The Healthy Seas Podcast

Racing for KGs: From Flawed Metrics to Impact Measurements with Pascal Van Erp & Kelsey Richardson

September 21, 2023 Crystal DiMiceli Season 1 Episode 11
Racing for KGs: From Flawed Metrics to Impact Measurements with Pascal Van Erp & Kelsey Richardson
The Healthy Seas Podcast
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The Healthy Seas Podcast
Racing for KGs: From Flawed Metrics to Impact Measurements with Pascal Van Erp & Kelsey Richardson
Sep 21, 2023 Season 1 Episode 11
Crystal DiMiceli

When it comes to supporting ocean clean-up efforts, oftentimes organizations are asked to report on the weight of everything they pulled out of the water. Seemingly, the higher the number, the more valuable the effort was. However, this is a flawed, and potentially dangerous, practice. For example, an almost weightless gill net could entangle and kill countless more animals than a heavy trawler net. It's also more likely to get wrapped up in boat propellers, posing a hazard and liability for people out at sea. Today's guests, Kelsey Richardson, a marine consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and Pascal Van Erp of Healthy Seas and GhostDiving, help to clear up why we need to move away from the "race for kgs" and, instead, toward more meaningful metrics.

 
Further Reading/ Resources:

If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe, rate and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Healthy Seas is a marine conservation organization whose mission is to tackle the ghost fishing phenomenon and turn this waste into an opportunity for a more circular economy. They do this through clean-ups, prevention, education, and working with partners who recycle and repurpose this material. The podcast is hosted by Crystal DiMiceli.

Show Notes

When it comes to supporting ocean clean-up efforts, oftentimes organizations are asked to report on the weight of everything they pulled out of the water. Seemingly, the higher the number, the more valuable the effort was. However, this is a flawed, and potentially dangerous, practice. For example, an almost weightless gill net could entangle and kill countless more animals than a heavy trawler net. It's also more likely to get wrapped up in boat propellers, posing a hazard and liability for people out at sea. Today's guests, Kelsey Richardson, a marine consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization, and Pascal Van Erp of Healthy Seas and GhostDiving, help to clear up why we need to move away from the "race for kgs" and, instead, toward more meaningful metrics.

 
Further Reading/ Resources:

If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe, rate and review it! This helps to boost its visibility.

Healthy Seas is a marine conservation organization whose mission is to tackle the ghost fishing phenomenon and turn this waste into an opportunity for a more circular economy. They do this through clean-ups, prevention, education, and working with partners who recycle and repurpose this material. The podcast is hosted by Crystal DiMiceli.