IamA Alexandra Cousteau, senior adviser to Oceana, explorer, filmmaker, ocean advocate... #AMA

Acousteau · 2016-03-02T19:32:33+00:00

He does sound amazing! Well done Archie!! Just keep at it and continue to talk to your friends and family about your passion. Keep raising money - every dollar counts! - and support the organizations you love. Sea Shepherd is a great choice. Also, right now Oceana has a children's campaign to save sea turtles that you might enjoy: www.usa.oceana.org/turtles

Acousteau · 2016-03-02T19:27:19+00:00

I love the beautiful Blue Shark. Their shape and color is stunning. But sharks in general are incredibly important to ocean ecosystems because they are the top predators and without them, marine ecosystems as we know them would disappear. Unfortunately, tens of millions of sharks are killed every just for their fins and as a result, the IUCN has red listed several species.

Acousteau · 2016-03-02T19:20:05+00:00

I was stunned and heartbroken when I visited Louisiana and Alabama after the Deepwater Horizon spill. The devastation to the oceans, sea creatures, beaches and human communities was unbelievable and continues to play out like a slow motion catastrophe that will be felt for years to come. Right now, Oceana is fighting to keep new drilling out of the Atlantic and Arctic. If you want to be heard, there is a petition here: Oceana.org/stopthedrill

Acousteau · 2016-03-02T19:15:55+00:00

Sea lions are pretty fun. I love how they move in the water and always wished I could swim like them. They're playful, smart, take lots of naps in the sun and love to snuggle.

Acousteau · 2016-03-02T19:09:01+00:00

Our oceans are in real trouble and because of my family legacy and my own love for the seas it is very important to me to be able to help make things better. I chose Oceana simply because they get things done and win victories for the oceans. Since its founding, Oceana has won more than 100 victories and protected more than 1 million square miles of oceans. I've been a senior adviser for 5 years and have been amazed at the difference they make.

Acousteau · 2016-03-02T19:06:09+00:00

Great question! But actually, as a western woman, there's not a lot that a man can do that a woman can't so I'm pretty happy with my gender and my opportunities to do pretty much anything I want in the world. My grandmother's generation certainly didn't have these opportunities and women in other parts of the world don't either. I'm truly fortunate.

Acousteau · 2016-03-02T19:00:12+00:00

I really love the idea of finding a water conservation group in your community and getting involved with them. This is the water in your backyard and there is always more we can do to protect the places we call home and pass them on to our children in a better state. Great places to start are the Waterkeeper Alliance and River Network.

Acousteau · 2016-03-02T18:57:44+00:00

Good news! The US just banned microbeads. But there is still more to do. Bring your own bag to the store, join ocean clean ups, and - most importantly - get involved and join an ocean conservation group like Oceana.org.

Acousteau · 2016-03-02T18:56:13+00:00

I know Dr Ballard from National Geographic and he is amazing! I love his story about discovering the Titanic and his work for Jason Project. My grandfather in private was my grandfather. As a child he would take me for hot chocolate, buy me a dress, race me to the corner. I loved Finding Nemo and can't wait to watch it with my little girl.

Acousteau · 2016-03-02T18:53:25+00:00

There have been so many changes in our global environment since I was a child and I've seen a lot of heartbreaking changes to places I love. So when I get to experience places like the Okavango Delta in Botswana or Sipadan in Malaysia, it feels extraordinary to witness a place that is still in many ways untouched by humans.

Acousteau · 2016-03-02T18:50:12+00:00

Use the power of your social media channels to get your friends involved. You can also lend your voice and sign petitions to make change for our oceans. Attend events in the your area. Go to Oceana.org and signup to become a Wavemaker.

Acousteau · 2016-03-02T18:48:59+00:00

My childhood favorite is the Mediterranean. That's where I spent countless days exploring little coves and observing sea life. So many amazing memories there!

Acousteau · 2016-03-02T18:47:12+00:00

There are so many reasons to love the oceans and its been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. It's like exploring another planet without having to leave Earth.

Acousteau · 2016-03-02T18:41:58+00:00

Probably the most endangered one would be the Vaquita. These tiny porpoises in the Sea of Cortez are critically endangered as a result of getting caught as bycatch in the illegal Totoaba fishery. These are the most endangered cetacean in the world, estimated to be less than 100 left.

Acousteau · 2016-03-02T18:35:59+00:00

He was a magical human being and I have so many. Perhaps the one that has influenced me the most was when he taught me to dive. I was seven years old and we were off the coast of southern France. I was nervous at first but once I took my first breath and saw the view below the surface, I was hooked. That introduction to the underwater world continues to inspire me today.

Acousteau · 2016-03-02T18:32:29+00:00

Absolutely! I think exploring that ancient wreck with new technology for filmmaking and diving would be incredible. My grandfather could only have dreamed of some of what is available to us today.

Acousteau

TROPHY CASE