Aaron Adams, PhD. has lived, worked, and fished on both coasts of the US, and in the Caribbean, where he has been conducting fish research for more than 25 years. His pursuit of effective fish and habitat conservation is rooted in his years growing up near Chesapeake Bay, where he witnessed the decline of the Bay’s habitats and fisheries.

Aaron has been an avid angler since the age of five, and was even known to skip school in pursuit of fish.The why and how of fish and their habitats became a passion and eventually led to the career of fish conservation scientist. He now holds the roles of Director of Science and Conservation at the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust (BTT) and he’s a Senior Scientist, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Florida Atlantic University.

As Director of Science and Conservation at BTT, Aaron is responsible for formulating, overseeing, and implementing BTT’s science and conservation plan, and applying scientific findings to conservation and management via interactions with resource management agencies and other non-governmental organizations. Aaron has been an author or co-author on more than 70 peer-reviewed scientific publications, has authored three books, and contributed chapters to four books. In addition to his scientific focus, he spends considerable effort translating fish science into angler’s terms. You can see his scientific publications on his Researchgate page.

In this episode, Mark and Aaron speak about the incredibly cool nature of bonefish and tarpon, both as species and game fish, the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust's mission, the important nature of connection with guides on the ground to doing the work both as a scientist and as a storyteller, habitat devastation but there is light at the end of the tunnel, young people getting engaged and the vital importance of connection.

Save What You Love with Mark Titus:⁣

Produced: Emilie Firn

Edited: Patrick Troll⁣

Music: Whiskey Class⁣

Instagram: @savewhatyoulovepodcast

Website: savewhatyoulove.evaswild.com

Support wild salmon at evaswild.com

Skye Steritz is a small business owner, an activist and a teacher. She co-owns Noble Ocean Farms with her husband, Sean, which aims to improve both human health and ocean health through cultivating sugar kelp, ribbon kelp, and bull kelp in a responsible and ethical way.

As an activist, she works to protect clean water and is actively involved in habitat preservation and restoration in the Eyak territory of Alaska, where she lives year-round. Following the leadership of dAXuhnyuu (the Eyak People), she supports several key cultural and environmental revitalization initiatives. Additionally, she coordinated the nationally-renowned Stream Watch volunteer program to protect Alaskan salmon and watersheds on the Kenai Peninsula.

In this episode, Mark and Skye talk about becoming a kelp farmer, what it takes to start in this new and emerging business, what role and and cooperation does community play in this type of business and what kind of food does kelp actually produce and how do we eat it?

Save What You Love with Mark Titus:⁣

Produced: Emilie Firn

Edited: Patrick Troll⁣

Music: Whiskey Class⁣

Instagram: @savewhatyoulovepodcast

Website: savewhatyoulove.evaswild.com

Support wild salmon at evaswild.com

Peter Gros is a veteran wildlife expert. As the co-host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Protecting the Wild, Peter Gros shares his love of wildlife and wilderness with audiences throughout the country. Gros joined the original Wild Kingdom team in 1985 and has nearly 30 years of field experience with captive wildlife, establishing breeding programs for endangered animals and rehabilitation programs for birds of prey.

He's a USDA licensed Exhibition Exhibitor and Animal Educator, and an active member of the American Zoo and Aquariums Association, Association of Wildlife Educators and Zoological Association of America. Gros is also on the Board of Directors of the Suisun Marsh Natural History Association and a trustee for the Cheetah Conservation Fund. He's a frequent lecturer on conservation and preservation around the United States and Canada.

His mission is to excite people about wildlife and teach them to understand and care about the natural world.

Mark and Peter discuss inspiration to devote a life to conservation work, bringing endangered species back from the brink, utilizing a large platform to get people to care, and gauging kids in nature early and often the biggest threats to wildlife today and adaptation in a changing climate.

Check out the links mentioned in the show:

Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom: Protecting the Wild

Save What You Love with Mark Titus:⁣

Produced: Emilie Firn

Edited: Patrick Troll⁣

Music: Whiskey Class⁣

Instagram: @savewhatyoulovepodcast

Website: savewhatyoulove.evaswild.com

Support wild salmon at evaswild.com