As a part of the Into Nature Sale (May 16 – May 26), Astral donates 5% of sales to organizations that are working to protect soil and water. This year, we are partnering with Beneath the Waves.
Astral and Beneath The Waves share a deep connection to the water. We asked Shannon Aldridge, the Director of Programs and Operations, to tell us more about Beneath The Waves and her work there.
ASTRAL // Tell us more about your roots. How did you come to join Beneath The Waves?
I’m Canadian but grew up in a small town in upstate New York – Lake Placid. Growing up, we were always outside and playing sports, as Lake Placid is known for hosting the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, great hiking, and incredible fall foliage. I loved growing up there but I always had an innate desire to be in the ocean, so I decided at a very young age that I wanted to be a Marine Biologist.
After going to Nova Southeastern University, I instructed SCUBA diving for about a year before taking a position at OdySea Aquarium, where I assisted with building and opening the facility and ended up spending six and a half years there. Eventually, I wanted to get back into field work and research, which is what led me to applying for my first position with Beneath The Waves and the rest is history!
ASTRAL // Tell us a bit about Beneath The Waves and your role. What work happens there and how do you help?
Beneath The Waves is a US-based non-profit organization that focuses on marine research to further conservation efforts. We lead with science to inform policy decisions and conservation efforts. We have three core pillars of our research: 1) Ocean Giants, 2) Blue Carbon, and 3) Deep-sea. All of these research areas are interconnected in various ways, but they are our guiding pillars for establishing research projects on a global scale.
I am the Director of Programs and Operations at Beneath The Waves, which is a bit of a broad title but there is a good reason for that. Since my background includes field research, scientific writing, safety, training, operations, and management, I am lucky enough to be involved in all aspects of work at Beneath The Waves. I oversee expedition planning and execution, analyze data and write peer-reviewed scientific papers, assist with budget management, facilitate special projects and events, and manage all backend operations that keep us moving forward.
ASTRAL // What projects is Beneath the Waves working on right now?
Being a globally activated team, we are fortunate enough to work with incredible team members that allow us to have multiple projects at once. We have projects from all three of our core research pillars currently taking place in the Northeast of the USA, The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Mexico, Japan, and the Eastern Caribbean. We are continuing our long-term shark monitoring in multiple locations, through various techniques such as acoustic receiver and satellite tracking. We have been deploying our deep-sea baited remote underwater video systems (dBRUVS) around the world to further emphasize the critical need for us (the world) to better understand the biodiversity and the importance of the deep-sea before we decide to exploit it for resources. And, we are continuing to refine and improve our blue carbon sampling and analysis techniques to provide the most scientifically accurate recommendations on blue carbon sequestration and the blue economy.
ASTRAL // Share something good that’s happened in conservation recently.
A recent publication in the journal Endangered Species Research titled “Updated global conservation status and priorities for marine turtles” revealed that conservation efforts for marine turtles have been effective, particularly in the Atlantic Ocean. Studies such as this are critically important because they underscore the importance of implementing and enforcing conservation regulations, for effective long term management.
ASTRAL // Share a favorite memory or moment from your time in ocean conservation.
There are honestly so many because the ocean is my favorite place. My favorite moment most recently on expedition with Beneath The Waves would have to be successfully tagging my first Great Hammerhead shark with the team. She was incredibly powerful and feisty, which is what you want to see working with animals. The experience was very impactful with everyone on the vessel, which is also an amazing thing to witness; seeing how much of a ripple effect our work has first hand is very rewarding.
ASTRAL // How can an everyday, regular human help?
Small steps, changes, and habits, if everyone does that, can make a difference. Being more conscious of your everyday choices, from the products you buy to your daily commute, and even the content you engage with online, it does all matter. Being informed is incredibly beneficial, so reading and sharing peer-reviewed scientific literature can make the world of a difference in understanding for yourself and for having productive conversations with others. We all need to make a collective effort to protect planet Earth.
ASTRAL // What does a day in your life look like?
This question is always a little challenging to answer, because my day to day life changes a lot (which I do love). A “typical” office day is mostly spent at my computer actually, which a lot of people seem to not realize when you say you’re a Marine Biologist, but it is a lot of planning, data analysis, writing and editing, and general upkeep for a business. But that is luckily balanced with field work expeditions, where we are out on the water, collecting vital data to make studies and publications possible. After my work day, when I am not on expedition, my fiancé and I will typically either go to the gym to lift weights or go for a walk outside. Our evenings at home are usually spent watching a game, because between us there are four sports we follow, so it’s rare that we don’t have a team in season. And finally, despite how much I travel for work, I still travel a lot personally; I am the friend that is most often asked “where are you?”.
ASTRAL // What is your preferred way to connect with nature?
SCUBA diving! It is by far one of my absolute favorite activities in the world.
ASTRAL // What’s your favorite ocean creature?
Another challenging question, because I love animals, particularly marine animals, so much. I have a real soft spot for Groupers though. They are very charismatic and fun to interact with, in both human care and the open ocean.
ASTRAL // What might Trusting Nature mean in your field of study? What about to you personally?
I’d have to say that the part of Trusting Nature connects most with our work at Beneath The Waves is “Flow State”. The experiences that we are able to have with our internal team, collaborators, the animals, and the ocean, are unlike any other. We trust, and know from our experiences, that the animals will guide our work so that we can not only benefit them, but also the planet and all inhabitants. For me personally, I resonate a lot with the “Materials” pillar, as I am very conscious of all products I purchase, from the clothes I wear, to the cleaning products in our home, and the products I use on my skin every day.
ASTRAL // Who are you most inspired by?
Steve Irwin. I know it sounds a bit cliche, but as a kid growing up in a small town far away from the ocean, watching The Crocodile Hunter was incredibly impactful on my life and fostered the innate desire I had to be in the ocean. Even though he is no longer with us, I still follow his family and associated accounts on social media and love seeing the work they’re still doing to honor his legacy.
ASTRAL // What’s your go-to song right now?
Azizam by Ed Sheeran!