Diane Wilson's Stand: A Hunger Strike to Save Matagorda | Sea Change

October 12, 2023

A classic episode featuring a coastal legend!

Don't miss this encore presentation of the Sea Change Podcast where Jenna dives deep with Diane Wilson, a veteran activist and 4th-generation shrimper. Diane made headlines for her hunger strike aimed at halting the dredging of the Matagorda Ship Channel. Learn why she took such a drastic step and how it involves the Biden Administration, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the threat of mercury contamination from the Alcoa Superfund site. This is a gripping account of activism with decades of wisdom behind it, focusing on the urgent need to protect vulnerable fisheries and communities.

Show Transcription
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Jenna Valente

A passion for conservation and appreciation for the natural world was engrained in Jenna at a young age. Her father was in the Coast Guard. This meant she always had the fortune of living near the ocean, including Hawaii, Washington State, and Maine. Both of her parents encouraged her to spend the majority of her time outside. As a result, she finds that she is most comfortable barefoot and exploring the coast, countryside, or mountains. Her favorite thing about the ocean is the sheer power of it all. Jenna joined the American Littoral Society as the Healthy Oceans Coalition Coordinator from the Chesapeake Research Consortium where she was a member of the communications staff and focused on building the brand of the program and ensure the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Jenna completed her Executive Master of Natural Resources from Virginia Tech in 2015 and also has her Bachelors in Communication and Journalism from the University of Maine.