Ocean Calls

Should we beat them, or eat them? In this episode of Ocean Calls, we’re embarking on a journey to unravel the mysteries of invasive species in EU waters. They unsettle the delicate balance of marine ecosystems, so what can we do about them? Approximately 20 new non-native fish and plants are discovered in European waters annually, with some 70% of them found lurking in the Mediterranean. We call on the expertise of João Canning-Clode, Chairman of the Invasive Species Expert Group at ICES, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and Voula Karachle, an expert on invasive species from the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research.At the end of the episode, you'll hear the story of Amjad Almatni, a young Syrian activist from a drought-affected region in Syria, recounting the magical moment when he saw the ocean for the first time in his life. Follow these links to read more about our guests:João Canning-Clode, Chairman of the Invasive Species Expert Group at ICES, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea Voula Karachle, an expert on invasive species from the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research.Ocean Tale from Syrian activist Amjad AlmatniHosted by Euronews science reporter Jeremy Wilks. Produced by Naira Davlashyan and Natalia Oelsner.The production coordinator is Carolyne Llabe.  The sound editing is by Jean-Christophe Marcaud and sound mixing is by Matthieu Duchaine. Our editor-in-chief is Sophie Claudet.Ocean Calls is produced in partnership with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

Will there ever be more fish in the sea? Almost 90% of all marine fish stocks globally are now fully exploited or overfished, according to a study from the World Bank. In the Mediterranean region alone, more than 40% of marine mammals and a third of the total fish population have been lost in just half a century.However, there does appear to be some hope for the future of the fishing industry, as new rules come into force. To learn more about the new European regulations concerning overfishing, listen to the full episode of Ocean Calls in the player above.In this episode of Ocean Calls, we're diving deep into this controversial issue and seeking solutions to help fish stocks recover. We hear from Daniel Voces, managing director of Europêche, which represents the fishery industry in the EU, and Louis Lambrechts, European Ocean Policy officer at WWF. At the end of the episode, you’ll also hear from Sy Montgomery, an award-winning author and naturalist. You won’t want to miss her story about the time she met and bonded with Athena, a giant Pacific octopus. Follow these links to read more about our guests:Daniel Voces, Managing Director of EuropêcheLouis Lambrechts, the European Ocean Policy officer at WWFOcean Tale from Sy Montgomery, an award-winning author and naturalistHosted by Euronews science reporter Jeremy Wilks. Produced by Naira Davlashyan and Natalia Oelsner.The production coordinator is Carolyne Llabe.  The sound editing is by Jean-Christophe Marcaud and sound mixing is by Matthieu Duchaine. Our editor-in-chief is Sophie Claudet.Ocean Calls is produced in partnership with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

In this episode of Ocean Calls, we hear from the people behind the fish on your plate. Small-scale fisheries make up the backbone of our coastal communities, yet they are often overlooked despite their crucial role in Europe's fishing industry.We’ll learn about the importance of these often family-run businesses from Jeremy Percy,  the Executive Director at Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE), as well as the role of women in the industry from Anna Carlson is the Fishery Officer for Livelihoods at the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean and the Black Sea regions of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation. We’ll also hear from Thomas Højrup, a Danish ethnologist, who’s battling to save small-scale fisheries in the Nordic nation from extinction - via the medium of traditional boat building. At the end of this episode, you’ll learn Jasmine Harrison explain how she made an unusual friend while swimming the full length of the British isles from Lands End to John o’Groats in 2022. She’s a British adventurer with a couple of world records on her mantlepiece who, somehow, managed to befriend a whale. Follow these links to read more about our guests:Jeremy Percy, Executive Director at Low Impact Fishers of Europe (LIFE)Anna Carlson, the Fishery Officer for Livelihoods at the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean and the Black Sea regions of the Food and Agriculture OrganisationThomas Højrup, Danish ethnologistOcean Tale from British adventurer Jasmine HarrisonHosted by Euronews science reporter Jeremy Wilks. Produced by Naira Davlashyan and Natalia Oelsner.The production coordinator is Carolyne Llabe.  The sound editing is by Jean-Christophe Marcaud and sound mixing is by Matthieu Duchaine. Our editor-in-chief is Sophie Claudet.Ocean Calls is produced in partnership with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

Despite strict regulations already in place, a 2021 study conducted by a major news outlet discovered that some 38% of seafood in Europe is mislabeled.That means that many restaurants and shops are selling much cheaper options than advertised at a far higher cost to the consumer.In this episode of Ocean Calls, we're embarking on an eye-opening journey to explore the origins of the seafood on our plates. We will also dive into new EU regulations implemented to improve seafood traceability and what still needs to be done to ameliorate this situation.At the end of this episode, you’ll learn about the mind-blowing practice of pole and line tuna fishing in Indonesia - as well as getting some invaluable tips for how to cook fresh fish from top Dutch chef Bart Van Olphen.Follow these links to read more about our guests:Vanya Vulperhorst, Europe Campaign Director at OceanaFrancois Mosnier, head of Ocean Programme at Planet TrackerOcean Tale from Dutch chef Bart van OlphenHosted by Euronews science reporter Jeremy Wilks. Produced by Naira Davlashyan and Natalia Oelsner.The production coordinator is Carolyne Llabe.  The sound editing is by Jean-Christophe Marcaud and sound mixing is by Matthieu Duchaine. Our editor-in-chief is Sophie Claudet.In this episode, we used extracts from reports from CBS Evening News on 11 Sept 2016 and The Wall Street Journal on 5 Aug 2016.Ocean Calls is produced in partnership with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

In this episode of Ocean Calls, we're diving into the world of seaweed — that green, slimy stuff you often find on the beach. It turns out, that seaweed isn't just beach debris; it's also a superfood that offers solutions to various environmental issues, from capturing carbon to reducing overfishing.Seaweed farming in Europe is much smaller than in Asia – Europe produces only a few thousand tonnes a year, just 1% of global seaweed production. But could seaweed be the next big thing in Europe? And can Europeans get past the initial dislike of it?At the end of the episode, you’ll hear from Eurovision star Cesar Sampson about his adventures during the competition in Portugal.Follow these links to read more about our guests:Anne Seidler, a Marine Policy Officer at Seas At RiskSimon Johansson, the CEO of Nordic SeafarmOcean Tale from Cesar Sampson, Austrian singer and Eurovision participantHosted by Euronews science reporter Jeremy Wiks. Produced by Naira Davlashyan and Natalia Oelsner.The production coordinator is Carolyne Llabe.  The sound editing is by Jean-Christophe Marcaud and the sound mixing is by Matthieu Duchaine. Our editor-in-chief is Sophie Claudet.Ocean Calls is produced in partnership with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

Imagine if policymakers, businesses, and society had access to a virtual twin copy of our oceans to explore? This AI tool could be used to simulate realistic what-if scenarios based on scientific knowledge.Would that help protect and restore our oceans by enabling better decision-making? And what kinds of questions could it help us to answer?In this episode of Ocean Calls, we will discuss the EU's Digital Twin of the Ocean, known as the DTO. This European initiative aims to create an artificial intelligence-fueled representation of the seas. It’s expected to be accessible to the public in 2024.We’ll explore what the DTO is and examine how it can aid in combating plastic pollution, saving endangered species like marine turtles, and protecting our harbours from meteotsunamis.At the end of the episode, you’ll hear from Sex Education and Karen Pirie star Chris Jenks about his adventures growing up on an island in Scotland. Follow these links to read more about our guests:Joanna Staneva, Head of Hydrodynamics and Data Assimilation at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon research centreSimon Van Gennip, oceanographer at Mercator Ocean InternationalPhilippe Gaspar, senior scientist at Mercator Ocean InternationalJoaquin Tintore, head of Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System Vincent Pieriborne, co-CEO of OceanXOcean Tale from Chris Jenks, British actor and producerHosted by Euronews science reporter Jeremy Wiks. Produced by Naira Davlashyan and Natalia Oelsner.The production coordinator is Carolyne Llabe.  The sound editing is by Jean-Christophe Marcaud and the sound mixing is by Matthieu Duchaine. Our editor-in-chief is Sophie Claudet.In this episode, we include extracts from Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola commercials, as well as a scene from Star Trek (Season 1, Episode 1).Ocean Calls is produced in partnership with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.