Alexandra Cousteau, daughter of oceanographer Philippe Cousteau and granddaughter of legendary French explorer and filmmaker Jacques-Yves Cousteau, has continued her family’s legacy of environmental advocacy, with a focus on our precious planet’s waters. Alexandra is founder and president of Blue Legacy, a Washington, D.C.–based nonprofit dedicated to connecting mainstream audiences with local watersheds and exploring crucial water issues across the globe.

Alexandra Cousteau recently took time out of her busy schedule for an interview with This Dish Is Veg.

This Dish Is Veg: Cleanup crews and government officials claim the oil in the gulf has “disappeared.” Can you tell us your thoughts on this revelation?

Alexandra Cousteau: While there may be some validity to saying that some of the oil will be dispersed and diluted by the sheer size and volume of ocean currents, the truth is that we know very little about what effect the oil and the dispersants will have on marine organisms - from the tiniest plankton to the largest whale. This can't be reduced to a discussion about what can be seen at the surface. We have to look to science to understand what really is affected and what the long term effects will be. I believe this will be an ongoing issue with intergenerational impacts and indicates how relatively little we actually know about our oceans and how little thought we give to the long term impacts that our actions have on water systems.

TDIV: Do you support a permanent ban on drilling for oil in the world’s oceans?

Cousteau: I absolutely believe that until we have better science, better technologies and more transparent and stringent regulations, we should approach offshore drilling with extreme caution, if at all. BUT... the truth is we are living in an increasingly crowded and resource hungry world. We have to find balance between our needs and how we go about meeting demands while still keeping critical systems intact and viable for future generations. This shouldn't just be a discussion about how we impact marine systems in our search for energy resources... from our coal extraction and consumption practices at the light switch to our search for energy resources from natural gas and petroleum, we've got to take water into account. We've created and continue to create multi-generational water disasters on the same scale in many ways as the Gulf spill through coal slurry spills, mountaintop mining, hydrofraking, tar sands extraction and a number of other poorly-reserached, poorly regulated, and poorly advised energy extraction and production methods.

TDIV: What is your stance on whaling?

Cousteau: Given what we've known for generations now about the population numbers and general state of whales and other marine mammals, it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to continue to allow whaling.

TDIV: What type of events or evidence have you seen that may have been caused by climate change?

Cousteau: We've had highly credible science on climate change for a full generation now, but even more compelling are the stories I hear from the farmers and fisherman throughout the world. For them, climate change isn't about politics or religion at all--in fact, most are shocked to learn that there are people who don't believe it's happening on a dramatic and global scale. For them, it's about rivers rising too quickly and at the wrong times for spawns; erratic and dangerous weather that destroys crops and threatens lives; loss of land and resources to rising seas, etc. I've seen the science and I've heard the anecdotal evidence. There is no doubt in my mind that the alarming and unpredictable shifts we are seeing in weather patterns, and the impact it is having on the water cycle, is in large part due to climate change.

TDIV: What do you consider to be the biggest threat to our planet’s waters?

Cousteau: I believe that one of the greatest threats to our planet's waters is our complete and total lack of general understanding in the mainstream about how our water systems really work. We learn about the water cycle and hydrosphere in 5th grade and then promptly forget it. I'm increasingly concerned that if we don't begin moving towards really understanding and managing our water systems - our rivers, bays, lakes, streams , oceans - across political boundaries and across stakeholder groups, we really can't do much to work towards sustainability in a meaningful way. We can't just view water in a river through the lens of farming, fishing or urban development...or one state or nation's "ownership" of those waters...we have to look manage things across the full system. While I'm proud of the way so many have responded to insist on swift action on the Gulf Spill and have stepped up to try to help out, it really concerns me how few of us take the time to understand what watershed we live in and how from our plate to our garage to our pool to our yard and drive way, we often create our own little daily "spills" that when combined with the same impacts from our neighbors and friends are having dramatic affects on our local watersheds and global water systems.

TDIV: Speaking to the youth of today, why is it imperative that we protect our oceans?

Cousteau: The ocean affects every human life. It supplies freshwater (most rain comes from the ocean) and nearly all Earth’s oxygen. It moderates the Earth’s climate, influences our weather, and affects human health. From the ocean we get foods, medicines, and mineral and energy resources. In addition, it provides jobs, supports our nation’s economy, serves as a highway for transportation of goods and people, and plays a role in national security. The ocean is a source of inspiration, recreation, rejuvenation and discovery. It is also an important element in the heritage of many cultures. Much of the world’s population lives in coastal areas. Simply put, life on Earth could not exist without our oceans.

TDIV: As the co-host of Planet Green’s Blue August, you travelled to many locations to gather the stories of locals who depend on a healthy water supply. Was there a particular story that touched you the most?

Cousteau: There are countless stories that inspire me. We are all connected by water. Whenever I meet someone who is working for change - whether they are a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary by planting rain gardens for their neighbors to protect a local river or a 7 year old little girl selling lemonade to raise money to build a well in a school in Africa so other little girls her age can have safe water too - I feel renewed hope and determination. We are all downstream from one another and we need to work together to protect our Water Planet.


Alexandra Cousteau along with her brother Philippe Cousteau, Jr., chief oceans correspondent for Planet Green, can currently be found hosting Blue August—a month long event on Planet Green which features water-centric programming aimed to draw attention to the critical role that our lakes, rivers, and oceans play in our everyday lives.


Photo Credit: Planet Green