spencer roberts 🦈
@unpopularscience.bsky.social
marine ecologist 🤿
investigative journalist 🎥
environmental activist 🐠🐟🐡
diver, musician, coder, engineer
words in Science, Wired, The Intercept…
Blue Marble lab at U Miami RSMAES 🌴
linktr.ee/fish_defender ⓥ
investigative journalist 🎥
environmental activist 🐠🐟🐡
diver, musician, coder, engineer
words in Science, Wired, The Intercept…
Blue Marble lab at U Miami RSMAES 🌴
linktr.ee/fish_defender ⓥ
Pinned
We programmed a crawler to search open web marketplaces for every animal on the IUCN red list.
Nearly 2/3 of our matches were shark jaws, comprising 9 of the top 10 openly traded threatened species.
A glimpse of the global trophy trade of endangered sharks:
🌏 🦑 🧪 🧵
urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
Nearly 2/3 of our matches were shark jaws, comprising 9 of the top 10 openly traded threatened species.
A glimpse of the global trophy trade of endangered sharks:
🌏 🦑 🧪 🧵
urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...
November 23, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Reposted by spencer roberts 🦈
Nice perspective by @unpopularscience.bsky.social in @currentaffairs.bsky.social.
Debates on AI consciousness persist, yet the scientific consensus on animal consciousness is robust & necessitates a change in assumptions.
#bioethics #animalrights
Debates on AI consciousness persist, yet the scientific consensus on animal consciousness is robust & necessitates a change in assumptions.
#bioethics #animalrights
November 19, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Nice perspective by @unpopularscience.bsky.social in @currentaffairs.bsky.social.
Debates on AI consciousness persist, yet the scientific consensus on animal consciousness is robust & necessitates a change in assumptions.
#bioethics #animalrights
Debates on AI consciousness persist, yet the scientific consensus on animal consciousness is robust & necessitates a change in assumptions.
#bioethics #animalrights
Pack hunting is a social behavior that demonstrates cooperation between predators.
Once thought a uniquely mammalian capability, we now acknowledge pack hunting behavior across the animal kingdom, including many fish species. This interspecific jack pack is especially impressive.
#MarineLife
Once thought a uniquely mammalian capability, we now acknowledge pack hunting behavior across the animal kingdom, including many fish species. This interspecific jack pack is especially impressive.
#MarineLife
November 12, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Pack hunting is a social behavior that demonstrates cooperation between predators.
Once thought a uniquely mammalian capability, we now acknowledge pack hunting behavior across the animal kingdom, including many fish species. This interspecific jack pack is especially impressive.
#MarineLife
Once thought a uniquely mammalian capability, we now acknowledge pack hunting behavior across the animal kingdom, including many fish species. This interspecific jack pack is especially impressive.
#MarineLife
Reposted by spencer roberts 🦈
“Sentience is ill-defined. Many confuse it with consciousness or self-awareness, but its etymology stems from the Latin word sentire: to feel.”
@unpopularscience.bsky.social from @currentaffairs.bsky.social
@unpopularscience.bsky.social from @currentaffairs.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 3:21 PM
“Sentience is ill-defined. Many confuse it with consciousness or self-awareness, but its etymology stems from the Latin word sentire: to feel.”
@unpopularscience.bsky.social from @currentaffairs.bsky.social
@unpopularscience.bsky.social from @currentaffairs.bsky.social
fish farming industry is really pissed off about this lol
November 7, 2025 at 2:42 PM
fish farming industry is really pissed off about this lol
New paper finds rampant illegal shark fin trafficking, despite >100 threatened sharks and rays being listed on CITES in the past 20 years.
Evidence is becoming very strong that the only effective way to protect sharks is to stop the fisheries catching them.
🦑🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Evidence is becoming very strong that the only effective way to protect sharks is to stop the fisheries catching them.
🦑🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
International trade regulations take a limited bite out of the shark fin trade
Survey uncovers widespread illegal shark fin trade despite nearly a decade of international regulation.
www.science.org
November 6, 2025 at 3:23 PM
New paper finds rampant illegal shark fin trafficking, despite >100 threatened sharks and rays being listed on CITES in the past 20 years.
Evidence is becoming very strong that the only effective way to protect sharks is to stop the fisheries catching them.
🦑🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Evidence is becoming very strong that the only effective way to protect sharks is to stop the fisheries catching them.
🦑🧪
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
November 4, 2025 at 10:57 PM
world vegan day
In the past few years, corporations have turned their backs on vegans and, more importantly, animals. They want us to believe one person can’t make a difference.
But that’s why we act collectively. The truth is that our economic choices matter more than ever.
In the past few years, corporations have turned their backs on vegans and, more importantly, animals. They want us to believe one person can’t make a difference.
But that’s why we act collectively. The truth is that our economic choices matter more than ever.
November 2, 2025 at 4:51 AM
world vegan day
In the past few years, corporations have turned their backs on vegans and, more importantly, animals. They want us to believe one person can’t make a difference.
But that’s why we act collectively. The truth is that our economic choices matter more than ever.
In the past few years, corporations have turned their backs on vegans and, more importantly, animals. They want us to believe one person can’t make a difference.
But that’s why we act collectively. The truth is that our economic choices matter more than ever.
90% of marine fishes in the aquarium trade were born free. (Lin et al. 2025) 🧪
This little jewel is the coveted indigo hamlet. You can find them online for $100, but I’ve never seen one in Florida — and I’m not going to tell you where I did.
#MarineLife
This little jewel is the coveted indigo hamlet. You can find them online for $100, but I’ve never seen one in Florida — and I’m not going to tell you where I did.
#MarineLife
October 27, 2025 at 2:16 PM
90% of marine fishes in the aquarium trade were born free. (Lin et al. 2025) 🧪
This little jewel is the coveted indigo hamlet. You can find them online for $100, but I’ve never seen one in Florida — and I’m not going to tell you where I did.
#MarineLife
This little jewel is the coveted indigo hamlet. You can find them online for $100, but I’ve never seen one in Florida — and I’m not going to tell you where I did.
#MarineLife
Babe wake up, new righteous animal retribution headline just dropped.
October 26, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Babe wake up, new righteous animal retribution headline just dropped.
A joint study by European Space Agency & NOAA concludes we have gravely underestimated ocean acidification.
We’ve already crossed the planetary boundary, shattered it for the Arctic, & eliminated 43% of coral habitat.
Stopping emissions cannot reverse this.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
We’ve already crossed the planetary boundary, shattered it for the Arctic, & eliminated 43% of coral habitat.
Stopping emissions cannot reverse this.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Ocean Acidification: Another Planetary Boundary Crossed
In this study, employing a detailed analysis of ocean carbonate system observations, models and biological assessments, we demonstrate that by year 2020, the average global ocean conditions had alrea...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 26, 2025 at 1:52 PM
A joint study by European Space Agency & NOAA concludes we have gravely underestimated ocean acidification.
We’ve already crossed the planetary boundary, shattered it for the Arctic, & eliminated 43% of coral habitat.
Stopping emissions cannot reverse this.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
We’ve already crossed the planetary boundary, shattered it for the Arctic, & eliminated 43% of coral habitat.
Stopping emissions cannot reverse this.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Bacon kills more people from cancer than tobacco and asbestos ever did.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Scientists demand cancer warnings on bacon and ham sold in UK
Successive governments criticised for doing ‘virtually nothing’ to reduce risk in the decade since cancer link found
www.theguardian.com
October 25, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Bacon kills more people from cancer than tobacco and asbestos ever did.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by spencer roberts 🦈
Another excellent essay by @unpopularscience.bsky.social - on sentience and much else.
"Other life forms cannot describe their pain to us, yet we can still listen.... Our world is so much more complex and wondrous than the myth of human supremacy would have us believe."
shorturl.at/F38aV
"Other life forms cannot describe their pain to us, yet we can still listen.... Our world is so much more complex and wondrous than the myth of human supremacy would have us believe."
shorturl.at/F38aV
Why All Animals Are Sentient, and Machines Will Never Be
Even the smallest sea slug feels pain. That means we have a responsibility not to inflict it.
www.currentaffairs.org
October 18, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Another excellent essay by @unpopularscience.bsky.social - on sentience and much else.
"Other life forms cannot describe their pain to us, yet we can still listen.... Our world is so much more complex and wondrous than the myth of human supremacy would have us believe."
shorturl.at/F38aV
"Other life forms cannot describe their pain to us, yet we can still listen.... Our world is so much more complex and wondrous than the myth of human supremacy would have us believe."
shorturl.at/F38aV
THE SAND TILEFISH
Tilefish engineer ecosystems by excavating burrows that provide habitat to all sorts of other life. Sadly they remain widely hunted, both recreationally and commercially. The deep-dwelling great golden tilefish is now endangered.
#MarineLife
Tilefish engineer ecosystems by excavating burrows that provide habitat to all sorts of other life. Sadly they remain widely hunted, both recreationally and commercially. The deep-dwelling great golden tilefish is now endangered.
#MarineLife
October 16, 2025 at 1:34 PM
THE SAND TILEFISH
Tilefish engineer ecosystems by excavating burrows that provide habitat to all sorts of other life. Sadly they remain widely hunted, both recreationally and commercially. The deep-dwelling great golden tilefish is now endangered.
#MarineLife
Tilefish engineer ecosystems by excavating burrows that provide habitat to all sorts of other life. Sadly they remain widely hunted, both recreationally and commercially. The deep-dwelling great golden tilefish is now endangered.
#MarineLife
Reposted by spencer roberts 🦈
NEW data finds that the government shutdown has furloughed 29,000 employees at public land agencies, nearly half the current workforce, impacting nearly every corner of the U.S.
How the Government Shutdown Affects Public Land Employees and Communities
Bipartisan efforts saved public lands from being sold off. Can Congress work together again so that furloughed public land employees in the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and W...
www.americanprogress.org
October 15, 2025 at 6:07 PM
NEW data finds that the government shutdown has furloughed 29,000 employees at public land agencies, nearly half the current workforce, impacting nearly every corner of the U.S.
Minutes ago, the Miami Seaquarium closed its doors forever.
This hellish facility pioneered the modern industry of marine life captivity for 70 years.
For the past 2.5, I’ve worked next-door. I can’t yet tell the full story of how it came down, but here’s what I will say. 🧵
This hellish facility pioneered the modern industry of marine life captivity for 70 years.
For the past 2.5, I’ve worked next-door. I can’t yet tell the full story of how it came down, but here’s what I will say. 🧵
The Miami Seaquarium is closing Sunday after 70 years, beset in recent decades by complaints of animal mistreatment and unsafe conditions.
The Miami Seaquarium was once beloved. It’s shutting down after accusations of neglect.
A Miami developer agreed to pay $22.5 million to take over the lease of the Seaquarium.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 12, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Minutes ago, the Miami Seaquarium closed its doors forever.
This hellish facility pioneered the modern industry of marine life captivity for 70 years.
For the past 2.5, I’ve worked next-door. I can’t yet tell the full story of how it came down, but here’s what I will say. 🧵
This hellish facility pioneered the modern industry of marine life captivity for 70 years.
For the past 2.5, I’ve worked next-door. I can’t yet tell the full story of how it came down, but here’s what I will say. 🧵
I wrote about why slugs are better than clankers. 🦑🧪
October 8, 2025 at 7:59 PM
I wrote about why slugs are better than clankers. 🦑🧪
scenes from Neon Reef
Our local movement is fighting to make this soft coral forest off Miami Beach a no-take MPA. There’s only one other on the entire Atlantic coast of FL.
The city has officially passed the funding. Now we fight for recognition from the state.
sorry for the crop
#MarineLife
Our local movement is fighting to make this soft coral forest off Miami Beach a no-take MPA. There’s only one other on the entire Atlantic coast of FL.
The city has officially passed the funding. Now we fight for recognition from the state.
sorry for the crop
#MarineLife
October 7, 2025 at 1:55 PM
scenes from Neon Reef
Our local movement is fighting to make this soft coral forest off Miami Beach a no-take MPA. There’s only one other on the entire Atlantic coast of FL.
The city has officially passed the funding. Now we fight for recognition from the state.
sorry for the crop
#MarineLife
Our local movement is fighting to make this soft coral forest off Miami Beach a no-take MPA. There’s only one other on the entire Atlantic coast of FL.
The city has officially passed the funding. Now we fight for recognition from the state.
sorry for the crop
#MarineLife
Reposted by spencer roberts 🦈
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg raised her fist as she and about 160 other Global Sumud Flotilla participants arrived in Greece to roaring cheers. Crowds welcomed them after their release from illegal Israeli detention.
Greta later addressed supporters — her remarks are below.
Greta later addressed supporters — her remarks are below.
October 6, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg raised her fist as she and about 160 other Global Sumud Flotilla participants arrived in Greece to roaring cheers. Crowds welcomed them after their release from illegal Israeli detention.
Greta later addressed supporters — her remarks are below.
Greta later addressed supporters — her remarks are below.
Reposted by spencer roberts 🦈
Important reporting from @kennytorrella.bsky.social on how the meat lobby has infiltrated NYC climate week, including sponsoring Regen House and Food Tank events. Full story here: www.vox.com/future-perfe...
October 6, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Important reporting from @kennytorrella.bsky.social on how the meat lobby has infiltrated NYC climate week, including sponsoring Regen House and Food Tank events. Full story here: www.vox.com/future-perfe...
ABUNDANCE AGENDA
This could be your yard — your patio, even. All you need is a single giant milkweed plant.
Bring back the monarchy!
This could be your yard — your patio, even. All you need is a single giant milkweed plant.
Bring back the monarchy!
October 6, 2025 at 2:13 PM
ABUNDANCE AGENDA
This could be your yard — your patio, even. All you need is a single giant milkweed plant.
Bring back the monarchy!
This could be your yard — your patio, even. All you need is a single giant milkweed plant.
Bring back the monarchy!
a life lived in defiance of patriarchy and human supremacy
There will never be another Jane.
RIP Queen
There will never be another Jane.
RIP Queen
October 1, 2025 at 7:34 PM
a life lived in defiance of patriarchy and human supremacy
There will never be another Jane.
RIP Queen
There will never be another Jane.
RIP Queen
Reposted by spencer roberts 🦈
The US is now seeking to open the door to shark culling to protect the fragile egos of sport fishermen from the competition of local wildlife. This is disgraceful, especially the fact that Democratic Senator @schatz.bsky.social has co-sponsored this repulsive, ecologically illiterate bill.
There’s a bill in the senate right now designed to revive the US shark longlining industry.
Today we’re launching a campaign to stop it and this film trailer to expose this American shark cull conspiracy.
Details and action items below:
🦈🧵
Today we’re launching a campaign to stop it and this film trailer to expose this American shark cull conspiracy.
Details and action items below:
🦈🧵
September 27, 2025 at 6:45 AM
The US is now seeking to open the door to shark culling to protect the fragile egos of sport fishermen from the competition of local wildlife. This is disgraceful, especially the fact that Democratic Senator @schatz.bsky.social has co-sponsored this repulsive, ecologically illiterate bill.
There’s a bill in the senate right now designed to revive the US shark longlining industry.
Today we’re launching a campaign to stop it and this film trailer to expose this American shark cull conspiracy.
Details and action items below:
🦈🧵
Today we’re launching a campaign to stop it and this film trailer to expose this American shark cull conspiracy.
Details and action items below:
🦈🧵
September 26, 2025 at 10:50 PM
There’s a bill in the senate right now designed to revive the US shark longlining industry.
Today we’re launching a campaign to stop it and this film trailer to expose this American shark cull conspiracy.
Details and action items below:
🦈🧵
Today we’re launching a campaign to stop it and this film trailer to expose this American shark cull conspiracy.
Details and action items below:
🦈🧵