24. Under Threat: Sharks, Seas, and the Laws That Protect Them

About this episode

David McGuire discusses the threats to marine laws and the efforts to protect sharks and ocean ecosystems.

Today, we’re joined by David McGuire, Executive Director of Shark Stewards, an organization dedicated to protecting endangered marine species and the critical ocean habitats they depend on. For more than fifty years, foundational laws such as the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act have served as our nation’s safety net for wildlife and wild places. First enacted under President Nixon, these landmark protections have saved countless species from extinction and safeguarded some of the planet’s most vital ecosystems. Today, that hard-won legacy is under serious threat. Efforts to weaken or dismantle these laws would create a crisis not only for wildlife, but for the health of our oceans and the coastal communities that rely on them. David is working to defend sharks, rays, and the broader ocean ecosystems they call home. From combating the global shark fin trade to establishing marine protected areas and engaging communities in hands-on science, Shark Stewards advances conservation from local beaches to international policy arenas. https://sharkstewards.org/saving-sharks/

People in this episode

Host: Jenn Galler

Guest: David McGuire

Topics covered

• marine conservation
• shark protection
• environmental law
• ocean health
• endangered species

Keywords

• sharks
• marine conservation
• endangered species
• ocean ecosystems
• environmental protection

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Shark Stewards

Books & works: Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, National Marine Sanctuaries Act

Places: United States

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