Meet Sarah Bedolfe, Oceana Marine Scientist

In honor of Earth Day, we talked to four Oceana team members to learn more about their work, ocean conservation, and how we can all do our part to help. You can read other interviews from the series here, here, and here. Tell us about your background. When and why did you first become interested in ocean conservation? I grew up in coastal Southern California and started volunteering the local Ocean Institute in middle school so my passion for the ocean started early. I also always knew that I wanted to do something that would have a positive impact on the world, so conservation was a natural fit. The world of “ocean conservation” is still pretty broad but I settled on studying marine biology and haven’t looked back. Check out the last question for more thoughts on that :) What does a typical day look like for you? You can often find me reading and writing about emerging topics in marine conservation, such as the latest research in Marine Protected Areas, the risks of deep-sea mining, and the overuse of antibiotics in salmon farming. I do that to help ensure Oceana campaigns are always based on the best available science. Other days, I’m holding meetings and managing specific projects, such as coordinating outreach around new reports for Oceana’s Transparent Oceans Initiative. I also convene Oceana’s international scientists to collaborate on shared topics, regularly review draft reports for scientific accuracy, and train new staff on our resources and scientific guidelines. I enjoy having so much variety! Can you share some of your favorite memories or milestones from your career? It’s always fun when I get to step away from my desk. During graduate school in the Netherlands, I spent a semester living on a small island off the Dutch coast called Texel. This was my first experience doing research at a large oceanographic institute, and I spent many days slogging across the tidal flats in waders gathering shellfish samples, and in lab dissecting hundreds of mussels to identify and collect parasites – all to understand how an invasive parasite was affecting native mussels. It sounds gross, I know, but it was also fascinating! Once I joined Oceana, my job called for less fieldwork but in 2018, I had the amazing fortune to join Oceana’s team in Chile on an expedition in remote Patagonia. You can read about it here. What’s something you wish more people knew about the oceans and marine life? I am passionate about marine invertebrates! Of course, everyone loves whales and dolphins and sharks – but what about the little guys? Some of the weirdest and most wonderful marvels can be found among the ocean’s spineless creatures – from cuttlefish, to crabs, to worms. One of my favorites is a group of colorful little sea slugs called nudibranchs. They are named for the frilly gills on their backs - “nudibranch” means “naked lung.” They prey on animals that sting (think: jellies and their relatives). Instead of being deterred by the stingers, they steal them for their own defense! It’s like a real-life superpower! Is there a policy you hope to see changed or implemented that you think could have a major impact on ocean life? Last year, there was an oil spill off the coast of Orange County. An oil spill is always bad news but for me this was personal – it affected the beaches where I grew up and fell in love with the ocean. The offshore oil industry’s track record has proven that spills are inevitable – when they drill, they spill. We desperately need a moratorium on new offshore oil drilling, and stiffer penalties and better oversight for current operators so we can avoid the next oil disaster. What individual actions can people take to help protect our oceans? One of the most impactful things you can do is call upon your political leaders to make responsible policies that protect our environment and the vibrant communities that depend on it. For example, here’s a petition calling on Congress and the President to end new offshore drilling in the U.S. What would you tell someone interested in pursuing a career in marine biology or related fields? I mentioned earlier that the world of “ocean conservation” is broad. If you know, like I did, that you want to work in this field, there are a lot of options and ways to get involved. Are you more interested in science and academic research? Communication, such as journalism or public education? What about law and public policy? Are you talented at grant writing? Organizing groups of volunteers? A science degree never hurts but from there, the best way to figure out what suits you (besides actually doing it) is to talk to people. Try to connect with people (via your alumni network, at conferences, or even over Twitter, LinkedIn, or email) and ask about what they do and how they got to this point in their careers. You’ll learn a lot and expand your network at the same time! Is there anything else you’d like us to share or think we should know? A healthy ocean is vital for our planet. The ocean covers 71 percent of the globe, plays a central role in the world's natural systems, like producing oxygen and regulating our climate, and supports countless livelihoods through fisheries and seafood. When we take care of the ocean, the ocean takes care of us.