With the weather warming up across New England, people are heading for the coast. Today Word of Mouth hits the high seas. First we'll ponder the unfathomable push and pull of the open ocean. Then, we’ll speak to an artist who created the world’s first submerged sculpture park, his underwater gallery not only attracts art-lovers, but serves as an artificial reef. Plus, farmed fish now exceeds beef production. Have fish farmers learned from the mistakes of the meat industry?
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Rediscovering the Sea
The writer Philip Hoare established his passion for whales in a book called "The Whale:In Search of the Giants of the Sea". His newest book is called "The Sea Inside", it's a mix of acutely observed notes on nature, literary history, memoir, and travelogue of a yearlong journey to rediscover the sea.
Farming for Better Fish
With the world's population at 7 billion, and rising, the demand for high-protein foods is also on the rise. According to a study released yesterday from the U.N.’s Food and Agricultural Organization, fish consumption has risen from an annual average of 22 pounds per person in the 1960s to nearly double that in 2012. And that number is expected to rise another 35 percent in the next twenty years. Only problem: where will the fish come from? And can those demands be met sustainably? Joel Bourne's article in the June issue of National Geographic “How to Farm a Better Fish” explores different approaches to fish farming
Underwater Museum
If you want to see the work of artist Jason Decaires Taylor, be prepared to wear scuba gear. In 2006, Decaires founded and created the world’s first submerged sculpture park off the coast of Grenada, and his latest creation, Musa, is a collection of over 500 underwater sculptures off the coast of Cancun. His works are as much for sea life than for art-lovers. In fact, they were designed to promote coral growth.
The Fisherman's Friends
The sea has inspired works of art, epic novels, and song. For more than 15 years, The Fisherman’s Friends have been singing sea shanties as a group in Port Isaac, Cornwall. During the summer, the ten men give free concerts in the old harbor drawing crowds of 3000 or more. The picturesque village has been highlighted in films and TV shows—mostly recently the popular Doc Martin series. But The Fisherman’s Friends remain the heart of local culture. With a 1.6 million dollar recording contract, the group is gaining worldwide attention. Producer Dmae Roberts visited with the singers at their favorite pub in Port Isaac.
You can listen to this story again at PRX.org.
Surfing Moms
The sea offers sustenance, it can give life, take life. And it can also offer a welcome distraction. For a group of working moms in Maine, that distraction is surfing…rain or shine. This story comes from Katie Ricciardi of the Salt institute for Documentary Studies.
You can listen to this story again at PRX.org.
