{"id":671292,"date":"2025-05-25T06:05:17","date_gmt":"2025-05-25T03:05:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/reflections-from-my-40-year-marine-ecology-career\/"},"modified":"2025-05-25T06:05:17","modified_gmt":"2025-05-25T03:05:17","slug":"reflections-from-my-40-year-marine-ecology-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/reflections-from-my-40-year-marine-ecology-career\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflections from my 40-year marine ecology career"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6af298cb612b1\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6af298cb612b1\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/reflections-from-my-40-year-marine-ecology-career\/#1_Start_with_the_basics\" >1. Start with the basics<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/reflections-from-my-40-year-marine-ecology-career\/#2_Inspire_deep_connection\" >2. Inspire deep connection<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/reflections-from-my-40-year-marine-ecology-career\/#3_Take_the_pressure_off\" >3. Take the pressure off<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/reflections-from-my-40-year-marine-ecology-career\/#4_Plastic_is_a_distraction\" >4. Plastic is a distraction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/reflections-from-my-40-year-marine-ecology-career\/#5_Add_a_dose_of_ocean_optimism\" >5. Add a dose of ocean optimism<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2023\/ocean-2.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2023\/ocean-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Credit: Pixabay\/CC0 Public Domain\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2023\/ocean-2.jpg\" alt=\"ocean\" title=\"Credit: Pixabay\/CC0 Public Domain\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                Credit: Pixabay\/CC0 Public Domain<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>For 40 years, I&#8217;ve worked as a marine ecologist and, since 1992, I&#8217;ve been based in Plymouth, Devon\u2014a global hub for coastal marine research and teaching. As I think back to how our understanding of life in our oceans has changed over that time, here are five lessons I have learned.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Start_with_the_basics\"><\/span>1. Start with the basics<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Back in the 1970s, the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=na47wMFfQCo\" target=\"_blank\">band America wrote:<\/a> &#8220;The ocean is a desert with its life underground, and the perfect disguise above.&#8221; Many people I speak to actually don&#8217;t see much beyond that gray-blue surface.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0308597X13001462\" target=\"_blank\">Back in 2014,<\/a> my colleagues and I were quite shocked at the response to a big survey we did on public perception of the marine environment in the UK, particularly when we break out of our marine bubbles. If an organism was remotely colorful or interesting, most people assumed it didn&#8217;t live in UK waters.<\/p>\n<p>That reminded me not to underestimate how little most people know, or care, about UK seas. Make no assumptions.<\/p>\n<p>While Blue Planet and other beautiful <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/watch-movies-tv-seriess\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Watch Movies &amp; TV Series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TV series<\/a> have undoubtedly helped raise the profile of the world&#8217;s seas, some have potentially reinforced this view of local waters\u2014that you have to <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">travel<\/a> to far-off exotic locations to find any interesting and spectacular life.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Inspire_deep_connection\"><\/span>2. Inspire deep connection<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0272494410000496\" target=\"_blank\">Research<\/a> shows the almost unparalleled restorative power of being in, on, under or by the sea. You do not need to dive to feel a strong ocean connection\u2014building sandcastles, catching crabs on a line in a harbor, skimming stones or letting the cold water wash over your feet can work wonders.<\/p>\n<p>Rockpooling is also an incredible window into the underwater world\u2014suddenly all this weird and wonderful life opens up to us in a small, simple and accessible puddle.<\/p>\n<p>People need to be given more opportunities to form lasting connections with the ocean. Organizations such as Plymouth&#8217;s Ocean Conservation Trust and Devon Wildlife Trust are bringing young people to the sea, sometimes for the first time.<\/p>\n<p>Enabling ocean connection is just as important for people who don&#8217;t have the chance or ability to physically be there, for example through virtual reality. I&#8217;ve also been involved in transforming Plymouth Sound into the UK&#8217;s first <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/plymouthsoundnationalmarinepark.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">national marine park<\/a>\u2014this concept is all about engaging people with this stretch of coastline, getting them connected to the ocean and inspiring them to care. And the marine park model could be replicated around the UK.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Take_the_pressure_off\"><\/span>3. Take the pressure off<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you leave the ocean alone, it can recover. Very few shallow areas of our global ocean remain untouched. But, as demonstrated so well in <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/david-attenboroughs-ocean-reveals-how-bottom-trawling-is-hurting-sealife-in-horrifying-detail-255991\" target=\"_blank\">David Attenborough&#8217;s latest film, Ocean<\/a>, if you remove all the most damaging impacts (particularly physical fishing damage), then the sea has great powers of recovery.<\/p>\n<p>In the UK, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v%3De6nNt-NYfG0&amp;source=gmail-imap&amp;ust=1747748463000000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1pztxSOIFQKHfQQ5j9zby_\" target=\"_blank\">bluefin tuna<\/a> and humpback whales have returned as the pressure to hunt them has been better managed. The cold water reefs on the seabed in <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/icesjms\/article\/81\/2\/276\/7542447\" target=\"_blank\">Lyme Bay<\/a> off the south coast of England have recovered remarkably just four years after a ban on towed fishing gear was introduced.<\/p>\n<p>Today, there are so few properly protected areas where all damaging or extractive activities are completely removed to give nature a chance, particularly in the UK. Some habitats may need a bit of help from us\u2014active restoration or replanting of seagrass beds and oyster reefs will help kickstart regrowth.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ads w-100 my-4 article-main__more bg-light p-3 border\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-3\">\n        Discover the latest in <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"5\" title=\"Science\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">science<\/a>, tech, and space with over <strong>100,000 subscribers<\/strong> who rely on Phys.org for daily insights.<br \/>\n        Sign up for our <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/sciencex.com\/help\/newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\">free newsletter<\/a> and get updates on breakthroughs,<br \/>\n        innovations, and research that matter\u2014<strong>daily or weekly<\/strong>.\n    <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Plastic_is_a_distraction\"><\/span>4. Plastic is a distraction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The flow of plastics into the ocean must certainly be stopped. But I worry that the plastic pollution problem is a bandwagon that so many businesses, <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a> outlets and governments have jumped on. Has a decade-long focus on &#8220;solving&#8221; the plastic crisis been a troublesome distraction? <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/new-single-use-plastic-ban-takes-effect-in-england-heres-why-its-impact-may-be-limited-214612\" target=\"_blank\">Banning single-use straws<\/a> can seem like an easy win because leaders can be seen to be taking action\u2014but it does little to solve the ocean&#8217;s biggest problems.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the most complex and hard to resolve activities that seriously harm our seas, such as industrial overfishing, are still not being dealt with. The most damaging fishing practices such as trawling and dredging continue legally, astonishingly even within designated marine protected areas. Such highly damaging activities have no place near sensitive habitats and this has been so well demonstrated in <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.oceanfilm.net\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ocean<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The recent <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/ckgrwxxzxkjo#:~:text=Sandeel%20fishing%20ban%20to%20remain%20in%20place&amp;text=Two%20bans%20for%20English%20and,stocks%20were%20becoming%20too%20low.\" target=\"_blank\">UK ban on sandeel fishing<\/a> gives me hope. This landmark decision was made to benefit nature (protecting food supply for seabirds), restricting a fishery that does not even supply food for humans. Sandeels are <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rspb.org.uk\/whats-happening\/news\/how-a-little-fish-could-benefit-us-all\" target=\"_blank\">used to make<\/a> fishmeal and fish oil to feed farmed fish and livestock.<\/p>\n<p>I firmly believe that the most effective and straightforward solution for the UK is to prohibit all towed fishing gear from within at least three miles of the coast\u2014including developing a series of fully protected marine reserves.<\/p>\n<p>In <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/icesjms\/article\/81\/2\/276\/7542447\" target=\"_blank\">Lyme Bay<\/a>, this <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>roach has led to a real win-win because the seas are now recovering, and local fishers, holidaymakers and coastal communities are benefiting too.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Add_a_dose_of_ocean_optimism\"><\/span>5. Add a dose of ocean optimism<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Rising eco-anxiety, particularly in <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nber.org\/papers\/w32879\" target=\"_blank\">younger people<\/a>, is not surprising given the state of the world. Faced with the nature and climate crisis, it is easy to feel utter despair.<\/p>\n<p>Climate change will undoubtedly <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/portals.iucn.org\/library\/node\/46318&amp;source=gmail-imap&amp;ust=1747748463000000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3vmEd_VL_eHmsz7EXqcaIw\" target=\"_blank\">change our planet<\/a>. Yet, without oceans absorbing most of the carbon (while <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/oceanservice.noaa.gov\/facts\/ocean-oxygen.html\" target=\"_blank\">producing half the oxygen we breathe<\/a>), this planet would already be uninhabitable for human civilization. Making our oceans as healthy and resilient as possible is therefore crucial.<\/p>\n<p>Right now, we need some ocean optimism. Sharing the stories of progress and innovation that show how patches of the sea are recovering can demonstrate what&#8217;s possible and inspire further positive action. By showcasing areas now rich with diverse marine life now that industrial-scale damage has been stopped or whale populations that are booming now that harpoons are a thing of the past, a vision for a better, bluer future can become reality at scale.<\/p>\n<div class=\"d-inline-block text-medium mt-4\">\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tProvided by<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Conversation<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"icon_open\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<use href=\"https:\/\/phys.b-cdn.net\/tmpl\/v6\/img\/svg\/sprite.svg#icon_open\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"article-main__note mt-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/counter.theconversation.com\/content\/250162\/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced\" alt=\"The Conversation\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFive ways to inspire ocean connection: Reflections from my 40-year marine ecology career (2025, May 24)<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tretrieved 24 May 2025<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfrom https:\/\/phys.org\/<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>\/2025-05-ways-ocean-year-marine-ecology.html\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script id=\"facebook-jssdk\" async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/category\/sciencee\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Science category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/phys.org\/news\/2025-05-ways-ocean-year-marine-ecology.html\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Credit: Pixabay\/CC0 Public Domain For 40 years, I&#8217;ve worked as a marine ecologist and, since 1992, I&#8217;ve been based in Plymouth, Devon\u2014a global hub for coastal marine research and teaching. As I think back to how our understanding of life in our oceans has changed over that time, here are five lessons I have learned&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":671293,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/hires\/2023\/ocean-2.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-671292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/671292","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=671292"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/671292\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/671293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=671292"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=671292"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=671292"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}