Jacob Colvin is a popular content creator and marine animal rights activist! Based in Oregon, Jacob creates YouTube and TikTok content to raise awareness about the ocean and its inhabitants. Jacob has done a lot of cool stuff recently! For example, he’s partnered with Adidas for the “Run for the Oceans” campaign to raise awareness about plastic pollution. Most recently, Jacob has partnered with Roblox to create a game called “Animal Rescue Island Tycoon” where players can rescue stranded animals on the beach and help better the ocean. To learn more about Jacob and his amazing movement, read more in our exclusive interview below.

Where are you based?
Waldport, Oregon USA.

Content creation/influencers have taken over social media, but we don’t see too many environmental content creators, despite the importance of environmental awareness. What inspired you to become an environmental content creator? Have you always loved ocean life?
I have always been passionate about the ocean and its inhabitants. The entire planet depends on the ocean in some way or another and it is our responsibility to ensure that It remains a healthy resource for all future generations.

Your videos are very sweet. What goes into creating one of your videos? Do you just go to the beach and see what is happening or do you go with a plan? Do you do the narration as you are filming or add it on after?
Most of my videos are done in the moment. Every now and then I will plan a video, but my animal rescue videos are non-scripted. As far as VoiceOver goes, I just try to recall what happened during filming, and I actually start narrating and coming up with a story in my mind during the rescue.

You go around saving a lot of animals that people underappreciate. Why are shrimp and jellyfish so important to rescue?
I believe it’s important to rescue animals like shrimp and jellyfish because they are underappreciated. When most people think about ocean animals, they typically think about sharks, dolphins, turtles, and whales. But I think if we can build a connection/relationship with these smaller, oftentimes overlooked animals, people will care more about the ocean on a much deeper level. Pun intended.

You have a lot of videos where you remove parasites from shrimp. Can you talk a bit about the importance of this? Is this something you would recommend others trying to do if they find shrimp or only someone who knows what they are doing?
I was trained on how to safely remove these parasites from a small group of scientists at Oregon State University. I would recommend only removing parasites from shrimps if you have been trained professionally. Removing the parasites in my videos is not going to solve the problem of this invasive species issue, but it will help the individual shrimps that you’ve seen in the videos, and it will raise awareness of invasive species and the importance of protecting vulnerable ecosystems.

In addition to your fun videos, you have recently teamed up with some organizations to future help the planet. You joined forces with Adidas for the “Run for the Oceans” campaign to raise awareness about plastic pollution. Can you tell us about your involvement with the campaign and why it was important to you?
I was very excited to work with Adidas on their run for the oceans campaign. Not only was it an opportunity for me to expand my business with brands, but it was the most meaningful sponsorship/campaign that I’ve ever done. Sponsorships with companies who have a mission to help better the planet and especially the oceans are the types of companies that I strive to do business with.

Very recently you teamed up with Roblox to create the new game “Animal Rescue Island”. Can you tell us about the game and your process of working with Roblox to create it?
Animal rescue Island tycoon is a game that I developed on the ROBLOX platform. It involves rescuing stranded animals on the Beach, rehabilitating, the ocean, animals, and building relationships with ocean animals through our pet trading system. It’s a way to bring together a community of Ocean lovers, and further build their interest and excitement toward helping the ocean. A portion of our revenue is generated from the animal rescue island. Tycoon is being donated to small underfunded, marine animal organizations around the world. So no matter where you live, just by playing, the game, players are helping to save real-world ocean animals.

Where can we find your game?
https://www.roblox.com/games/9196124063/Animal-Rescue-Island-Tycoon

Why did you think a game would be a good way to get more people thinking about ocean welfare?
One thing that I’ve noticed with my videos is, I am able to educate so many people when the video goes viral. Usually, purely educational videos don’t have a tendency to go viral. However, when the video is fun, exciting, and entertaining, educational videos have a great chance of reaching more viewers. Knowing this, I wanted to implement the same formula into a video game that would raise funds for real animal rescue organizations. I have been a gamer my entire life, and I’ve always is wanted to build a video game. Therefore, just like in my videos, I’m bringing education, relationships with animals, and a positive real-world mission, and trying to do so in the funniest way possible.

What is your favorite part of this game?
My favorite part about Animal Rescue Island Tycoon is picking up the stranded animals on the beach and "Yeeting" them back into the ocean. It’s something I enjoy doing in real life and now I can do it together with people all over the world! I also really enjoy trying to collect all of the animals/pets and trading with other players in the game.

We love that a portion of the revenue from premium Roblox players and in-game purchases will contribute to raising money for several smaller, underfunded animal rehab centers around the world including Marine Mammal Care Center LA and Hatfield Marine Science Center to name a few. Can you tell us a bit about why this was important to you and how you chose which centers to contribute to?
It was important for me to give to these organizations in particular because they are small and underfunded, but JUST AS IMPORTANT as the larger animal rescue organizations. These small organizations are doing the same jobs that the large organizations are doing, but they’re trying to do it with less money. I have always wanted to help organizations like this and, with this new game, I am now able to help. I chose these specific organizations because they are organizations that I have worked with in person. I got my training from Oregon State University‘s Hatfield Marine Science Center and I have seen firsthand the important work that Marine Mammal Care Center LA is doing on a daily basis. These are just a few of the many organizations that we are planning on helping.

Outside of playing your new game, what would you like more people to know or how would you like them to get more involved with the environment?
Anyone can become more involved in helping the ocean. Nobody’s perfect and not every decision we make is going to benefit the ocean. However, everybody has the power to do something. Whether it’s using a reusable water bottle when you can, picking up litter by a water system when can, or taking the time to learn what is recyclable, and what isn’t. Additionally, for fishermen (as a fisherman myself), ensure that you have proper licenses/permits and respect the regulations/limits of the water systems that you are fishing in. Also, using biodegradable fishing products when you can is very helpful.

It has been very interesting past few years, how have you been staying positive?
I stay positive by trying to keep busy. I’m really working hard on building a strong community of people who love the ocean. I also strive to give back more than I take. Having this mindset has helped me be more grateful for what I have so I can focus more on how to make the world around me a better place.

What is your motto in life?
My motto in life is “success is the journey, not the destination” some things are out of our control but if you try your best then that’s what’s most important.

To learn more about Jacob, his aquatic friends, and his game, please follow the links below:

Animal Rescue Island Tycoon:
https://www.roblox.com/games/9196124063/Animal-Rescue-Island-Tycoon
Instagram: Jake.pnw
Facebook: Jake.pnw
TikTok: @jake.pnw
YouTube: jakecolvin

Photo Credit: Jacob Colvin

Jacob Colvin — Protecting the Oceans, One Viewer at a Time!