Raw and Unfiltered Holiday Conversations About The Ocean With the Yurasits Family | Shaped by the Sea

December 27, 2020

Getting to the heart of the matter isn't easy.

Grab a seat at the table with Brian Yurasits and his Italian-American family from Queens, NY for a no-holds-back conversation about our oceans this Holiday season. Gerard (Brian's Father) is a savvy businessman with his fingers on the pulse of the US economy, and Lauren (Brian's Mother) is a former educator, and media researcher. So how did two parents without any experience in the environmental realm raise a son who has devoted his life to protecting our oceans? And what can we learn from these two about the modern environmental movement? In an age of cancel-culture, online shaming, and tip-toeing around tough conversations, this raw and unfiltered family dialogue presents some important ideas that environmentalists should consider. Learn from the 'School of Hard-Knocks' about how to connect new audiences with ocean conservation issues, and get a little reality check that not everybody agrees with you, but that's okay. We can all learn from one another and move forward together for a better future. Only on ASPN!

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.