This week Ocean Impact Organisation proudly announced our official status as a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC). As a not-for-profit organisation, support from the philanthropic community is one of the primary ways we are able to carry out our mission to create an abundant and sustainable ocean, and we are always welcoming additional supporters.

How much thought do you give to the role of the high seas in your daily life? Do you consider the fact that 90% of the goods we buy have moved across the sea via maritime shipping? Have you ever wondered if the seafood you consume could in fact have been caught illegally contributing to an illicit trade worth $160bn/yr.

In this week’s episode of The Ocean Impact Podcast we speak to competitive freediver, photographer, conservationist and documentary filmmaker Julia Wheeler. Julia’s passion for the wild and adventure has taken her all over the world, producing captivating images and stories driven by her passion for wildlife and conservation.

Why are we drawn to the ocean each summer? Why does being near water set our minds and bodies at ease? In Episode Six of the Ocean Impact Podcast Tim speaks with Wallace J. Nichols, renowned marine biologist, thought leader and best-selling author of Blue Mind. The conversation meanders through Wallace’s incredible career and what has become his life’s work: Blue Mind.

Our mission at Ocean Impact Organisation is to create an abundant, sustainable ocean through inspiration, innovation, leadership, and good business. We believe ‘ocean impact’ encompasses all activities that have the potential to have a significant positive impact on the ocean and the people that depend on it. With this idea in mind, for this week’s #MyPieceOfOcean we compiled a list of impactful free workshops and courses that are currently available online.

Episode 2 features a conversation between Tim Silverwood and The Seabin Project CEO Pete Ceglinski as they dive into the problem of plastic waste in our oceans and what Pete and the team are doing to deal with it. This interview took place before the successful crowdfunding campaign by Seabin that saw them raise $1.8million AUD!

This time last week we were beyond excited to officially launch The Ocean Impact Podcast.

This week, in the spirit of reciprocating the incredible support and celebrating podcasts, we’ve decided to bring the ocean to you by compiling a list of some ocean-themed podcast episodes that our team members have recommended.  

We’d also love for you to share with us what you’ve been listening to by tagging us online at #mypieceofocean

Last week was a big week at Ocean Impact Organisation. On Thursday, we had the official launch of The Ocean Impact Podcast, and we’re so grateful for the amazing response we’ve received so far. We also held our first Instagram Live concert on Friday evening with Billy Otto, the awesome artist behind our podcast theme, “Can’t Take The Ocean Out Of Me”. We had a great time and extend a massive thank you to Billy too!

In case you haven’t taken a dip into the podcast yet, the first three episodes can be found on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and the video versions are up on YouTube.

We live on Planet Ocean, and it is one vast, complex entity. The ocean regulates the climate; it provides two-thirds of the oxygen we breathe; it fuels the water cycle and provides nourishment for nearly three billion people and sustains the livelihoods of millions. But as we now know, Planet Ocean is in danger. The Ocean Impact Podcast follows co-founders Tim Silverwood and Nick Chiarelli on a ‘journey of discovery’ as they launch Ocean Impact Organisation and pursue their mission to ‘create an abundant and sustainable ocean through inspiration, innovation, leadership, and good business’.

At Ocean Impact Organisation we’re certainly not immune to the impacts of COVID-19, and like everyone else we’re doing our best to stop the spread through social distancing and following the instructions of authorities. Whilst we’re missing our home at WOTSO Workspace Manly, the sound of the waves, and the face-to-face interaction, we’ve embraced remote working exceptionally well and are working on a short-term future that is virtual and ‘digital by design’.

Whether we can see it or not, the ocean flows through every aspect of our lives, and now is a perfect time to reflect, learn, imagine, and nurture that relationship through film. 

We’ve curated a list of films that have touched us, made us laugh, and inspired our drive to create an abundant and sustainable ocean.  

During this unique time we are compelled to isolate in the interests of our wider community. As we embrace digital technologies to keep us connected, many of us may feel more physically and spiritually disconnected from the ocean than ever before.

Whether we can see it or not, the ocean flows through every aspect of our lives. It provides us with the air we breathe, and supports the lives and livelihoods of billions of us around the world. And while many of us are stuck inside at the moment, it is not going anywhere.