The Bay of Fundy: Sea and skies

Explore: A Canadian Geographic podcast

For our final episode on board the Polar Prince, sailing Atlantic Canada's Bay of Fundy, we're spending some time under the waves and looking to the skies, as we join a fascinating cross-section of scientists, students and researchers who make up this Students on Ice Ocean conservation expedition.

With the team from New Brunswick's Huntsman Marine Science Centre, we dive into the Fundy waters, gathering samples for baseline databases, crucial to understanding the changing nature of the Bay and the impacts of climate change. They are joined by Laval University's Loic Jacquemont, doing environmental DNA studies of the seas and Rolex Dive Scholar Millie Mannering from New Zealand. Acadia University First Nations student Valerie Campbell explains why Indigenous oral history is science. Minas Basin commercial fisher and researcher Erica Porter discusses her family's efforts to have energy companies harness the Fundy's tidal power in less damaging ways for marine life. And Rick Ludkin and his Canadian Wildlife Service team scan the skies for a seabird survey.

And a note: There is some talk in this episode about Hurricane Fiona, which was looming while I was on board. I left before Fiona hit, but the steady old Polar Prince and her crew rode out the strong winds and rain safely and with grace.

Many thanks again to the crew of the Polar Prince and to the staff of Students on Ice for making this journey possible.