nickols takes us through what we've learned from the first decade of this world-renowned Marine Protected Area Network, what we don't know, and how we should go forward. The conversation explores the role of MPAs in the context of climate change, the effectiveness of MPAs and the need for data to help decision-making. It also highlights the challenges and opportunities for enhancing the MPA network in California.

Kerry's co-authored report on the California MPA Network
Meet Gordita, Heal the Bay's resident giant black sea bass