Our News

NSW Shark Nets Last 20 Years, The official count - 3944 creatures trapped, and only 2.4 per cent of the animals caught were  considered ''target'' species sharks (or those particularly harmful to humans).

Dugongs live in the northern seas of Australia and affectionately hold the nickname “sea-cow” because of their sea grass grazing habits. These peculiar looking creatures live mostly in shallow waters and come close to shore to protect themselves from rough storms and wild waves.

Last week you would have all heard the news story of the 31-year-old surfer who died after being attacked by a shark near South Point, south of Perth. That sensational battle of SHARKS vs HUMANS has raised its ugly head once again. The media LOVE this one.

The manta ray, with it’s 25 ft wing span are one of the most intriguing marine animals in Aussie waters, but so little is known about them. This fascinating marine creature inhabits the tropical waters around the planet, making the natural coral reefs their most preferred grounds. One of it’s great attributes is that the manta ray isn’t shy in coming forward, and for those lucky divers and ocean goers who get to enjoy their presence, it’s an unforgettable encounter. 

We have, more than ever, a huge responsibility towards our planet. In the past, some damaging actions were taken due to a lack of knowledge. Today we have that knowledge and we all must act as though our lives depend on it!

The Snubfin Dolphin is one of the world's most rare and threatened marine mammals. With so little known about them, they’re at real risk of disappearing without us even knowing. 

Plastiki is the new synonym for awareness! The plastic catamaran has scored more than rave reviews as it meandered from the US to Australia, an 11,000-mile voyage…on plastic! The strong message of the ‘Plastiki’ is that too much plastic is being used and discarded in our oceans…..and it has to stop.

Well done to the Coalition, what a great stance. Let’s ensure we take what we need now, and the future will look after itself. Right? WRONG!

The Coalition have come out saying they:-

With plastic production and consumption at an all time high in our daily lives, it’s so great to see some of our influential young Aussies grabbing the Great White by the tail and leading by example. 

Living in Australia we have to count ourselves very lucky, we have some of the cleanest water in the world. However I read in an article that Australian's spent more than $500 million on bottled water in recent years! But what are we really paying for? According to the www.cleanup.org 90% of the cost of the water bottle can be traced back to the bottle, the lid and the label. 

Photo www.bbc.co.uk

Well for those of us on the East and West coast of Australia the whale watching season has began. You would have seen in the media the hype and excitement surrounding these amazing animals as they journey from their summer feeding grounds of Antarctica to the warm waters of the Great Barrier Reef on the east coast and Ningaloo Reef on the west. 

On a recent trip to Bali I discovered a not so hidden treasure on Kuta Beach, a turtle conservation site, built in the shape of a giant sea turtle. The site and information centre which highlights the history of the sea turtle and the species future, was launched on the 19th of June 2010. It can accommodate 10,000 eggs in anticipation of releasing them into the awaiting India Ocean.

After scanning the net for latest news on the bluefin tuna I came across some articles on The Sea Shepherd’s latest campaign, Blue Rage. These guys don’t do things light heartedly when it comes to campaigning. They are currently patrolling the North African Coast with other organisations such as Greenpeace in a bid to put a ban on fishing for bluefin tuna. 

This is one of the worst man made disasters in history.

The photos at the bottom of this site show the huge impact this spill has already had and will have in the very near future. Think not only of the people affected but of all the native animals that have had their home and habitat totally destroyed. We thought the spill around Moreton Island in Qld and the Barrier Reef was devastating.

Animals and habitats will feel the full impact of this for  countless years as the oil settles on the sea floor polluting feeding grounds, nurseries and the entire ecosystem.

Dr Jennifer Gilbert

Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre

Dr Jennifer Gilbert is one of those special people in the field who selflessly commit their time and resources to saving Sea Turtles. I was lucky enough to work with Jennifer on a project in Cape York releasing a turtle that had been in rehab with her for 6 months at her Cairns based Vet Surgery.