Ocean Collaborations

The Missing Link: Can We Save the Ocean Without China?
We all feel the urgency, but let’s be honest: are we just talking to ourselves? As ocean collaboration change agents, we often treat China like a “blackbox” - too big to ignore, yet too complex to reach. If you’ve feel isolated in your efforts to scale impact this episode is your “energizer”. We’re crossing the bridge to meet Songlin Wang, an “ocean-dadpreneur” who has spent 20 years building trust where others only saw walls.
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Songlin’s story is a masterclass in why “how” we collaborate matters more than “what” we fund. He shares the raw reality of starting the Qingdao Marine Conservation Society while raising a toddler, proving that true change starts with personal courage. Here is what we discovered:
* The Bird that Stopped the Bulldozers: How do you stop a superpower from reclaiming 60% of its wetlands? Songlin reveals how his team used tiny migratory birds as “indicators” to speak a language the government couldn’t ignore, leading to a historic national ban in 2018.

* Beyond the Blame Game: We keep hearing about the “fishing dilemma,” but what if the industry and NGOs actually shared a mission? Songlin explains why blaming one fleet fails and how building a “mycelium” of trust between scientists and fishers is the only way to tackle illegal fishing.
* The Dadpreneur’s Secret: From commuting between Qingdao and Hong Kong to dreaming of a family trip to the Galapagos, Songlin shows us that balancing professional ambition with family life is the ultimate training for a change agent.
Are you ready to move past the geopolitical noise and see the real people driving the blue economy from the inside?
This isn’t just another interview; it’s a rare look at the hidden networks of collaboration already woven into the water. Let’s stop talking about “different” oceans and start working for the one that connects us all. Listen now to hear how we can build a regenerative ocean future, together.
You like this episode? You know other ‘ocean collaboration bubble breakers’ that move the needle beyond blue-blue-bla-bla and dare to go in the edgy inbetween spaces? Don’t hesitate to message [email protected] to get in touch if!
王松林 Songlin Wang on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/%E6%9D%BE%E6%9E%97-%E7%8E%8B-360ab1a8/
Linklist
Stories for coastal wetland conservation:
https://www.paulsoninstitute.org/conservation/wetlands-conservation/blueprint-of-coastal-wetland-conservation-and-management-in-china/
https://dialogue.earth/en/ocean/12251-tiaozini-wetlands-world-heritage-site-conservation/
Here are some of Qingdao Marine Conservation Society projects and our thinkings:
https://www.oceanoutcomes.org/news/national-fisheries-institute-O2-CAPPMA-O2-launch-crab-seafood-project-china/
https://www.oceanoutcomes.org/news/conservation-china-eelgrass-pew-yellow-sea-small-scale-fishing/
https://impact.economist.com/ocean/biodiversity-ecosystems-and-resources/boosting-global-food-security-with-blue-food
Links about regional collaboration:
https://times.seafoodlegacy.com/en/wang_songlin_1/
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/seafoodlegacy_sakura-activity-7444884986786373633-3UTj/


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Join Birgit Liodden and Jan Maisenbacher on an inspiring ocean collaboration ride.
🔥 Why you shouldn’t miss this episode:
* A rare insider view (and new moratorium initiative!) on the fight against deep sea mining
* Concrete pathways toward regenerative blue economy solutions
* A glimpse into how community + technology can unlock system change (like the Female Founder & Owners Initiative, Guardians of the Arctic, 1000 Ocean Start-up Initiative )
* And a deeply human reminder: 👉 The future of the ocean will not be decided by extraction - but by collaboration.
💥 At the heart of the episode is a bold truth: We are on the verge of industrializing the least understood ecosystem on Earth. And yet, we don’t have the science to understand the consequences.
Birgit shares how she and her collaborators are working to mobilize global business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs to support a moratorium on deep sea mining -not just by saying “no,” but by building real alternatives.
🌱 That’s where it gets exciting for every ocean changemaker:Through the OCEAN OPPORTUNITY LAB, her team is launching a global, open-source “toolbox” of regenerative solutions - mapping innovations that could make seabed mining obsolete before it even begins.
🧠This episode goes beyond one issue. It taps directly into a core pain point many in the various ocean change making ‘bubbles’ feel: How can we accelarate innovation, change and collaboration in ocean regeneration?
Enter TOOL (Ocean Opportunity Lab) 🧩Not just another platform - but a living infrastructure for collaboration.
Birgit describes it beautifully as the “mycelium of the ocean ecosystem” 🍄→ connecting innovators, scientists, investors, NGOs, and rebels across 130+ countries→ breaking silos that keep good ideas stuck→ helping you find your people, your partners, and your next stepAnother mycelium example: Birgit is bridging the gap for female founders, scaling visibility from 100 to 1,000 - now aiming for 10,000 (via TOOL 🚀). It’s not just about gender; it’s about “reef mentality” 🪸 - replacing silos with feminine traits like ecosystem thinking and regenerative collaboration to heal the ocean. 🤝✨
If you’ve ever felt:
* isolated in your mission
* frustrated by fragmented efforts
* or searching for meaningful collaboration
TOOL might just be the ecosystem you’ve been looking for!
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The Ocean Opportunity Lab as a go-to-place for ocean collaboration impact: → LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theoceanopportunitylab→ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/oceanopportunitylab→ REGISTER on the Web and contribute: https://community.toolspawn.com/
Follow & connect Birgit Liodden → on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/birgitliodden→ on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shippingsocialist
Mentioned projects and initiatives:→ Guardians of the Arctic: https://guardians-arc.org→ Female Founder & Owners Initiative: Wavemakers Podcast (besides TOOL also available on Spotify):
Wavemakers Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theoceanopportunitylab8182
Check-out the amazing line-up of their podcast guests (and connect with female Founders on LinkedIn). Somehow TOOL Wavemakers Podcast slipped through our research we did for the one anniversary episode #22 in February 2026 (relisten/re-read here).
→ 1000 Ocean Start-up Initiative: https://www.1000oceanstartups.org
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We’re thrilled to launch the very first Ocean Collaborations Reflections Episode - our new quarterly deep dive into ocean truths amid 2026’s chaos! Your hosts: Jan from Switzerland (almost 50, ocean newbie 😊) and Peter Neill (85-year ocean vet from the US 🗽).
Peter built the World Ocean Observatory from scratch decades ago, shifting museums from dusty past to urgent ocean future. Jan started his podcast in Feburary 2025 - now we’re talking below the surface about should-could-must collaboration action!
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We tackle tough stuff and talk straight:
* Why ocean conferences repeat existing paradigms?
* ‘Paper’ Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) with zero enforcement?
* Wars bombing desalination plants? 😩
But we spark hope - relentless ocean literacy, ethical investing (Peter’s portfolio beats the market! 💰), and YOU 🫵 as the dove’s wings for peace (shoutout Camus 🕊️).
Frustrated by slow ocean impact change and the state of the (ocean) world?
Then LISTEN to the full audio podcast - your wings matter too!
Join our chat for real talk on transforming capitalism, water wars, and building coalitions - and don’t hesitate to share with us what reflection topics interest you for the next episode in July (when Jan is back from the Our Ocean Conference).
Write us at [email protected]
Peter Neill on Social Media:
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-neill-7b131713
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/WorldOceanObservatorySubstack:



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🌊🎙️ What does collaboration look like when the ocean itself becomes a frontline?
In Episode 27 we are joined by research scientist Alice Guittard. Set against the backdrop of the Black Sea - a region shaped by both ecological richness and geopolitical tension - this episode brings you into the heart of the now-concluded BRIDGE Black Sea project. And what emerges is not just a story of research, but of resilience…
In this special, first-ever crossover between Ocean Collaborations and Reef Roundup Podcast, something quietly radical happens: two podcasts, one shared ocean, and a conversation that refuses to accept fragmentation - of ecosystems, of communities, or of hope. 🤝 Graham Patterson is ‘diving the talk’ with Jan Maisenbacher in courageous, transformative ocean collaboration.
If you are looking for actionable ways to build cross-sector coalitions in a zone that is suffering from war, this episode is for you. Here are a few collaboration insights:
🛠️ The Power of “Living Labs” for Systemic Change:
* Breaking silos by uniting public, private, academia, and civil society around shared sustainability challenges.
* Building deep trust and understanding among diverse stakeholders who rarely meet but share common end goals.
* Co-designing actionable strategies rather than just talking, turning local needs into concrete blue economy solutions.
💡 Innovative Tools & Ecosystems for the Sustainable Blue Economy:
* Developing the Black Sea Digital Twin of the Ocean to predict future scenarios and empower local decision-makers.
* Launching accelerator programs that connect young blue economy entrepreneurs with vital resources and networks.
* Bridging the critical gap between available private sustainability funding and local, on-the-ground implementation.
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But what makes this episode truly stand out is its timing - and its courage.
While wars rage across multiple waters, this conversation doesn’t look away. It acknowledges the unseen casualties: marine life silenced by pollution, coastal economies collapsing, scientific collaboration disrupted. And yet, it insists on something else too - that collaboration is still possible, even now.
From Ukrainian researchers continuing their work under fire, to local actors finding common ground across divided shores, this episode is a reminder: the ocean connects where politics divides. 🕊️
This episode became possible thanks to the media partnership of Podcast Ocean Collaborations at the One Ocean Science Congress in Nice in June 2025 organised from Ifremer & CNRS.
Alice Guittard on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliceguittard/ Research project BRIDGE Black Sea: Advancing knowledge, delivering research, empowering citizens for sustainable and climate-neutral Black Sea: https://bridgeblacksea.org
Living Lab Methodology: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Living_lab
Graham Patterson on LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahampatterson
REEF Roundup Podcast: https://www.reef-roundup.com
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How can we protect our ocean while also helping our coastal communities? In our latest episode of Ocean Collaborations, Jan Maisenbacher talks with Wietse van der Werf. He is the founder of the Sea Ranger Service, a bold social enterprise that is changing how we think about marine conservation. 🚢
10 (!) years of ocean impact: Sea Ranger Service
Wietse believes that to save our seas, we must move beyond traditional charity. His “impact business model” treats ocean health as a service that creates real jobs. By using a business structure, he can scale faster and stay independent. This approach shows that doing good for the planet can also be a sustainable way to run a company.
Key topics of this episode
* SeaRanger Service’s impact on ocean restoration and youth employment
* Innovative funding models for marine conservation
* Cross-sector partnerships with navy, industry, and government
* Seagrass restoration as a climate and biodiversity solution
* The role of social entrepreneurship in ocean health
Why social entrepreneurship works for the ocean
* It creates a steady flow of money that does not depend only on grants or donations.
* It allows for faster growth by using proven business tools like franchising and global scaling.
* It focuses on clear results that balance nature restoration with economic success for people.
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How social (ocean) entrepreneurs are restoring the ocean and creating jobs
The “how” is just as inspiring as the “why.” The Sea Ranger Service builds its own sailing work ships to keep a low carbon footprint. They run boot camps where navy veterans train unemployed youth to become the next generation of ocean guardians. This creates a powerful cycle of social and environmental impact. 🤝
How this model helps coastal communities:
* It offers purpose-driven careers to young people who may feel left behind by the economy.
* It uses the skills of veterans to provide high-quality training and mentorship in maritime roles.
* It helps nations manage Marine Protected Areas that would otherwise be left unmonitored.
Wietse’s story is one of courage and innovation. He shows us that we don’t have to choose between a healthy ocean and a strong economy. We can have both if we are brave enough to build new systems. 🌟
Join the ocean collaborations change maker community and keep on learning how you can apply the tools and processes discovered in the podcast to your own work. In 2026 we are building a diverse ecosystem of professionals who are ready to transform the blue economy. Let’s move from awareness to action - together. 🌍
If you are interested to learn more, simply subsribe to the Substack chat:
Linklist
* Sea Ranger Service website: https://searangers.org/
* Sea Ranger Bootcamp (how they train youth): https://searangers.org/bootcamp/
* Sea Ranger Webshop: https://searangers.org/shop/
* Sumthing, platform for public contributions: https://www.sumthing.org/projects/SR-001/restoring-seagrass-in-the-eastern-scheldt#evaluation
* Sea Ranger franchising model: https://searangers.org/academy/
* Seagrass restoration: https://searangers.org/nature-restoration/
* For more personal approach, you can find Sea Ranger stories here: https://searangers.org/blog/
LinkedIn:
* Connect with Wietse Van Der Werf: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wietsevdwerf/
* Follow the company page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/searangersorg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/searangersorg/
Ashoka Social Entrepreneurship Network: https://www.ashoka.org/en
The other two mentioned ocean social entrepreneurs:
Bren Smith (US west coast): building a blue-green economy centered on a 3D ocean farm that will restore oceans and re-invent the fishing profession.Hanli Prinsloo (South Africa): founded the I am Water Foundation to create safe, immersive experiences that reconnect young people to the world beneath the waves.

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