Share
Ocean Protect Podcast
Andrew Thomas on the maintenance of stormwater treatment assets (Part 1 of 2)
Season 2, Ep. 20
•
Andrew is an environmental professional with over 15 years experience in the water industry. We talk about the challenges in transitioning to sustainable stormwater management practices and insights into the maintenance of stormwater treatment assets in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - the focus of his recently submitted PhD.
This is a two-part conversation, with the second (and final) part released next week.
Useful links:
- Janice Brahney: https://uwrl.usu.edu/lro/people/faculty/brahney-janice
- Wired article “Plastic is the new acid rain”: https://www.wired.com/story/plastic-rain-is-the-new-acid-rain/
- Science article “Plastic rain in protected areas of the United States”: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/368/6496/1257
- Wired article “Microplastics Are Blowing Into the Pristine Arctic”: https://www.wired.com/story/microplastics-are-blowing-into-the-pristine-arctic/
- Wired article “A Shocking Find Shows Just How Far Wind Can Carry Microplastics”: https://www.wired.com/story/wind-microplastics/
- Wired article “'Microplastic Hot Spots' Are Tainting Deep-Sea Ecosystems”: https://www.wired.com/story/microplastic-hotspots/
For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au
More episodes
View all episodes
15. Brian McIntosh on integrating water management, building capacity & spanning boundaries
41:32||Season 6, Ep. 15Brian Mcintosh is Associate Professor of Integrated Water Management at Griffith University and Education Director at the International Water Centre. In this chat, Brian describes his journey from being a straight edge punk in Scotland to being a leader (and developing future leaders) in the water industry in Australia. We also discuss what exactly is Integrated Water Management, and how it can protect our waterways and water resources in South-East Queensland and beyond. Useful links:Brian on LinkedIn (here)International Water Centre (here) For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au14. PFOS in platypuses with Katherine Warwick
36:22||Season 6, Ep. 14Katherine Warwick is an aquatic ecologist and PhD candidate at Western Sydney University. Katherine has recently led an Australian-first study which has found perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in platypuses, sparking warnings people in New South Wales may be more exposed than once thought. In this chat, we discuss the study methodology and results – and the subsequent implications across New South Wales and beyond. Useful links:Katherine on LinkedIn (here)ABC News article “PFAS 'forever chemicals' found in water filtration plants and platypus livers in NSW” (here)Warwick, K.G., Wright, I.A., Whinfield, J. et al. First report of accumulation of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) in New South Wales, Australia. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 51037–51042 (2024). (here)Ocean Protect Podcast episode “Forever chemicals & their impact on wetland snakes with Dr Damian Lettoof” (August 2023, Season 5, Episode 15) (here) For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au13. Craig Fairbaugh on why rock stars aren’t as cool as environmental engineers
46:41||Season 6, Ep. 13Craig Fairbaugh returns for his second appearance on the Ocean Protect Podcast, after his first appearance nearly broke the internet. In this chat, we dig a little deeper into Craig’s incredible punk rock career with bands like +44, Transplants, and Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards – the subsequent transition to superstar environmental engineer – and get Craig’s insights from the US on a bunch of stormwater pollution-related stuff, including ‘zero trash to waterways’ targets, asset maintenance, testing protocols, bioretention and more. This is an AMAZING chat. Useful links:Craig on LinkedIn (here)Ocean Protect Podcast episode “Craig Fairbaugh – Stormwater Rock Star” (October 2022, Season 4, Episode 18) (here) For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au12. Neighbours of Fish Farming in Tasmania with Jessica Coughlan
44:38||Season 6, Ep. 12Jessica Coughlan is a campaigner with Neighbours of Fish Farming - a community organisation in southern Tasmania. NOFF's goal is to save Tasmanian's unique natural waterways from the damage being caused by the multinational Atlantic salmon industry. In this chat, we talk about what it's like to be a neighbour of a fish farm, what Atlantic Salmon farming is really like, and what you can do about it.Useful links:Jessica's email: secretary@noff.auOff the TableNeighbours of Fish FarmingVimeo of the The Maugean Skate: https://vimeo.com/864263625Vimeo "Toxic Truth": https://vimeo.com/707402254Vimeo "Essie Davis, A Toxic Future": https://vimeo.com/742916685Vimeo "Paradise Lost by Justin Kurzel and Connor Castles Lynch": https://vimeo.com/742666590 For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au11. Kate Parker on crewing with Sea Shepherd & empowering women for our oceans
38:37||Season 6, Ep. 11Kate Parker is a Chief Officer with Sea Shepherd Global and a Co-founder of 'Daughters of the Deep', a charity formed with friends, aiming to tackle gender inequality within marine industries. In this chat, Kate gives an insight to her time (so far) crewing with Sea Shepherd - from selling merch onshore to life offshore working on ocean conservation campaigns in Antarctica and beyond. We also hear about her incredible work with Daughters of the Deep - an organisation giving young women with a passion for the ocean to help connect, protect and have a career with our oceans. Kate is an amazing individual, and this is an amazing chat - recorded on board Sea Shepherd's Allankay ship.Useful links:Kate's email: kate@daughtersofthedeep.orgKate on the gram: https://www.instagram.com/ladyparker1984Daughters of the DeepSea Shepherd For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au10. Matt Watson on the Marine Stewardship Council & the sustainability of seafood
46:17||Season 6, Ep. 10Matt Watson is Senior Fisheries Program Manager, Asia Pacific for the Marine Stewardship Council - an international non-profit on a mission to end overfishing, setting standards for sustainable fishing. This is a compelling, raw, but respectfully transparent chat - covering a range of topics including how MSC defines "sustainable seafood" and augments better practice in fisheries - along with a discussion on the key challenges, scientific uncertainties, krill fishing in Antarctica, and future of the seafood industry.Useful links:Matt on LinkedIn (here)MSC home page (here)MSC on Forced & child labour (here)MSC standards & certification (here)The MSC Fisheries Standard (here)Reuters article "One-third of world fish catch used for animal feed" (here)Previous Ocean Protect Podcast “The sustainability of seafood with MSC's Dr Adrian Gutteridge” (March 2020, here) For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au9. Jeff Hansen on Sea Shepherd’s Antarctic Defence
43:49||Season 6, Ep. 9Jeff Hansen, Managing Director of Sea Shepherd Australia and a Global Director of Sea Shepherd, returns for his third appearance on the Ocean Protect Podcast. This time, Brad and Jeff chat on board Sea Shepherd’s Allankay, as it was sailing up the east coast of Australia from Antarctica. We talk about Sea Shepherd’s Antarctica campaign targeting the krill fishing fleet, and the human spirit putting wind in the sails of Sea Shepherd’s amazing work. Useful links:https://www.seashepherd.org.au/Jeff on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-hansen-521b42aSea Shepherd Operation Antarctic Defence: https://www.seashepherd.org.au/our-campaigns/antarctica-defense/Previous Ocean Protect Podcast “Jeff Hansen on direct action” (November 2021, here)Previous Ocean Protect Podcast “Jeff Hansen on protecting the most spectacular show on earth with Sea Shepherd” (November 2021, here) For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au8. Anirban Ghose on Microfactories & recycled material innovation
45:16||Season 6, Ep. 8Anirban Ghose is Head of Microfactories at SMaRT Centre UNSW Sydney. In this fascinating chat, Anirban explains what microfactories are, what they're already doing, and their potential role in driving change in recycled material innovation to have massive positive economic, environmental, and social impacts. Anirban also gives an insight into some of the SMaRT Centre's analysis of the pollution captured in Ocean Protect's stormwater treatment assets. Useful links:Anirban on Linkedin (here)Anirban's details at SMaRT Centre UNSW Sydney (here)https://www.smart.unsw.edu.au/Previous podcast episode “Professor Veena Sahajwalla is redefining 'waste'” (February 2023) (here)For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au7. From Chilean salmon farms to free diving off Sydney with Lautaro Parra
45:30||Season 6, Ep. 7Lautaro Parra is a PADI freediving instructor in Sydney, and returns for his second mind-blowing appearance on the Ocean Protect Podcast. In this chat, Lautaro shares his insights and experiences from when he was a commercial diver on a salmon farm in Chile – to his vocation sharing the incredible underwater wonders around Sydney. Useful links:Lautaro on Instagram (here)Mother Ocean Freediving on Instagram (here)https://www.envoy.foundation/envoy-shark-cullPrevious podcast episode Lautaro Parra on farming salmon (July 2021, here). For further information about Ocean Protect, check us out at www.oceanprotect.com.au