Erich Hoyt has spent much of his life on or beside the ocean, working with whales and dolphins. He is a noted conservationist, scientist, and an award-winning author, he actually wrote the first ever book on Orcas, or Killer Whales. A former Vannevar Bush Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Erich is currently a research fellow at Whale and Dolphin Conservation, co-chair of the IUCN Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, and author of the new book “PLANKTONIA: The nightly migration of the ocean’s smallest creatures” from Firefly Books. In this episode we chat about making a living from passion projects, Erich’s work with Orcas, and all about the greatest migration on earth that happens twice a night, every night in the deep blue sea.
Connect with Erich: Website| Instagram| Facebook| Twitter
Quick Links
Orcas
E.O. Wilson
The Bathyscaphe Trieste
James Cameron Deep Sea Challenger
Victor Vescovo
Blackwater diving
Salp
The Whale and Dolphin Conservation
IUCN Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force
International Marine Protected Area Congress
Bird Life International
Site fidelity
Marinemammalhabitat.org
Show Notes
0:20 From growing up in the American mid-west to studying whales in Canada, Erich tells us how his family vacations by the Atlantic inspired him to live near the ocean which eventually led him to a marine science career studying orcas. After finding and identifying individual orcas in the wild he was hooked!
8:04 Orca and killer whale are both common names used for the animals Erich studied! He explains that they are called killer whales in literature for consistency. Erich also gets into some identification strategies used.
11:25 Erich’s first book is called Orca A Whale Called Killer. He talks about his inspiration for writing and what it was like for him to write the first book about orcas as he was learning about them.
15:27 In addition to his work on Orcas, Erich had the opportunity to do some work with the famous E. O. Wilson in Costa Rica. He shares how this experience was for him and what he learned about ants and social behaviors to write The Earth Dwellers.
21:06 Erich shares how the time working with his mentor in Costa Rica influenced his writing and inspired the storytelling he brings into his own books. He emphasizes the importance of rewriting and putting the readers’ interest into perspective.
28:31 Writing is an amazing way to get involved in science because of the employment opportunities it can bring! Erich shares some examples of ways that writing can lead to marine biology.
31:00 Erich has written books about more than just Orcas and ants. He discusses some of his other works which discuss deep sea life, deep sea vents, algae, plankton, the great migration, and the unknown species that are yet to be discovered.
40:58 Although Erich has never been blackwater diving, he lives vicariously through the photographs which he discusses.
49:25 Erich recognizes the importance of whale watching in the past that inspired science and allowed us to understand these animals better. There are also, however, cases in which whales are affected by targeted and intensive whale watching. This is why he suggests that we spread our footprint on the ocean and avoid targeting whales.
57:44 Erich wears a lot of hats as a fellow, researcher, and co-chair on the IUCN task force. He discusses his exact roles and what the goals of his organizations are for protecting whales across the ocean.
1:09:37 As a father, Erich shares the memories of bringing his family along on field trips.
1:13:35 Erich’s favorite sea creatures may not surprise you! Orcas and beaked whales are at the top of the list.
1:15:59 To Erich, the ocean is our life blood. He discusses how it gives us the breath we take and emphasizes that we really do live on an ocean planet.
1:17:06 With a blank check, Erich would give it all to creating important marine mammal protected areas around the world.
1:20:48 Erich’s field story is his great return back to the orcas he first studied after the winter months. He was excited to find the individuals he identified in no time.
1:23:44 Erich’s conservation ask is to go to the ocean, take a breath, and appreciate it. It is important to personalize your connection to it in order to protect it in the ways you are best able to.
1:26:40 Connect with Erich!