Word on the Reef

Send us Fan Mail Tyá Dynevor has always felt a special connection with animals, which has led her to becoming an ethnozoologist - someone who studies the relationship between humans and animals. It's something Traditional Owners have known about for millennia. We sat down with Tyá for a powerful discussion about how Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western science can work together to keep Country and people healthy. We dig into reciprocity with nature, the spiritual side of Indigenous science, and practical ways to reconnect with Country through observation, community action, and food sovereignty. Plus we honour the memory of Steve Irwin on the 20th anniversary of his passing, and form an underwater superhero team! Further Reading: Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance Gilibanga Dark Emu Braiding Sweetgrass Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW : Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.com Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action! Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas! Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future! Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef! WWF Australia: Protect Nature Rising Ti...

Send us Fan Mail Now available in video format on Spotify and Apple Podcasts! In this episode we sit down with Australian diving legend Ben Cropp AM to trace a life that swings from shark hunting fame to conservation, shipwreck discovery, and hard-won lessons from 70 years of diving on the Great Barrier Reef. He tells us what it really takes to stay alive underwater, think like a skipper, and keep chasing purpose into one's 90s. Along the way we'll learn about the whale shark encounter that changed him from a hunter to a conservationist, close calls filming crocodiles at night, how he survived stinging himself with multiple box jellyfish, how he found more than 100 shipwrecks, what it's like to take Clint Eastwood fishing, what became of his legendary shipwreck museum, the hunt for pre-Cook European contact in Queensland, the impacts of water pollution observed over 70 years of diving, and advice on how to live a full life! Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW : Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.com Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action! Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas! Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future! Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef! WWF Australia: Protect Nature Rising Ti...

Send us Fan Mail A group of Magnetic Island residents believes the annual dumping of maintenance dredge spoil by the Port of Townsville may be creating sediment plumes that smother some of the island's pristine bays, coral reefs, and marine life. And with the port now applying for a 10-year permit to continue the dumping at its current site, they're calling for community members to have their say. In this episode of Word on the Reef, we're joined by one of those residents, Gethin Morgan, president of the Magnetic Island Nature Care Association (MINCA), to understand why residents are concerned and what they believe can be done about this issue. Thumbnail: A Satellite image from 13th July 2025 which MINCA believes shows dredge spoil drifting toward Magnetic Island from the placement area (Supplied: MINCA). For more information, visit MINCA's website . Email submissions to: dredging@townsvilleport.com.au And copy to the Federal assessors of the application: seadumping@dcceew.gov.au The Port of Townsville was also approached for comment. Their written response can be viewed here . You can also find more info at the Port's website: https://www.townsville-port.com.au/environment/dredging-management/application-for-10-year-sea-dumping-permit/ Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW : Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.com Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action! Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas! Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future! Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef! WWF Australia: Protect Nature Rising Ti...

Send us Fan Mail Twenty years ago, the Belize Barrier Reef was in serious trouble, and nobody could quite figure out why. Then Professor Pete Mumby helped uncover the surprising role of an unlikely reef hero: the parrotfish. Today, we’re diving into the incredible world of these colourful fish and discovering how they can help protect coral reefs. PLUS… if you only have limited time, people and resources to protect some of the Great Barrier Reef’s 3,000 individual reefs, which ones would you choose? As ocean temperatures continue to rise, scientists are working to identify the reefs that are most important to protect - and the decisions aren’t easy. This week, we’re joined by Professor Pete Mumby from the University of Queensland’s Marine Spatial Ecology Lab to find out how scientists are tackling this enormous challenge. More Info: Professor Mumby's Presentation at the 2018 Coral Reef Futures Symposium Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW : Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.com Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action! Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas! Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future! Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef! WWF Australia: Protect Nature Rising Ti...

Send us Fan Mail They’ve claimed the lives of thousands of marine animals along Australia’s east coast, including turtles, whales, dolphins, rays and dugongs. No, we’re not talking about sharks. We’re talking about the shark nets and baited drum lines deployed by the Queensland and New South Wales governments. But do these programs actually protect swimmers? Does the evidence support shark culling? And what alternatives could keep both people and marine life safe? This week, hosts Tanya Murphy and Brett Goodban sink their teeth into these questions, and plenty more, with shark scientist Dr. Leonardo Guida from the Australian Marine Conservation Society . Together we explore the science behind shark behaviour, the threats facing Australia's incredible shark species, and why some long-held assumptions deserve a closer look. It's an episode with a real bite! Episode Thumbnail Image: The scalloped hammerhead has been on earth for 28 million years and has no record of ever killing a human - but it's now critically endangered thanks to humans. Further reading: Are there really more sharks? Take Action with the Smarter Safer Beaches Coalition . Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW : Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.com Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action! Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas! Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future! Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef! WWF Australia: Protect Nature Rising Ti...

Send us Fan Mail Join us aboard the luxury liveaboard boat Mikumba Dua for a journey into one of the world's most incredible destinations! We'll explore local culture with our guide Filan , climb mountains, and enjoy some of the top rated scuba diving in the world. This episode includes an interview with local dive instructor Wili, and along the way we'll answer all your questions: How do I get to Komodo and what can I see there? Which are the best dive sites to visit? When's the best time to see manta rays? Can I visit if I'm not a diver? What marine life can I expect to see? What threats is this marine park facing and what are local communities doing to protect it? This interview was recorded in October 2025. CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION ON YOUTUBE Watch the YouTube version to see the interview on the dive boat with Wili, plus lots of footage of the incredible marine life we encountered on the trip! Tours Mentioned: https://filantravel.com https://www.instagram.com/mikumbadua No sponsorships were received. Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW : Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.com Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action! Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas! Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future! Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef! WWF Australia: Protect Nature Rising Ti...

Send us Fan Mail Sawfish, the extraordinary relatives of sharks and rays, once roamed tropical and subtropical waters around the globe. Today they've vanished from much of their former range, with Northern Australia remaining one of their last global strongholds. All five sawfish species are now listed as critically endangered, yet most Australians know surprisingly little about these remarkable animals. So, what exactly ARE these crazy-looking critters? Are they really as scary as they look? What can we do to help ensure they continue to survive in our rivers, estuaries and coastal waters? And perhaps the most important question of all: who would win in a showdown between a sawfish and a crocodile? Joining hosts Tanya Murphy and Brett Goodban to answer these questions is Dr Barbara Wueringer, founder, director and lead scientist at Sharks and Rays Australia. Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW : Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.com Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action! Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas! Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future! Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef! WWF Australia: Protect Nature Rising Ti...

Send us Fan Mail Beyond the Great Barrier Reef lies one of the world's largest marine protected areas: the Coral Sea Marine Park. Home to spectacular reefs, abundant marine life and some of the planet's best dive sites, it's one of Australia's last great ocean wildernesses. But is it getting the protection it deserves? On today's show, hosts Tanya Murphy and Brett Goodban are joined by Dive Queensland Principal Terry Cummins and Save Our Marine Life Coral Sea Campaigner Steve Ryan to explore what makes the Coral Sea so extraordinary, why the Australian Government's review of marine parks is a rare opportunity to strengthen protection, and why that's good news for both ocean wildlife and recreational fishers. Thumbnail Image: Diving in the Coral Sea, by Cathie Cummins Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW : Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.com Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action! Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas! Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future! Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef! WWF Australia: Protect Nature Rising Ti...

Send us Fan Mail Reef and Rainforest tour guide Steven Gill is on a mission to bug you... in the best possible way. Armed with a camera, a handful of LEGO bricks and an infectious love for the tiny creatures we usually overlook, he's proving that the smallest critters often have the biggest personalities. Along the way we'll meet Katy Perry, get business advice from a cleaner wrasse, and explore the surprising connection between the world's oldest surviving rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. We'll discover why eels don't have genitals, why a clean car windscreen is actually bad news, and why monocultures are a terrible idea. www.gonebuggo.com www.instagram.com/gone_buggo www.daintreetours.com www.calypsoreefcruises.com Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW : Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.com Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action! Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas! Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future! Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef! WWF Australia: Protect Nature Rising Ti...

Send us Fan Mail Fifty shades of coral? Not quite... but those colours tell an incredible story. This week we're diving into CoralWatch , the world's longest-running DIY reef science project. Discover how anyone with a mask, a colour chart and a love of coral can help scientists monitor reef health. Diana Kleine from the University of Queensland (pictured in the episode thumbnail image) joins us to prove that citizen science is anything but black and white. She also shares insights on the 'What Can I Do' project, revealing surprising data about how people engage with climate action in their everyday lives. More info: www.coralwatch.org What Can I Do? - www.actionplan.coralwatch.org SAVE SCOTT REEF! As discussed in the episode introduction - Please sign the petition here: www.marineconservation.org.au/actions/econsideration-consultation-period-browse-scott-reef/ Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW : Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.com Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action! Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas! Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future! Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef! WWF Australia: Protect Nature Rising Ti...

Send us Fan Mail Scientists have discovered that marine species are migrating away from the equator at a rate of 40 to 70 kilometres per decade to get to cooler waters as climate change heats up our ocean. But far from being a viable escape plan, this mass poleward relocation of marine life is opening up a sea of problems. On this week's episode of Word on the Reef, hosts Tanya Murphy and Brett Goodban are joined by James Cook University's Professor Jan Strugnell for a deep dive into climate-driven marine species redistribution on the Great Barrier Reef and beyond. Thumbnail Image: A spine-cheeked anemonefish, photographed by Tanya Murphy at Ellison Reef, near Mission Beach - 140 kilometres south of its usual range. Submitting images like this to the Redmap project can help scientists understand how species distribution is changing. For more info and to submit sightings: www.redmap.org.au Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW : Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.com Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action! Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas! Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future! Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef! WWF Australia: Protect Nature Rising Ti...

Send us Fan Mail Every year up to 7,000 tons of seafood is caught on the Great Barrier Reef, while up to 190 tons of coral is collected for the international aquarium trade. But how sustainable are these fisheries? And as consumers, how can we make sure we're making Reef-friendly choices? In this episode of Word on the Reef, Simon Miller from the Australian Marine Conservation Society joins hosts Tanya Murphy and Brett Goodban for a deep dive into the world of commercial fishing on the Great Barrier Reef. Don't worry - you can still have an aquarium and eat seafood! But this episode will empower you to make sustainable choices to ensure we can all continue to enjoy seafood and coral for generations to come. Thumbnail Image: Comedian Kirsty Webeck (right) auctions off an 'Australian scoly' coral from the GBR in a performance raising awareness about the international coral trade. Sign the Petition: End coral harvesting on the Great Barrier Reef - support aquaculture. Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW : Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.com Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action! Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas! Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future! Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef! WWF Australia: Protect Nature Rising Ti...

Send us Fan Mail Did you know that some Great Barrier Reef fish species are spending part of their life cycle in the middle of our city? That's right, marine fish species could be as close as your nearest concrete storm water drain, swimming among abandoned shopping trolleys and discarded beer bottles. In fact, recent research has found more than 60 species of native fish in these waterways. On todays' episode of Word on the Reef, host Tanya Murphy is joined by Phil Laycock from OzFish Unlimited , to explore the amazing biodiversity of our urban waterways, what's being done to restore their habitat, and how we can learn to be better neighbours to our fishy friends. We'll also discuss how restoring long-lost oyster Reefs can revolutionise ecosystems. Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW : Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.com Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action! Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas! Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future! Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef! WWF Australia: Protect Nature Rising Ti...

Send us Fan Mail For 65,000 years before computers, satellites, and scientific journals, Australia's first peoples were reading tides, stars, seasons, animal behaviour, currents, and ecosystems with extraordinary precision. Yet until recently, their knowledge was not formally considered alongside Western Science. Now, more research and conservation organisations are recognising that in order to protect places like the Great Barrier Reef, not only do we need better technology and data, but we also need to listen more carefully to the voices of the world's oldest continuous living cultures. This week we're joined by Libby Evans-Illidge from the Australian Institute of Marine Science for an inspiring chat about bridging the divide between two cultures, one step at a time. In this special Reconciliation Week episode, we'll discover how making space for a knowledge system different to our own, can help us better understand and conserve our environment, while also rebuilding our connection with each other. Thumbnail Image: The 'dark emu,' a dark spot in the milky way, with its long neck extended upward in the night sky, was more than just a story. It carried valuable environmental knowledge. Sources and Recommended Reading: Aboriginal people - how to misunderstand their science , by Ray Norris, Chief Research Scientist, CSIRO Astronomy & Space Science. Aboriginal memories of inundation of the Australian coast dating from more than 7000 years ago by Patrick D. Nunn and Nicholas J. Reid Lynne Kelly The Memory Code by Lynne Kelly First Knowledges book collection Watch: The Australian Wars Watch: The First Inventors Watch: First Australians Woppaburra Rangers Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW : Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.com Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action! Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas! Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future! Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef! WWF Australia: Protect Nature Rising Ti...

Send us Fan Mail In 2022, a mass stranding of more than 600 sick turtles devastated Hervey Bay in South East Queensland. As volunteers worked tirelessly to rescue them, scientists got to work on solving the puzzle: what caused this disaster? Dr Caitlin Smith is one of the scientists racing to unravel the threats facing our sea turtles before it’s too late. Her work has seen her fearlessly leaning out of helicopters to survey seagrass, slip-sliding across stinky mud bogs to rescue half-ton turtles, studying turtle blood samples, and putting baby turtles through fitness tests to understand how our actions are impacting them. In this episode, she explains why these ancient animals are so magnetic, and what we need to do to save them. More info: Assessing the impacts of contaminant exposure on green sea turtles - Dr Caitlin Smith, UniSC Post-flood monitoring of seagrass in Hervey Bay and Great Sandy Strait - JCU Tropwater Dugongs and turtles are starving to death in Queensland's seas - and La Nina's floods are to blame - Professor Kathy Townsend, The Conversation. Mon Repos Turtle Centre UniSC Milbi Centre: Sea Turtle Research and Conservation Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW : Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.com Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action! Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas! Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future! Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef! WWF Australia: Protect Nature Rising Ti...

Send us Fan Mail Professor Kathy Townsend knew she wanted to be a marine biologist from the age of five, and completed her very first dive in a frozen Canadian lake. But it was the moment a five-metre manta ray draped its tail over her shoulder like an affectionate cat that she knew she had truly found her calling. Since then, Kathy has followed manta rays around the world, appeared in a documentary with Sir David Attenborough, and even been swept into a swirling manta-ray feeding vortex. She greets her favourite mantas with a wink, and some even come to her for toothbrush scratches. But these intelligent and gentle giants are under threat. In this episode, Kathy shares the magic of manta rays, the mysteries scientists are still trying to solve, and why the race to understand and protect them has never been more urgent. We just HAD to make this a bonus-length episode because Kathy has SO many incredible stories about mantas which are absolutely not-to-be-missed! Thumbnail Image: Professor Townsend collecting a DNA sample with a toothbrush. Photo by Amelia Armstrong. Submit manta sightings: Project Manta Prof Townsend's book: A Field Guide to the Vertebrates of Lady Elliot Island, Great Barrier Reef. Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW : Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.com Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action! Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas! Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future! Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef! WWF Australia: Protect Nature Rising Ti...

Send us Fan Mail When Professor Helene Marsh first began researching dugongs on the Great Barrier Reef, the only ones she encountered were dead - tangled in fishing nets. Then, in the 1990s, Queensland became the centre of a fierce conservation battle known as the “Dugong Wars”. No torpedoes were fired, but the conflict between marine scientists, industry groups and governments was intense, as researchers like Professor Marsh fought to remove nets from critical dugong habitat. Today, dugongs face even greater threats, from climate change and habitat loss to extreme weather and declining seagrass meadows. In this episode, Professor Marsh shares the remarkable story of the Dugong Wars, the science behind these elusive “mermaids of the sea”, and the urgent mission to ensure they survive into the future. Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW : Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.com Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action! Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas! Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future! Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef! WWF Australia: Protect Nature Rising Ti...

Send us Fan Mail He's broken several world records: largest group skydive, longest scuba dive on a single tank—and the most species of nudibranchs ever found on a single dive (71). He's spent 23 years chasing these tiny creatures, building a global following of more than 60,000 people who are equally obsessed. But what even is a nudibranch—and why are thousands of people going nuts over them? Well, they dress like drag queens, some of them can fire miniature deadly spears out of their flubbery bits, and some can even walk on water like Jesus — but upside down, and with only one foot. In this fun and outlandish interview with the world's biggest nudie fanatic, we get up close and personal with these outrageously beautiful, neon-coloured ocean jewels found in every corner of our seas. Listeners be warned: nudibranchs can be surprisingly addictive. (I mean, JUST LOOK at the nudibranch in the thumbnail image. Does he look like he's the slightest bit bothered by ANYTHING or ANYONE? Go off, you fabulous creature!) More info: Gary's Website, Gallery and Blog: www.nudibranch.com.au Gary's Facebook Page: Nudibranch Central ' My Nudibranch Passion ': Short film about Gary showing his dive site at the Mooloolah River and many of the nudibranchs discussed in this episode. " Dive Into the Exotic World of Nudibranchs, the Spectacular Slugs of the Sea " - article about Gary in Smithsonian Magazine. Cyclone Maila News Audio: Australian Broadcasting Association. Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW : Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.com Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action! Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas! Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future! Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef! WWF Australia: Protect Nature Rising Ti...

Send us Fan Mail The UNESCO World Heritage Committee is concerned about the Great Barrier Reef - warning Australia to do more to protect it or risk an “In Danger” listing. So how serious is this threat, and are governments doing enough to respond? This week we're joined by marine ecologist Dr Lissa Schindler from the Australian Marine Conservation Society to unpack what’s behind UNESCO’s warnings - and what we need to do about it. Plus, we take a closer look at a summer of extremes: from coral bleaching to Cyclone Narelle’s impacts on marine life and coastal communities from the Great Barrier Reef to Ningaloo Reef. Thumbnail Image: Clownfish in bleached anemone, 28 March 2026, Tanya Murphy. Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW : Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.com Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action! Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas! Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future! Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef! WWF Australia: Protect Nature Rising Ti...

Send us Fan Mail Critics said it would never work. But after 30 years of surveying reefs the hard way - diving with a slate and pencil - marine ecologist Brett Kettle knew there had to be a better way. So he built one. In this episode of Word on the Reef, Tanya Murphy sits down with Brett and the team behind Flying Fish Technologies to reveal the Vertigo 3 Glider—an underwater drone that could revolutionise how we monitor and protect the ocean. Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW : Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.com Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action! Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas! Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future! Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef! WWF Australia: Protect Nature Rising Ti...