Kicking off the Shaped by the Sea Podcast with the Fisherman's Perspective

October 4, 2020

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Join Brian Yurasits for the maiden voyage of his podcast series - Shaped By The Sea! Today Brian sits down with Rocco Costa to chat about recreational fishing in New York. Rocco descends from a classic Italian fishing family who has navigated New York's waterways for 3 generations. When he's not chasing bottom-fish offshore, Rocco works as a charter boat deckhand and runs a Facebook community group called Cod On The Rod. This Italian Stallion has an encyclopedia of local fishing knowledge stored in his brain. Brian picks Rocco's noggin' to learn what makes someone a 'hardcore' fisher in New York, why recreational fishers distrust the science behind regulations, and how fishers can help support a healthy ocean for future generations to enjoy. And of course there are some salty sea tales mixed in for your listening pleasure! It's important that we open our ears to the people on the frontlines of ocean issues, and Rocco has some seriously useful insight.

Show Transcription
This transcription was generated by a computer. Please excuse any errors.
Brian Yurasits

A scientist - surfer- fisherman hybrid, Brian is on a mission to unite the world in protecting our planet's most valuable resource: a healthy ocean. At a young age, Brian taught himself how to surf while enjoying fishing on the weekends with his family. After spending time at NYU and Stony Brook University studying marine conservation and policy, Brian took to the sea as a fisheries observer where he documented the impact of industrial fishing on The Atlantic Ocean. The complex nature of the world's fishing industry has always fascinated Brian, especially the relationship between fishers and scientists. Brian realized that he could bridge the gap between these two historically combative groups, by bringing both to the table to discuss the future of fishing. Brian now finds himself working as Marine Mammal Rescue Community Outreach Manager at Seacoast Science Center in New Hampshire where he is facilitating the rescue and rehabilitation of marine mammals.