Seaweeds have been on our planet for 1.6 billion years and are a nursery ground and haven for so many marines creatures. The crop also supports the livelihoods of more than six million seaweed farmers throughout parts of Asia and Africa.

However, threats brought on by the effects of climate change mean many seaweed species are feeling the heat - quite literally - and even face the risk of extinction.

In this episode of the SAMS Ocean Explorer podcast, Profs. Elizabeth Cottier-Cook of SAMS and Juliet Brodie of the Natural History Museum discuss their plans to help safeguard this underappreciated natural wonder.

Through their respective research and conservation projects, backed by UK Research and Innovation and the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate, they have produced the Seaweed Breakthrough, a briefing and call to action that they will present to COP31 in Turkey next month.

Sign the Seaweed Breakthrough Pledge here: Seaweed Breakthrough – Part of the 2030 Ocean Breakthroughs

The Ocean Explorer podcast is produced by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), an ocean research charity and partner of UHI based in Oban.
In each episode, we take a deep dive into marine science topics with SAMS scientists and special guests.
Interested in working or studying with us, or helping with our work? Visit www.sams.ac.uk to find out more.

We're sadly all too familiar with the terms 'pollution' and 'climate crisis' when it comes to talking about the natural world. But what about the 'biodiversity crisis'?

All around the world, we humans are making our mark in an often harmful way, placing a strain on other species. From deforestation to extinctions and the introduction of non-native invasive species, there's a lot to consider.

So, why has the current situation been labelled a 'crisis' and what can be done about it? In this episode, host Euan Paterson sits down with marine ecologist Dr Clive Fox of SAMS and Dr Flavio Affinito, a consultant with the UN Convention on Global Biodiversity, to find out more.

The Ocean Explorer podcast is produced by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), an ocean research charity and partner of UHI based in Oban.
In each episode, we take a deep dive into marine science topics with SAMS scientists and special guests.
Interested in working or studying with us, or helping with our work? Visit www.sams.ac.uk to find out more.

He is one of the world's most cited climate scientists and is part of the research collaboration that defined the term 'marine heatwave', but after 35 years at SAMS Prof. Mike Burrows is sailing into retirement.

In this special episode, host Euan Paterson sits down with Prof. Burrows to find out how his research has been guided by the theme of climate change and why ocean temperature is changing the distribution of marine species.

We also hear a confession of how he almost lost a new company vehicle while on fieldwork and the surprising influence that the movie Jaws had on his career choice...

The Ocean Explorer podcast is produced by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), an ocean research charity and partner of UHI based in Oban.
In each episode, we take a deep dive into marine science topics with SAMS scientists and special guests.
Interested in working or studying with us, or helping with our work? Visit www.sams.ac.uk to find out more.