Out of the Blue: Recent Episodes
Andrew, Erin, Heather, James and Matt.
Information about marine and coastal environments. News and interviews with marine scientists, campaigners and conservation workers. Presented by volunteer broadcasters who are passionate about marine environments, both local and across the world.
s research: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X23005006Deep Ocean Stewardship Initiative: https://www.dosi-project.org/
s Website: www.jackmanera.com/https://academic.oup.com/beheco/article/36/5/araf110/8266905?login=false
Nudibranchs, or sea slugs, are arguably the most charasmatic invertebrates to grace our oceans - but you have to find them first. Tessa dons her gumboots and joins in on the winter sea slug census run by Victorian National Parks Association, a citizen science program that has been running for almost a decade, documenting the dazzling diversity of the epistobranch community. Join the census: https://vnpa.org.au/programs/sea-slug-census/
Technology degree program of Melbourne Polytechnic, specialising in aquaculture) of Native Fish Australia. Jayne has a wealth of experience in keeping ornamental fish, and discusses her love of fish and the parasites that sometimes stalk them! She tells our listeners what it is like to work at the largest wholesaler of aquarium fish in the southern hemisphere, and chats about the various species on the go in the Native Fish Australia hatchery in Bundoora.
In this episode, Andrew Christie has a chat to Chiara Wuller, a PhD student originally from Germany, who is now studying in the Netherlands, who has come to Australia as part of a study tour, and who has wasted no time in establishing some excellent networks amongst various marine conservation groups throughout Victoria and Australia. Chiara is studying her PhD on communication science and how people use data in their day-to-day lives.
In this episode, Andrew Christie has a chat to Phil Watson, who is a very well-regarded aquatic photographer who loves getting in the water in a plethora of locations, and whose work has delighted many enthusiasts for years. Phil generously gave his time to provide some insights into photography in the underwater world, including a number of tips for beginners and experienced photographers alike.
s Lab: www.bobwonglab.org Image: An illustration of the nine-spined stickleback weaving a nest (attribution: Emil Walter)
In this episode of Out of the Blue, Andrew discussed the recent spate of shark attacks in NSW and what people can do to avoid unfortunate accidents.
We love talking about marine science on Out of the Blue, especially when it brings good tidings for our ocean ecosystems. Translating scientific nuance into news stories, however, can be a minefield for misinformation.In this episode, Tessa Campisi speaks to Dr Gabi Mocatta, senior research fellow in climate communication at the University of Tasmania, to unpick how research findings indicating increased coral cover in the great barrier reef unwittingly provided fodder for climate denial in the news media. Link to research: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-025-00235-4Image credit: Australian Insititue of Marine Science (AIMS)
In this episode, Andrew Christie has a chat about the recent influx of jellyfish to Port Phillip Bay, most notably bluebottles and lion’s mane jellyfish, and what you can do to avoid being stung, and what to do for first aid in a worst-case scenario. He also pays tribute to an amazing researcher and person, Vice-Chancellor Professor Emma Johnston AO, who sadly passed away after a battle with cancer at the age of only 52. RIP Emma; you will be very sorely missed.
s fascinating queer maritime history. He talks to Out Of The Blue about the detective work behind uncovering these surprising stories. Image: Charles Demuth, Dancing Sailors, 1917, Cleveland Museum of Art.
Therese from Darebin Creek Management Committee joined us to chat about the frogs living along Darebin Creek and how volunteers can help monitor frog populations and care for the Creek.Links:https://dcmc.org.au/info@dcmc.org.auhttps://www.givenow.com.au/manyhandsonecreekhttps://www.melbournewater.com.au/education/citizen-science/frog-census
s seas has been devastated by an ongoing harmful algal bloom.But algae are a normal and important part of marine ecosystems - so why have they turned killer? To find out, scientists are racing to identifying the microscopic culprits.We speak to Dr Greta Gaiani from the University of Technology, Sydney about her new research. Surprisingly, one of the deadly algae has never been recorded in Australia before. Read the paper.Image: Weedy Seadragon logged under the harmful algal bloom project on iNaturalist - jmholdsworth
In this episode, Andrew Christie interviews Logan Chandler, a student at the University of Melbourne whose interests lie in marine science and science communications. The wide-ranging discussion ranged from childhood influences that helped to shape his interests and tertiary learning journey to making videos based on velvet cushion seastars and the rise of artificial intelligence, with some marine news from some of the marine friends groups around the place too.
s show, Tessa speaks to professor Richard Fuller, an expert of migratory shorebird conservation, about their amazing lifeways, the deeply complex challenges of conservation, and the reasons why he is optimistic about their future. LINKShttps://www.fullerlab.org/
Brian Robinson joined us on Out of the Blue to chat about his new exhibition, Ur Wayii (Incoming Tide), currently showing at the Australian National Maritime Museum. Born on Waiben (Thursday Island) and now based in Cairns, Brian is of the Kala Lagaw Ya and Wuthathi language groups of the Torres Strait. We spoke about the influence his upbringing in the tropical marine environment around Waiben has had on his arts practice, along with some of the other ancestral, cultural and pop culture symbols and stories that shape his work. Image credit: Marinco Kojdanovski - exhibition image of Ur Wayii (Incoming Tide), used with permission.
In this episode, Andrew Christie introduces a podcast that has been produced from Parks Victoria called “Closer to Nature.” This is an edited extract of Episode 4, which is entitled “Species behaving badly,” and features a very interesting discussion on sea urchins. Parks Victoria were kind enough to give me permission to use this excellent interview featuring Dr Mark Norman, CEO of Parks Victoria, and their Chief Scientific Officer Dr Michael Sams of the Marine and Coastal Sciences unit.
Did you know that you can swim with seahorses, octopus and fiddler rays, less than 10km from Melbourne CBD? Host Tessa Campisi speaks with Jawbone Marine Sanctuary Committee member Dr Sandy Webb about the grassroots campaign to extend protected area status to ‘The Crystals’ on Bunurung Country, Williamstown.LINKS - Jawbone Marine Sanctuay Website: https://www.jawbone.org.au/Sign the Petition: https://www.change.org/p/protect-the-crystals-extend-jawbone-marine-sanctuary Music in today's episode is from bluedot.sessions
Most people living in Australia live near the coast, but many of us who don't work in marine science can be disconnected from what's happening in the ocean and our role in protecting it.That's why there's a growing body of research, advocacy and education work aiming to build our ocean literacy, both locally and all around the world.Dr Prue Francis, a senior lecturer in marine science at Deakin University, joins us to explain how scientists, educators and artists are working together to achieve this, and how we can help inspire a new generation of marine stewards.You can keep up to date with Prue's work at www.pruefrancis.com
Bycatch is a big problem for ocean life, causing the deaths of thousands of marine animals. Reducing the number of animals caught accidentally is key to caring for the sea.New research shows that some fishers are very good at minimising bycatch. Dr Leslie Roberson at the University of Queensland joins us to discuss why this might be. You can read more of Leslie's research here.
In this episode, Andrew Christie interviews Zandy Beer of Marine Care Point Cooke on an exciting trip to Whyalla in South Australia for the annual cuttlefish migration.
Have you ever seen a hunk of seaweed and been compelled to have a lil nibble?This week, scientific illustrator and nature tutor Chris Rockley takes us seaweed foraging on the coast in Portland, on Gundijtimaara Country. We talk about the ethics and laws around harvesting, where and when to forage, what to avoid, and how to eat it!To join one of Chris' seaweed workshops, or to check out her resources for foragers, visit her website: www.chrisrockley.comMusic in the show from Blue Dot Sessions, used under a creative commons license: https://www.sessions.blue/ Photo Credit: Chris Rockley
In Cyprus, water has been shaped by partition and postcolonial state-building, turning it into something divided. But through collective imagination, water can also be seen as a shared commons.In his research Decommonisation of Water in Divided Cyprus and arts practice Printed Geographies, Nicolas Mouros explores how water moves across military bases, buffer zones, and dividing lines - and how these drivers strip it of its common value. He questions the idea of scarcity, showing how water is often abstracted and depoliticised.Nicolas is a conscientious objector and environmental activist from Cyprus. He studied Human Geography, focusing on the political ecology of water in divided Cyprus. He is currently pursuing a degree in Multi-disciplinary printmaking, where he experiments with the visual - affective - political and ecological.You can follow Nicolas’ work on Instagram Printed Geographies
Since January 2025, a marine heatwave has triggered a devastating algal bloom in South Australia, and there's no relief in sight for marine life. Thousands of dead animals have washed ashore on beaches over the past six months. Scientists are racing to understand this event. Ecologist Faith Coleman joins us to explain the latest news, and what we can do to prevent these disasters in the future.Image: Short-tailed Stingray. Kathryn Lewis/iNaturalist
From hauling ropes and sails, to emmigration and endentured labour, sea shanties have been sung by sea faring people all over the world, and offer glimpse of the world that came before the one we know today. Tessa Campisi speaks to Gus Franklin, of the Southern Ocean Sea Band, a 10-piece folk group who write and perform sea shanties for their beloved south-west Victorian coast, on Eastern Maar and Gunditjimaara country.They speak about the history and purpose of sea shanties, what we can decipher about the past from folk songs, and the importance of telling local histories beyond the pages of the written archive. Linkshttps://www.facebook.com/southernoceanseaband https://thesouthernoceanseaband.bandcamp.com/
In 2004, the City of Barcelona built five artificial reefs by submerging around 300 concrete blocks off the coast of Barcelona. Two decades on, these artificial environments are now home to a thriving marine ecosystem.The Symphony of the Artificial Reef, a sound work by Juan Pablo Pacheco Bejarano and the Institute for Postnatural Studies, explores the encounters between these cohabiting human and marine infrastructure, through listening to the sounds of marine life, submarine internet cables, gas pipelines, cargo ships, sonar and more.We spoke with Juan about what these postnatural environments tell us about binaries between humans and nature, the role of tourism and extractivism, and what we can discover by really listening to water. Plus we learnt just how loud life in the ocean can be.You can follow Juan's work at https://www.juanpablopacheco.com/ or on Instagram @juanppachecob and listen to the Symphony here: https://on.soundcloud.com/jervwtIgM0WW0Brayl PS: Can you help us keep making Out Of The Blue? This June, we need your support for 3CR's Radiothon. You can make a donation at https://www.givenow.com.au/cr/outoftheblue
For many of us, when we think of the history of the seas, we think of one thing: pirates.In this episode, Bise chats to maritime historian Chris Maxworthy about the Australian tradition of piracy, including women pirates and the role piracy played in imperial government.Listen now to this swashbucklin' interview!PS: Can you help us keep making Out Of The Blue? This June, we need your support for 3CR's Radiothon. You can make a donation at https://www.givenow.com.au/cr/outoftheblue
Water is an integral part of many artists' practices, from inspiration to materials and motifs, but how does water interact with art-making for those of us who live far from the ocean? On today's show, we're speaking with Emma Russell, an incredible Gamilaroi artist who shared a bit about her experiences using ochre from the local Moonee Ponds creek in both her arts practice and her teaching.Emma tells us about how her artistic practice is 'a family affair' and the influence of her local environment, living on Wurundjeri country, on her work. Plus we touch on the history of the urbanised and sometimes under-appreciated waterways of Melbourne's north-west.You can keep up to date with Emma's work at her instagram, @emmarussellarts and keep an eye out for her upcoming arts workshops!Artwork by Emma Russell.
Who's the king of the high seas? Nobody. To whom does the ocean floor belong?All of us. A playground for whales, pirates, fishing trawlers and cargo ships, the High Seas make up most of the blue planet. Yet humans spend very little time interacting with, or even thinking about them.But that's not the case for Dr Ellycia Harrould-Kolieb, expert on global ocean governance at the University of Melbourne. We talk about the ocean as archive of human history, the international accords and treaties which shape how we interact with the 'commons', and sobering developments in Deep Sea Mining. LINKS: https://www.dosi-project.org/https://deep-sea-conservation.org/https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/443897-ellycia-harrould-koliebArtwork by Alexandra Gwynne
Each winter southern Australia hosts the return of Southern Right Whales from Antarctica, who come to warmer waters to calve. These mysterious whales were hunted almost to extinction during commercial whaling, but unlike other whales, their recovery has been much slower. New research suggests it may even have stalled.To find out why, and what that means for the oceans, we speak to researcher Anne Grundlehner at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania. Her answers offer a fascinating insight into the world of these whales.Image: Southern Right Whale mother and calf. robdownunder/Flickr
On today's show we're getting knee deep in the salty sediment of mangroves with Sabrina Olsson, Research officer for the Regenerating our Coasts program.We talk about the multifaceted charms of mangroves, from crustaceans to carbon sequestration, and some of the threats and pressures on these ecosystems. We also hear what it's like to do mangrove restoration (muddy!) and some of the fandangled new contraptions being trialled to help Victorian mangroves to recover, funded by Beach Energy Ltd in partnership with RMIT and Deakin UniversityArtwork by the spectacularly talented Gabriella ScolloLINKSReGen Storymap: https://arcg.is/1zTWyy0Sabrina, research officer: www.linkedin.com/in/sabrina-olsson/Stacey, project lead: www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-trevathan-tackett-a9a07125/Search #RegenOurCoasts on Instagram and LinkedIn
As the oceans warm, marine life is on the move. In Australia, fish and other marine species are moving beyond their usual ranges to keep pace with climate change.What does that mean for marine ecosystems? To find out, we chat to Dr Barrett Wolfe from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania, who is tracking the movement of species.Read Dr Barrett's latest research here >>. You can also help monitor marine life movement by getting involved with Redmap or the Reef Life Survey.Image: Sea urchins are one of the species moving south. John Turnbull.
Host Tessa Campisi speaks to Louise Morris, Offshore oil and gas campaigner at the Australian Marine Conservation Society, about current proposals to conduct seismic blasting off Victoria's south-west coast. They speak about the impact on marine life, the weakening of our federal environment laws, and past successes of vocal community opposition to offshore oil and gas. NOTESSign the petition against seismic blasting
When we say 'nature', what do we mean? What is conservation actually conserving? Does extinction matter? In her new book Human/Nature, author Jane Rawson asks those very questions, and more. In this episode, we get philosophical about nature. Plus, we chat to Jane about her earlier books and her fascination with cephalopods.You can catch Jane speaking with James Whitmore at The Sun Bookshop on 1 May: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/humannature-jane-rawson-in-conversation-tickets-1304949943409?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
Shipworms. Burrowing Clams. Termites of the Sea. Wait, what? On this week's show, host Tessa Campisi speaks with Cardiff-based illustrator Archie Mckenzie about these curious wood-eating molluscs. They talk about their anatomy, their lifeways, and how they have wormed their way into human history over the years.More from Archie Mckenzie (they/them)www.archillustrates.comwww.instagram.com/archillustratesMore on Shipworms Shipworms Devour Captain Cook's EndeavourShipworms in JapanArchie's book "Weird or Wonderful? All About Shipworms"Cover art by Archie McKenzie
South east Queensland's beaches look a bit different after Cyclone Alfred. On the Gold Coast, erosion has left small cliffs on the beach. Where has all the sand gone? And will it come back? To find out, we speak to Dr Javier Leon, sand scientist and surfer at the University of Southern Queensland.Image: Cyclone Alfred approaches Queeland. NASA Johnson.
The strange and spectacular Maugean Skate is only known to live in Macquarie Harbour on the West Coast of Tasmania, where industrial salmon aquaculture is driving low oxygen conditions which Dr Leo Guida of the Australian Marine Conservation Society describes as a "Hypoxic Time Bomb".In this episode, we talk about the challenges facing the Maugean Skate, and some of the actions and notable inaction being taken to keep it from sliding further towards extinction.Useful Links:Salinity and temperature modeling of Macquarie harbourMaugean Skate Recovery Team Marine Conservation Society Cover art by Tessa Campisi
In this episode, Andrew Christie interviews Associate Professor Dr Vicki Karalis and Dr Kate Robb of the Marine Mammal Foundation, who give tremendous insights into the challenges posed by jet skis. A range of topics are covered, including threats to human health (to both the general public and the riders themselves) and noise pollution and the effects on the biota, particularly around marine mammals such as dolphins.
A marine heatwave has been building off Western Australia's coast since September 2024, killing fish in the Pilbara and causing some coral bleaching in the Kimberley. In this episode we chat to Sina Pinter, a PhD researcher at the University of Western Australia, about what is causing the heatwave, and what we can do to reduce the impact to marine life.Image: West Australian coast. Source: Wikimedia.
Melbourne has a surprising number of marine mammals, right in our watery backyard. Seals and dolphins live in the bay, and even whales sometimes visit. But to help protect these animals, scientists need to know more about them. On March 1 the Marine Mammal Foundation is hosting its first Marine Mammal Bioblitz, and is asking people to come and help search for marine mammals. Jemima Beddoe, Research Associate at the foundation, joins us to explain how the bioblitz works. Find out how to get involved in the bioblitz at: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/port-phillip-bay-marine-mammal-bioblitz-tickets-1117190700459Image: Dolphins in Port Phillip Bay. DocklandsTony/Flickr
Each November cold water upwelling off the south west coast of Victoria creates the perfect conditions for the world's biggest animals - Blue Whales. Blue Whales are endangered after they were hunted nearly to extinction during commercial whaling. Now they're slowly recovering, but they remain extremely mysterious.In this episode, we chat to Dr Pete Gill, founder of the Blue Whale Study, who has been studying southern Australia's Blue Whales for over 20 years. Find out more at bluewhalestudy.org.Image: James Maughn
Australia is surrounded by a network of 60 marine parks, and scientists are still making incredible discoveries about the wildlife that live in them.A recent scientific expedition to the Beagle Marine Park in Bass Strait discovered thousands of Port Jackson Sharks - a species normally seen in shallow coastal waters - gathered on the seabed. What exactly they're doing is a mystery still to be solved.In this episode we take a dive into the Beagle with expedition leader Dr Jacquomo Monk from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania and find out what makes this part of the ocean so special.The Beagle expedition is supported by the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program and a grant of sea time from the Southern Coastal Research Vessel Fleet (SCRVF). The SCRVF is a partnership between the South Australian Research and Development Program and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, with funding from the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy and support from the CSIRO Marine National Facility, to provide the marine research community with better access to coastal research vessels in Southern Australia. The survey is a collaboration between Parks Australia, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (University of Tasmania) and the University of Western Australia. Image: Port Jackson Sharks gathering on the sea bed of the Beagle Marine Park. NESP-IMAS.
In this episode we chat to Jessie Coughlan, campaigner at NOFF in Tasmania, about shareholder and consumer activism against the salmon farming industry.Image: Andrea Pokrzywinski
James Bradley's new non-fiction book Deep Water is a gripping and moving account of our relationship to the seas, tracing our intimate history with the ocean and exploring the damage we're doing from pollution to fishing to climate change.You can catch James this week at the State Library of Victoria and the Port Fairy Literary Weekend.
Climate change is the biggest threat to the Great Barrier Reef, but other threats are making it harder for the reef to adapt to warming seas.Water quality is one of them. For over 20 years, scientists have been monitoring water quality on the reef in the effort to improve its health, and the latest scientific consensus report has just been released. To find out why water quality matters, and how it is changing on the reef, we speak to Dr Katharina Fabricius from the Australian Institute of Marine Science.Image: Sheila Dee.
Australia's southern coast used to be bordered by incredible oyster reefs. But now, nearly all of them are gone thanks to dredging and mining for lime.Because the reefs create such important habitat for marine life, scientists and conservationists are trying to bring them back. To do so, they need to attract baby oysters to settle on the reef. In this episode, we chat to Dr Brittany Williams from the University of Adelaide, whose research is showing that sound is really important for restoring reefs, and that to save oyster reefs, we need to reduce human-made ocean noise as much as we can.Image: John Turnbull, Flickr.
This past summer, the corals on the Great Barrier Reef were exposed to the greatest heat stress ever recorded. In March, scientists declared the reef was experiencing its fifth mass bleaching event, part of a global mass coral bleaching event.Corals can recover from bleaching, but scientists doing surveys on a reef near Lizard Island found nearly all the corals had died. To find out what the means for the reef more broadly, and for marine life, we speak to Professor Jane Williamson from Macquarie University.Image: ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies.
One in ten of Australia's sharks and rays are at risk of extinction, and globally shark populations are declining. The biggest reason: people eating them.In this episode, we chat to two shark experts about what we need to do to ensure sharks survive. First, Dr Adam Stow from Macquarie University talks about his research looking at what's really in flake. Then, Dr Jordan Goetze, Adjunt Professor at Curtin University, explains how marine protected areas are helping some sharks, but we have to do more.PS: If you enjoy Out Of The Blue, please help us stay on air by making a donation to 3CR's Radiothon. Head to: https://www.givenow.com.au/cr/outoftheblueImage: Scalloped Hammerhead, Daniel Kwok.
Red Handfish are one of the rarest fish in the world, with only about one hundred individuals left in the wild, living on two tiny reefs in south ast Tasmania.This summer, as a marine heatwave bore down on these critically endangered fish, scientists leapt into action to prevent the species' extinction, taking 25 Red Handfish out of the sea and caring for them on land until waters cooled.Now, they've been able to release nearly all of them back into the wild. We're joined by Dr Andrew Trotter from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania to learn about this extraordinary effort.Image: John Turnbull/Flickr.
Sea creatures might seem to lead very strange lives compared to our own. But maybe we're just as weird. In their new book, US writer and journalist Sabrina Imbler fuses science and memoir to compare the lives of sea creatures to their own. Highlights include how deep sea yeti crabs are like queer night clubs, and jelly-like salps are like queer communities. In this episode, we discovered how queer the oceans really are.Sabrina's book is How Far The Light Reaches, published in Australia as My Life In Sea Creatures.
Marine heatwaves this summer have struck the waters around eastern Australia, particularly around Tasmania, the Sea Country of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community. In this episode we chat to pakana Sea Country Ranger Fiona Maher and Sea Country IPA Coordinator Zoe Cozens from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre about what the rangers are doing to care for marine life as the oceans warm. Image: John Sampson/Flickr.
Salt. It's one of the things that makes seawater, well, seawater. In this episode, we chat to Dr Neil Malan from the University of New South Wales about why this mineral is so important in the oceans, shaping the way water moves and where ocean animals and plants live (did you know seabirds get their freshwater from the surface of the ocean after it rains?). Neil's recent research looks at how the huge floods on Australia's east coast had a big impact on the marine environment.Photo by Pavel Neznanov on Unsplash
The Great Southern Reef is just as sunique as the Great Barrier Reef, but far fewer people have heard of it. Stretching from southern New South Wales to Western Australia, this special place is home to amazing species like seadragons and giant cuttlefish. Stefan Andrews from the Great Southern Reef Foundation is raising awareness about the reef and in this episode Stefan joins us to talk about the trip he recently took to Western Australia to meet with coastal communities.Zebra Fish on the Great Southern Reef in South Australia. Image: John Turnbull/Flickr.
The Great Ocean Rescue campaign, organised by OCEAN, the Otway Coastal Environment Network, has been making its way along the Great Ocean Road since 5 January. From Barwon Heads to Portland, campaigners have been raising awareness about huge seismic blasting proposals for the ocean off the coast. We catch up with Lisa Deppeler from OCEAN to find out how the campaign is going. Find out more at: https://www.ocean.org.au/greatoceanrescueImage: Great Ocean Roasd, J. Philipp Krone/Flickr
The Great Southern Reef, not to be confused with its tropical cousin, stretches from New South Wales to Western Australia, one of the largest reefs systems in the world. A network of rocky reefs and kelp forests, the reef is home to hundreds of species found nowhere else.But this summer the reef is facing the threat of marine heatwaves, with extreme water temperatures already occurring off the coast of Victoria and Tasmania. Conservationists are calling on the Australian Government to do something before it's too late.We speak to Stefan Andrews from the Great Southern Reef Foundation, which is dedicated to raising the profile of this amazing place.Image: John Turnbull/Flicker.
Scalloped Hammerhead sharks are found all over the world, but very little is known about them. So when researcher Andrea López from the University of Western Australian discovered large schools of Scalloped Hammerheads in a marine park near Perth, it was an opportunity to learn more about this endangered species.Remarkably, even though the Scalloped Hammerhead is considered at risk of extinction, it is still legal to hunt it in Australian waters — even in marine parks. In this episode, we chat to Andrea about what needs to change to protect this amazing species.Image: Kris-Mikael Krister
The Southern Ocean: wild, beautiful, home to amazing wildlife. It also helps fertilise the oceans and regulate the planet's climate. But as the Earth warms and we pump more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, what's happening to this remarkable place?To find out, we speak to Dr Andrew Constable from the University of Tasmania, the lead author of the first Marine Ecosystem Assessment for the Southern Ocean, a comprehensive report on the present and future health of this vast sea. He explains what policymakers need to do now to protect the Southern Ocean.Image: Black-browed Albatross. Gregory "Slobirdr" Smith/Flickr.
The ocean off Victoria's coast has been selected for Australia's first offshore wind farms, which will help displace fossil fuels and reduce Australia's carbon emissions. But some of those areas are already being mined for oil and gas. And coastal communities have a variety of concerns about offshore energy, from seismic blasting to test for gas to the visual impact of wind farms.So who makes the decisions about offshore energy developments? And how do communities have a say? We're joined by energy law expert Professor Samantha Hepburn from Deakin University to explain.
The endangered Maugean Skate is a unique species of fish found only on Tasmania's west coast, a relic of an ancient lineage. With it's population crashing in recent years, the Federal Government has announced a plan to breed the skate in captivity to save it from extinction.But will that be enough? Research shows that one of the biggest threats to the skate is salmon farming, and the plan says nothing about dealing with that. We speak to Dr Leonardo Guida from the Australian Marine Conservation Society.Image: Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies/University of Tasmania.
There's lots of news coming from the Great Barrier Reef at the moment, with the UN deciding again not to list the reef as a World Heritage site in danger, and new surveys showing that coral recovery after recent mass bleaching events has stalled. Meanwhile extreme global sea temperatures are causing coral bleaching on reefs.To make sense of all these headlines, we speak to University of Technology Sydney researcher Dr Emma Camp, whose research focuses on helping coral reefs adapt to the changing climate.
Pygmy Right Whales are Australia's smallest baleen whale, the group that includes the well-known Humpbacks and Southern Right Whales. But unlike their famous cousins, they've been seen so few times that essentially nothing is known about them. So how do you study a whale that is as mysterious as a unicorn? Adelaide Dedden at the University of New South Wales has studied baleen from stranded right whales to reveal, for the first time, some of the secrets of these little whales.Image: Pygmy Right Whale by Henry Cordell.
Ocean temperatures are at record highs in many parts of the world and Antarctic sea ice has reached its lowest level ever for winter, when it should be at its maximum extent. Meanwhile a new study warns that hugely important ocean currents in the Atlantic Ocean could collapse in the next couple of years and the Antonio Gutteres says we've entered the era of "global boiling".To make sense of these oceanic climate extremes, we speak to oceanographer Edward Doddridge from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania.Image: Sea surface temperature anomalies (difference from average) on July 28 2023. Source: Climate Reanalyzer.
Australia is about to embark on an adventure in offshore wind farms, with the first two offshore wind energy zones declared in Bass Strait. While wind energy will play a huge role in reducing Australia's greenhouse gas emissions and combatting climate change, those giant propellers in the sky also pose their own risks to marine life, particularly birds.Ecologist Keith Reid earlier this year published the first assessment on the risks that offshore wind farms pose Australia's birds. In this episode, we find out what happens when birds and wind farms meet, and how to weigh the risks. Read Keith's research online.Image: David Dixon / Walney Offshore Windfarm
The ocean between Victoria and Tasmania is the latest battleground in the fight to stop new fossil fuel developments. In this episode we chat to to Lisa Deppeler from the Otway Climate Emergency Action Network (OCEAN) about the campaign to stop seismic blasting in the seas off Victoria. Lisa discusses the evidence that blasting harms marine life and the concerning process that permission for blasting has been granted. Find out more at ocean.org.au.Image: the proposed location of seismic blasting. From ocean.org.au.
Southern Right Whales have arrived in bays along Victoria's coast to have their calves. After being decimated by whaling, these whales are slowly recovering. This week, we chat to Kasey Stamation from the Victorian Governent's Arthur Rylah institute. You can help researchers untangle the mysteries of these amazing animals by logging any sightings of whales in Victoria at WhaleFace.We need your help to keep bringing you the most important stories about our coasts and oceans. It costs about $50 to make Out of the Blue. Could you support us by making a donation to 3CR's Radiothon? Your donation not helps Out of the Blue but all the other programs on 3CR. Head to https://www.givenow.com.au/cr/outoftheblue.Image: Southern Right Whale. Gregory Smith.
We need your help to keep bringing you the most important stories about or coasts and oceans. Can you support Out of the Blue by making a donation?In this episode, James shares some of his highlights from the year:activists in Antarctica fighting industrial krill fishingresearchers trying to save Tasmania's unique Maugean Skate, recently recognised as endangeredthe amazing effort the restore Lady Elliot Island on the Great Barrier Reef.Your donation will not only support Out Of The Blue but the incredible work of all the radical radio-makers at 3CR Community Radio. We appreciate every cent.
If you've been out on Port Phillip Bay and seen a grey dolphin, you might have seen Melbourne's own unique species of dolphin - the Burrunan Dolphin! Only recognised in 2011, Burrunan Dolphins live in Port Phillip Bay, the Gippsland Lakes and waters around Tasmania.To learn more about this wonderful creature, and the efforts to protect them, we speak to Dr Kate Robb from the Marine Mammal Foundation, and Grace Day, a PhD candidate at Deakin University.If you enjoy this show, please consider making a donation to Out Of The Blue and 3CR Community Radio. Head to https://www.givenow.com.au/cr/outoftheblue. We appreciate every cent we receive.
You've probably noticed krill oil for sale at your local pharmacy. Much of that krill oil, marketed as sustainable, is harvested from Antarctic waters by industrial ships that are increasingly coming into conflict with wildlife. In this episode, we chat to Alistair Allan, a campaigner at the Bob Brown Foundation who has just spent several months in Antarctic waters investigating the impact of krill fishing. Campaigners are calling for increases to krill fishing limits to be haulted at international meetings this year.Image: Antarctic krill, NOAA photo library.
Lady Elliot Island is one of the southernmost islands on the Great Barrier Reef. Once degraded by mining for fertiliser, it has since been restored and breeding seabirds have returned. Now researchers are untangling the relationship between the land and sea, helping scientists understand how this ecosystem works and how it might serve as a climate refuge in a warming world. It's an amazing story featuring thousands of seabirds, giant manta rays, and very cute walking sharks. We speak to Dr Christine Dudgeon from the University of the Sunshine Coast, and a researcher on the Leaf to Reef Project. Image: Epaullette Shark. Richard Ling, Flickr.
New research has revealed over 300 species of Australian marine species are declining at a rate that threatens them with extinction - including the Weedy Seadragon. The research, which draws on Australia-wide data collected by the Reef Life Survey over the past two decades, looked at populations of over 1,000 species of seaweeds, fish, corals and other invertebrates. We speak to Dr John Turnbull from the University of Sydney. Image: John Turnbull, Flickr.
Seaweed is being touted a solution to all sorts of environmental challenges, from feeding people and livestock, and reducing the need to cut down forests, to creating new materials to replace plastics. But how much of the oceans should be farmed, and what would that mean for the plants and animals that already live there? We speak to Scott Spillias from the University of Queensland about his new research. Plus, we catch up with Lauren Sandeman from Sea Shepherd about the campaign to end the use of shark nets in New South Wales. Image: A dolphin found recently drowned in a shark net in New South Wales. Mother Ocean Freediving.
Research has revealed that only a third of flake sold in fish and shops in South Australia is actually gummy shark. Other species included four endangered sharks. We speak to Professor Bronwyn Gillanders from the University of Adelaide to find out how endangered sharks are making their way into the fryer, and how food labelling regulations can be tightened up to protect sharks.Also, we chat to Dr Wenju Cai from the CSIRO about La Nina - and what happens now that three years of wet weather are coming to an end.Image: Gummy Shaker. Flickr/Alpha CC BY-NC-SA https://www.flickr.com/photos/avlxyz/15402540859
The giant Scarborough gas project off the coast of Western Australia is one of the biggest fossil fuel projects proposed in Australia in recent years. Environmental groups are trying to stop the project, and others like it, through the courts, in a strategy that could change the way governments deal with fossil fuel projects. We get the lowdown from Rebekkah Markey-Towler from the University of Melbourne. Read more about Rebekkah's research here.Also, the latest on the campaign to prevent environmental damage at Toondah Harbour in Queensland, a vital stopover for threatened shorebirds such as the critically endangered Eastern Curlew. We speak to Andrew Hunter from Birdlife Australia. Read about the campaign here. Image: the critically endangered Eastern Curlew is one of the threatened species that lives at Toondah Harbour. Leo/Flickr CC-BY-NC-SA
Seventy years ago the British conducted the first of three nuclear weapons tests on the Montebello Islands off the coast of Western Australia. Surprisingly, no one has looked at the bomb's impact on marine life. Maddy Hoffman at Edith Cowan University is studying how much radiation might be left in the ocean after the tests. Read about her research.Also, the Australian Government has recently released a new plan to stop species going extinct. One of the focus species is the Maugean Skate, a wonderful, unique and poorly known fish related to sharks and rays found only on Tasmania's west coast. We speak to David Moreno and Jayson Semmens from the University of Tasmania who are at the forefront of efforts to save the species. Image: the cloud produced by the first British nuclear weapons test on the Montebello Islands.
We're all too aware of natural disasters that strike the land - but what about those that happen at sea?In this episode we learn about how the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020 have left a lasting impact on coastal waters. We speak to Thay Barros from the University of New South Wales to find out more. Read about Thay's research here.Also, a mystery solved. In 2016, more than 40 million mangroves over 1,000 km of coastline on the Gulf of Carpentaria died. Why did it happen, and what does it tell us about the future of mangroves? Neil Saintilan from Macquarie University has the answers. Read about his research.Image: Mangroves form extremely important habitat for numerous coastal and marine species. Rob and Stephanie Levy/Wikimedia CC-BY
Twenty years ago Victoria set up oen of the world's most comprehensive networks of marine parks. We chat to Michael Sam from Parks Victoria to learn about how this came about, and what's next for our precious marine parks. Find out more.Plus, a new roadmap for protecting Australia's coastal environment. We chat to Megan Saunders from the CSIRO to find out more. Read the report here. Image: Weedy Seadragons are one of the species protected in Victoria's marine parks. John Turnbull/Flickr CC-BY-NC-SA.
In this episode, we catch up with Dr Travis Dutka from La Trobe University, to find out about the amazing discovery of huge bryozoan reefs in Westernport Bay. Bryozoans, a unique type of colonial animal, rarely form such large reefs in such shallow water - these recently discovered reefs are globally special.Also, we talk to Jill Wheeler, a ranger at Parks Victoria who looks after some of Port Phillip Bay's marine sanctuaries. We find out about efforts to control sea urchins, which are threatening these precious marine exosystems. Parks Victoria is celebrating 20 years of marine parks - you can join in their series of webinars at the Parks Victoria website.Image: Bryozoan. Photo: John Turnbull/Flickr.
The yearly gathering of thousands of Spider Crabs in Port Phillip Bay's shallow waters is one of Victoria's most spectacular natural phenomena. But we know surprisingly little about how many crabs there are and what triggers them to migrate. To help find the answers, scientists are asking the community to get involved in Spider Crab Watch and report any time they see Spider Crabs in Victoria. We speak to Elodie Camprasse from Deakin University to find out more. Get involved in Spider Crab Watch on the Faceook page and iNaturalist. Burning fossil fuels and releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere isn't just heating the planet - it's also making the oceans more acidic. That's bad news for many ocean creatures, but new research has looked at what it means for some of the ocean's smallest and most important inhabitants - phytoplankton. We spoke to Lennart Bach from the University of Tasmania to find out about these worrying findings and how scientists study these microscopic organisms. Read more about the research here.
In this episode, we chat to Simba Chan from the Japan Bird Research Association about the incredible story of the critically endangered Chinese Crested Tern. These seabirds live and breed between the seas between China and Japan, part of what's known as the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, a highway for sea birds and shorebirds that extends from Australia to the Arctic. Conservationists who work in the flyway have dubbed 2022 the Years of the Terns, putting the spotlight on these threatened birds.And in northern Australia we speak to Dr Mariana Campbell from Charles Darwin University about the recovery of Estuarine Crocodiles, Australia's biggest reptiles. Hunted close to extinction in the 1970s, their numbers have rebounded. Mariana's research is looking at what's behind the recovery.
In this episode, James talks to Mark Rodrigue from Parks Victoria about a new plan to control coastal weed sea spurge along Victoria's coast. To plan - to release a new fungus that kills the spurge - will help species like Little Penguins. Find out more.We also chat to Adelaide Dedden, a researcher at the University of New South Wales, about her new research looking at what whale baleen can tell us about the past. Read her research paper.Image: Wikimedia Commons.
With Antarctic sea ice reaching a record low level in February, we chat to Klaus Meiners from the Australian Antarctic Division to find out what this means for Antarctic ecosystems.Also we catch up with Amellia Formby to find out about her Wing Threads project and her plan to fly her microlight around Australia to put the spotlight on threats to migratory shorebirds. Find out more at wingthreads.com
Back in 2016 the Great Barrier Reef suffered its worst mass coral bleaching. So bad was the event that a US magazine published a satirical obituary for the reef. The article caused a stir in Australia - and research by Kerrie Foxwell-Norton at Griffith University suggests it might have done more harm than good. Read more: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1329878X211055852And in more new research, Joseph Maina from Macquarie University has found that 70% of the most important coral reefs remain inadequately protected. The key is connectivity - some reefs are important sources of fish larvae, and help replenish fish on other reefs. Find out more: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abg4351
Two global meetings are underway: COP26, in which world leaders are meeting to make new goals on addressing climate change, and COP15, the international meeting on biodiversity, where nations are discussing a goal to protect a third of the land and seas. Climate activist Greta Thunberg has criticised the meetings for just being a talk fest. So what's at stake?In this episode, we speak to Mibu Fischer from the CSIRO who recently published a paper on Indigenous management of the seas as part of the Future Seas project. Mibu explains how Indigenous rights are intimately bound to climate change and biodiversity loss.Also, Gretta Pecl from the Insitute of Marine and Antarctic Studies at the University of Tasmania, explains how climate change is altering our southern seas, and questions whether simply protecting a third of the oceans is enough.
In this episode of Out Of The Blue, we get the latest on the Tasmanian governments plan for the farmed salmon industry. We're joined by Peter George from the Tasmanian Alliance for Marine Protection.We're also joined by Alastair Allan from the Bob Brown Foundation to discus what's happening in Antarctica, where governments around the world are deciding whether to create large new marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean.
As Australia faces pressure to end use of fossil fuels, a new fight is emerging in Bass Strait against gas developments. Recently campaigners went to King Island to protest seismic tests for gas, with concerns the explosions may harm marine life. We caught up with Ally King from Surfriders Southern Tasmania and Tom Allen from the Wilderness Society to find out more.Find out more:No Gas Across The BassSurfriders Tasmania - Facebook, InstagramWilderness SocietyIPCC reportInternational Energy Agency report on ending fossil fuel explorationNature study on leaving fossil fuels in the ground
In this episode, we hear from Luke Halpin, who recently discovered that giant centipedes are eating his seabird research subjects on a tiny island off Norfolk Island. We hear about the difficulties of seabird research and why it's so important for ocean conservation. Find out more on The Conversation.Also, we get an update on the Melbourne Sea Slug Census from Nicole Mertens of the Victorian National Parks Association. Divers were able to squeeze in a winter survey between lockdowns in July. You might be surprised to hear how many types of sea slugs live in the waters close to Melbourne! Find out more about the census here. Image: A sea slug, Phyllodesmium serratum, under Blairgowrie Pier. Andrea McIntyre/Flickr CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Toondah Harbour on the coast near Brisbane is a globally significant wetland and a vital stopover for shorebirds such as the critically endangered Eastern Curlew. It's under threat from a property development and campaigners are calling for the project to be stopped. We speak to campaigner Andrew Hunter from Birdlife Australia. Find out more at: https://www.actforbirds.org/savetoondahStaying in Queensland, we also speak to Dr Zoe Richards from Curtin University, about an alarming new reef study. Although parts of the reef are recovering after mass coral bleaching, she's found 60 species (16%) of coral have disappeared from around Lizard Island. We chat about what that means for a possible listing of the Great Barrier Reef as a World Heritage site "in danger". Read more about the study: https://theconversation.com/almost-60-coral-species-around-lizard-island-are-missing-and-a-great-barrier-reef-extinction-crisis-could-be-next-163714
There's been plenty of talk about Tasmania's salmon farming industry lately. Award-winning author Richard Flanagan's latest book Toxic makes a number of alarming claims about the industry's impact on Tasmania's marine ecosystems. So where can we turn to if we're concerned about eating salmon farmed in Tasmania? In this show, James speaks to Adrian Meder from the Australian Marine Conservation Society about the GoodFish guide, which rates Australian seafood on its sustainability. He says there are a number of great Australian alternatives we can try. ResourcesToxic, Richard FlanaganGoodFish, Australian Marine Conservation SocietyFactsheets, Huon AquacultureTassie Salmon Facts, Tasmanian Salmonid Growers Association
In this episode, James talks to Dr Chayya Chaudhary, a post-doctoral fellow at the Goethe Institute, about how climate change is upending the pattern of life in the oceans. Tropical species are moving south, which is bad news for temperate species, and all the people who depend on marine life in tropical oceans. Read more about her research on The Conversation. And we hear about some of Australia's most threatened sharks and rays. Dr Leonardo Guida from the Autralian Marine Conservation Society tells us about a new study finding that 10 species of shark and rays, all of them found only in Australia, are at immiment risk of extinction due to fishing. Moreover none of them are protected under Australian law. Read more about the report.
How do you keep track of what's happening in the oceans? Since 2008 the Reef Life Survey has completed more than 13,000 underwater surveys on every continent, led by hundreds of volunteer divers. It's an unparalleled insight into how our oceans are changing, and they've uncovered some startling and worrying trends. In this episode, James catches up with volunteer diver John Turnbull to find out what's changed in Port Phillip Bay over the past decade. You can find out more about the Reef Life Survey, and explore the data, at https://reeflifesurvey.com/Image: A crab under a jetty in Port Phillip Bay. Source: John Turnbull/Flickr CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0.
The Antarctic Peninsula is one of the fastest changing environments on the planet. Warming rapidly, its also seeing increasing pressure from fishing, tourism, and scientific expeditions. Recently a group of women wrote a letter in the journal Nature calling for the seas around the Peninsula to be protected. James speaks to Dr Carolyn Hogg from the University of Sydney about why this region must be protected, and about the Homeward Bound program for women in STEMM. Read the Nature letter: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02939-5And conservationists in Tasmania have recently had a huge win: reintroducing 42 critically endangered Red Handfish to the rocky reefs off the island's coast. James speaks to Dr Jemina Stuart-Smith about these extraordinary fish, which have never been bred in captivity before, and the difficulties of releasing them back into the wild. Find out more about the Handfish Conservation Project and what you can do to help: https://handfish.org.au/
In this episode, James chats to Zena Cumpston, a Barkandji woman and research fellow at the University of Melbourne, to find out all about eels that still make their way through the drains of the university, following old watercourses buried under the concrete. Zena tells us about her research on Indigenous knowledge and the importance of learning about our pre-invasion environment. Find out more at The Living Pavillion. On the other side of the continent, Dr Nerida Wilson, Senior Research Scientist at the Western Australian Museum, is part of a new project calling for people to search for seadragons. Seadragons are some of the most wonderful and unique inhabitants of southern Australia's oceans, but we still know surprisingly little about them. You can help scientists learn more about them by sending in photos of any seadragons you see. Find out more at Seadragon Search.
In this episode, we speak to Monash University Phd candidate James Rule about his exciting fossil findings on Port Phillip Bay. James and his team recently discovered nine fossil seals, dating back to six million years ago when the bay was warmer, and much more dangerous. But these seals aren't like the ones found around Melbourne today: they're smaller to start with. Find out more about James' work here, and support his research by donating to the Lost World of Bayside. We also speak to Dr Ana Bugnot from the University of Sydney, about her recent research on ocean construction. Ports, pipelines, oil rigs - the oceans are full of things we've built, and they has a big impact on marine ecosystems. With much more construction planned for the near future, Ana says we need to start planning ocean infrastructure the same way we plan for building on land. Find out more about her research here.
Many of us are worried about plastic pollution and its impact on the environment. But we still have a lot to learn. New research shows that microplastics are found in some of our favourites seafoods - sardines, prawns, oysters. Research author Francisca Ribeiro says the findings raise more questions than answers. And Plastic Free July is the movement founded 10 years ago in Perth that asks people to give up plastic for a month. This year July was very different - thanks to the pandemic many of us can't use keep cups at cafes, and there's a lot more takeaway going on. Still, every little bit counts, says Rebecca Prince-Ruiz, founder of Plastic Free July. Rebecca has just co-authored a book on the movement with Joanna Atherfold Finn, Plastic Free. Resources: Francica Ribeiro, Microplastics in seafoodRebecca Prince-Ruiz and Joanna Atherfold Finn, Plastic Free: The inspiring story of a global environmental movement and why it matters, NewSouthPlastic Free July
In this episode we're all about ocean plants. In Tasmania, 95% of forest-forming giant kelp have disappeared, as waters warm along one of the fastest heating coasts in the world. We speak to Dr Cayne Layton, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, UTAS, about a new project attempting to restore the kelp. And on the other side of the continent, Phd candidate Cristian Salinas is figuring out how much carbon is lost to the atmosphere when sea grass beds are destroyed: it's a lot.
In 2018 the Victorian government released new areas of seafloor for oil and gas exploration, and we'll soon find out which companies were successful in winning exploration licenses. But local campaigners are concerned about the social and environmental impacts. We spoke to Kate Wattchow from Friends of the Earth, and Samantha Hepburn, Professor of law at Deakin University, the get the low down.
The anti-whaling movement of the 1970s was one of the first global environmental campaigns. But even though whaling has mostly stopped, whales face even more threats today, from plastic and noise pollution to climate change. In her new book Fathoms (Scribe 2020), writer and environmental philosopher Rebecca Giggs argues that whales can help us tell new stories about our impact on nature.
Happy Mother's Day! A huge shout out to all the mothers out there who are raising or have raised children who are connected to the ocean. So many people are missing the ocean and nature during these difficult times, but it will be waiting for us when this is all over. This week, we chat about jellies, and the fact that some are considered immortal. No need for Mother's Day if you're immortal, is there?
Did you know one shorebird flew nonstop from Alaska to New Zealand across the Pacific Ocean, a journey of over 11,000 kilometres? In this episode we're all about bird journeys. We speak to Andrew Darby about his wonderful new book Flight Lines, and how he followed two grey plover on their perilous journey north to the Artic. Plus we catch up with Dr Dejan Stojanovic to talk about orange-bellied parrots, the world's most endangered parrots, and how they travel between the coasts of southern Australia and Tasmania across Bass Strait.
In the midst of a global pandemic, climate change continues. Up in Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef has just experienced another mass coral bleaching event, thanks to record-breaking temperatures. We spoke to Professor Terry Hughes at James Cook University to get the latest on how much of the reef has bleached, why bleaching is a problem, and why we shouldn't give up hope.
We are travelling back to 2017 for this week's splashback - Tune in for the third and final installment (for now) of our Sex in the Sea series. We expose a massive lie which Disney has told millions and millions of people. Finding Nemo is definitely not as it seems. Want to know more? You better have a listen...
Welcome to another Splashback. This week we head back to 2016 for Sex in the Sea part two. There are so many more weird and wonderful things to explore. Sperm packets of octopus, complicated life cycles of sea jellies and penis fighting in flatworms. You're all curious to know more so don't try to resist. Tune in to learn more about the bedroom antics of marine organisms...
Welcome to Out of the Blue Splashback, where we relive shows form the past. This week's episode is Sex in the Sea part I, which originally aired all the way back in July 2016. We could all use some laughter and fun right now, so tune in to hear about the weird ways that marine animals get down and dirty...
Matt and Donna interview Shannon Hurley from the Victorian National Parks Association about the consultation and recent release of the Victorian Government's Marine and Coastal Policy. Download the Policy here: https://www.marineandcoasts.vic.gov.au/
March 18th is Global Recycling Day! What can you can, whether you are still in a workplace, in self isolation, or our and about, to support this global event? Heather looks at strategies for work and home and what global recycling day could look like to you. There is also a shout out to animal carers in aquariums and zoos, so tune in.
To celebrate International Women's Day, Morgan Pumpa made a return to the show after three years away. She and Heather celebrated women in the marine conservation field who are achieving incredible things, from Valerie Taylor and Sylvia Earle, through to Molly Steer, Madison Stewart and Danielle Ryan. They also looked back at women in their lives who inspired them to get involved in the ocean and develop a life long love of the sea.
In this episode, Fam Charko tells us about her internship at the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority's aquarium in Townsville, that time she punched a shark in the face (don't worry, the shark was fine), and incredible stories about fish intelligence.
Matt had a close encounter with a bronze whaler under Blairgowrie pier last week. Also: a chat about the new fishing licences to be given out to small fishing operations along Victoria's coast.
Andrew and James discuss how the oceans played a role in the unprecedented bushfires that burned across southern Australian in the summer of 2019-20. Find out about the Indian Ocean Dipole, marine heatwaves, sea urchins in Port Phillip Bay, and the latest on climate activism.
Hilary McNevin talks with Fam about the amzing program for the Apollo Bay Seafood Festival; it's about much more than eating seadfood!
First show of 2020! Join Heather as she chats with Paige Coleman about her marine animal encounters from around Australia and overseas. She's been swimming with whale sharks in Western Australia, mantarays in Hawaii, sea lions in Port Phillip Bay and so much more. If you need inspiration for a holiday or mini-break in 2020, don't miss this show.
Donna, Matt and Fam talk Seaside Scavenge Festival in Rye, corals and sunscreen and Donna's experience visiting the Red and Dead Seas in this jam-packed show.
Christmas is only 17 days away! Where on Earth did 2019 go? Rather than jumping straight into the craziness that is Christmas shopping, how about you take things a little slower this year and think about a more sustainable festive season. From Christmas feast to Christmas gifts, Heather and James look at how we can all reduce our impact this silly season.
This week James shares stories from his epic roadtrip adventure down the west coast of the United States, from Seattle to Los Angeles. He encounted elephant seals, sea lions, otters and so much more. This episode promises to make you jealous and itching to book flights to this stunning part of the world... Also, on a different note, is Greta a time traveller?
Kade Mills from the Victorian National Parks Association talks to us about Dragon Quest: a new citizen science program to record weedy seadragons. Also, the Great Victorian Fish Count 2019 and whale poo.
Have you ever truly listened to the ocean? Not the ocean itself, with the waves and bubbles. We mean everything that lies beneath the surface. So many marine organisms utilise sound for communication, whether it's defense, mating or hunting. Erin shares some fascinating stories about the under the sea symphony that is ever present and changing. You will never look at the ocean the same way again...
Donna and Matt are joined in today's show on the phone by Natalie Lo Bartolo, Master Reef Guide with Lady Musgrave Experience on the Great Barrier Reef. Hear all about these new guides and how they are influencing positive tourism on the Great Barrier Reef.
Heather is escaping Melbourne crazy weather by heading north to Cairns and the Daintree. When planning her trip away, she asked social meadia to give advice on dive operators to use to explore the reef and, more importantly, the parts of the reef less visited by the general public. She shares her fears about what she might find on the reef, including coral damage, bleaching and the chances of seeing a shark...
Fam talks about the first ever plastic health summit held in the Netherlands last week where scientists are reporting on their research into the effects of micro and nano plastics on human health.Also Matt talks about Octopus having brains in the tentacles.
How Dare You!! We completely agree Greta. On September 20th over 100,000 people joining the #ClimateStrike in Melbourne. In the week since, over 7million people world-wide have stood up to have their voices heard about Climate Change. Our Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, says the rest of the world is unfairly targeting Australia and that we are doing great things in the climate action realm. Are we? Really? Tune in to find out the truth...
Interview with Simon Finn about his current exhibition Breath-Hold Dwelling - an exploration of the fragile relationship between human life and the ocean. Simon's exhibition runs from 7 September - 10 November at Linden New Art, 26 Acland Street, St. Kilda. https://lindenarts.org/exhibitions/simon-finn---breath-hold-dwelling--2019
Tim shares with listeners all about the work of Native Fish Australia and key freshwater species in lakes and rivers in Australian. Native Fish Australia is a conservation angling organisation. For more, visit: https://www.nativefish.asn.au/
Join Heather and Erin as they learn about Port Phillip Bay's rich history and fossils with life long fossil enthusiast Murray Orr from the Bayside Earth Sciences Society Incorporated. Have you every uncovered a fossil in the Bay? Any idea what it is or how old? BESSI and MESAC (Marine Education Science Community Centre) will be holding their annual Fossil Expo on Saturday 14th September. Tune in for all the details...
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority has released its latest outlook report, and the outlook isn't good. Climate change is having huge impacts, as is invasive species, run-off, cyclones and bleaching events. Read the full report here: http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/our-work/outlook-report-2019. Listeners are also treated to a poem, written by Emily Dickinson, I started Early - I took my dog.
Fam Charko has depressing AND exhilaratingly GOOD news about updated research results of Clean bay Blueprint, a long-term study establishing a baseline of litter data in the Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers.
This week Erin shares a controversial story about Sawfish deaths on a well known Australian's property and why it was covered up. We also look at a new species of pocket shark that glows in the dark. A 14cm glow in the dark shark, what's not to love?
Andrew, Matt and Lleyton talk diving, and just some of the fun things they've seen and done.
This week, another Australian council has officially declared a climate emergency, bringing the total to 29. Is your council one of them? Find out how you can pressure your local council to get on board. Also, have you ever wanted to have an animal encounter here or overseas, but unsure how to choose an ethical operator? Find out what you can do to improve your chances of finding a provider that loves and respects the animals as much as you do.
On this weeks' show we interview Dr Olaf Meynecke from Humpbacks and Highrises about the latest whale news from the east coast of Australia. Hear about threats, changes, and how to get involved in an expedition to collect valuable data to inform his important research. Also, Fam shares her experiences of the recent Phillip Island Whale Festival.https://www.humpbacksandhighrises.org/
Andrew shares his knowledge of cone shells and other marine toxins, and their implications on pharmaceutical innovation.
Did you know sharks have a third eye? And they can't feel pain? Ok, they do feel something, but they don't feel and process pain like we do. Tune in to this week's episode as shark enthusiast James Laolada wows us with shark knowledge that he gained through his studies of species in northern Australia. We promise you will learn a thing or two about these incredible animals...
Get ready for Plastic Free July! And win a set of reusable produce bags from Boomerang Bags :)We're getting a spider crab update from Matt as well, about the petition for the protection of the crabs during their annual migration.
Fam and Andrew talk with Matt Testoni from the Spider Crab Alliance about their change.org petition and community action plan to protect the spider crabs from being overfished during their annual migration.
Radiothon!! Can you believe it's already been a year? Join Andrew and Heather (and a phone in from Fam) as they touch on this week's marine news and how you can donate to Radiothon 2019! All donations over $2 are tax deductible so tune in to found out how you can support 3CR and Out of the Blue.
World Ocean Day was on June 8th. Heather and Erin explore why the oceans are so important and how, thanks to Dr Vanessa Pirotta, whales and their snot can help us learn more about ocean health. They also look into this year's whale migration from the Southern Ocean around Antartica to the warmer waters of Australia and touch on a new whale trend around the Gold Coast.
We talk with David Donnelly from the Dolphin Research Institute about citizen science for the Two Bays Whale program. The whales are migrating now, so listen to this show to find out how to get involved with recording whale sightings.www.facebook.com/twobayswhales
Thursday 23 May was World Turtle Day, so today we dedicate our show to these fascinating prehistoric creatures of the sea. Did you know Australian waters are home to six of the seven species of marine turtle? For the history of World Turtle Day visit: https://www.worldturtleday.org/.
Andrew interviews Nikki Kowalzcyk about her work with the Yarra Riverkeeper Association and looking after the health of Australia's most iconic rivers; the Yarra/Rirrarung in Melbourne.
Last week, a tame beluga whale wearing a harness approached a fishing boat in the nothern region of Norway. Is it a runaway perfomer, or a Russian spy?Fam and Donna speculate and talk about the history of use of marine mammals in the US and Russian armies.
Have you ever seen a pink dolphin? Why are they pink? Where are they found? The answers to all these questions and more are on this week's episode of Out of the Blue. Tune in as Heather describes her recent experiences with pink Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphins in the waters off Hong Kong, her mixed feelings on this tourism industry, and why there is a distinct lack of juveniles in the population. So much to discover...
As Erin recently became a father (huge congrats on the arrival of little Elliot), Heather flew solo today. Listen in to find out all about how to read the weather for diving in Port Phillip Bay, including the winds and tides, as well as what to do if you come across a marine animal that needs help. Be inspired to jump back in the water before it gets too cold...
Donna is joined by two Out of the Blue alumni, Dr. Amanda Franklin and Dr. Jacqui Pocklinton, to chat about Amanda's fascinating research into the visual communication and camouflage activity of the colourful mantis shrimp. Read more here: https://theconversation.com/mantis-shrimp-have-the-worlds-best-eyes-but-why-17577. Also, as usual, news headlines, upcoming events and fun banter.
Josie Jones, environmentalist and anti-litter campaigner from the Mornington Peninsula, shares with us not only the success of the Peninsula's Last Straw project, but also drops a few words of wisdom for us to consider when we try to tackle litter issues in our daily lives.
Andrew talks with Associate Professor Mike Weston from Deakin University about aquatic and marine ornithology.
Heather and Erin have both worked in marine education for many years. Throughout that time, they have encountered some pretty strange and unusual concepts about marine life, some of which are just completely wrong. Today's episode is an opportunity to have a bit of a laugh at some of the misconceptions out there, for example hermit crabs make the shells they live in, but also serves as a reminder that we never stop learning and sometimes need to question and explore things we we have assumed are true from childhood.
Donna interviews Dr. Vera Moller about her current art exhibition A Thousand Tides, at Bunjil Place Gallery in Narre Warren.
Donna and Fam interview Nikki and Andrew from the Yarra River Keepers Assocation and Doug Yardley from Clean Water Group LIVE from their massive Clean Up Australia Day event on the Maribyrnong River.
Andrew talks with Tamara from Parks Victoria about current marine issues facing Port Phillip Bay, including the prickly issue of sea urchins.
Today Lauren Tworkowski from La Trobe University joined us in the studio to tell us all about her research with Little Penguins, both here in Australia and in New Zealand. She is researching the effects of rising temperatures on these goregous (but fiesty) little birds and what that means for populations in the future. She also shared some stories about her adventures in the field, including lurking in bushes. To find out more tune in to the podcast...
Our third show for 2019, and the bar is being kept high! Donna sits down for a chat with Hilary McNevin, Founder of Turnip Media, Melbourne-based freelance food writer AND Ambassador of the Apollo Bay Seafood Festival. Donna and Hilary discuss the Festivals' program of events, with a deep dive into Conversations in the Littoral, a day long delve into sustainability of the 'Blue Economy', local fishing pressures, the seafood industry and more. For tickets or more info on the upcoming event visit: https://www.apollobayseafoodfestival.com/
Donna and Fam interview lisahunter about the newest chapter of the Institute for Women Surfers, Oceania Chapter live from their Frankston conference. We discuss female representation in surfing, toxic masculinity in the industry, and how women are coming together to represent and make change for a more inclusive and diverse future. For more visit: http://www.instituteforwomensurfers.org/institute-2019/
Our first show back in 2019, starts the year in style with an interview with artist Kate Goring-Smith. Kate shares her work with Andrew, as they talk about art and its ability to connect us with the natural environment.
We chat with Cathy and Elodie from Connected to Port Phillip about their summer festivals and their mission of connecting people with Port Phillip Bay.
Andrew gives us a wrap up of the Great Victorian Fish Count at Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary and shares an article about Aboriginal aquaculture.
Join Heather and Erin as they chit chat us through sustainable Christmas gift ideas that are planet friendly.
Fam, Matt and Donna speak wtih Mike Ogden, a PhD student at Melbourne University, whose group won this year's Merck Innovation Cup with their idea to manipualte E. coli bacteria into eating plastic waste.
Interview with Christine Parfitt, Founder and Managing Director of Bottle for Botol, a charity working in Australia and Indonesia to inspire and connect people globally, creating local solutions to plastic pollution, so future generations can experience the wonder of our oceans. More: www.bottleforbotol.org.
On today's show, we were lucky enough to be joined by Heidi Taylor, Founder and CEO of Tangaroa Blue Foundation. Heidi has been on the show several time chatting to us about marine debris and the Australian Marine Debris Initiative. If you haven't had the chance to listened to Heidi before, she gave us a bit of background into Tangaroa Blue Foundation and the work they have been doing over the last 12 years. Exciting news! Heidi had an incredible announcement to make, live on air. If you want to know more, you'll have to listen to the show...
Wilsons Promontory Marine National Park was internationally recognised for its conservation efforts by receiving a GLobal Ocean Refuge Platinum Award at the 2018 Our Ocean Conference in Bali last week. Donna and Fam chat with Parks Victoria staff about their win and their amazing conservation efforts.
Andrew speaks to John Lewis, Principal Marine Marine Consultant from ES Link about marine pests and biofouling, the accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae, or animals on wetted surfaces like the hulls of ships.
Heather and Erin give a wrap up of the Environmental Film Festival, in particular the film Anote's Ark, a film depicting the plight of island nation Kiribati as it faces rising seas due to climate change.
Holly Richmond from not-for-profit Kill the Shark Nets joins us today to spread the word about the impacts of shark nets on marine animals and the work she is doing in this space. And, Donna got to sit down with none other than Philippe Cousteau Jr. from EarthEcho International this week to hear about his foundation and the work he doing with students and teachers in the marine conservation space.
This week on the show, Andrew talks about two recent shark attacks in the Whitsundays, providing analysis and resources for listeners to learn more.
On Friday 28th September tehre was an earthquake that struck off the coast of central Sulawesi, Indonseia. A tsunami alert was issued but then cancelled. A tsunami hit the towns of Palu and Donggala at dusk on Friday evening. So far there has been little coverage on the news, maybe due to the fact that Australians were not involved and there were two massive sporting events on over the weekend. Heather and Erin look at the latest news out of Sulawesi and why the region, including Bali, suffers from earthquakes more than other regions in south east Asia and the Pacific.
Donna and Matt give a wrap up of this weeks' ocean news headlines, and Donna shares her experiences of her recent research expedition with Humpacks and Highrises.
This week Andrew is joined by David Donnelly from Killer Whales Australia, and they discuss all things marine mammal. David has had an incredible career since 1994 and has many stories and research to share with the wider community, incluing the story of Old Tom of Eden. Tune in to find out who he was and why his behaviour was so unique, as well as where killer whale research is at currently with the Two Bays Whales Project.
Is plastic really the enemy? Many environmental groups and shows like "War on Waste" woudl make us think that, but waste educator Doug Bair as some very different views. Tune in to hear his thoughts on positive plastics, why a container deposit scheme is not the easy answer, and why we need to think on a bigger scale to make a difference.
Beach Patrol and Boomerang Alliance chat about their event Spring Clean the City on 15 September, container deposit legislation and upcoming Tangaroa Blue Foundation's source reduction plan workshops in September.
John A Lewis is the Principal Marine Consultant for ES Link Services, and has over 30 years of applied scientific experience. His primary research interests are marine bio-fouling and bio-fouling management, as well as the effects that various maritime activities have on the marine environment. In this show, he discusses several elements of marine pest species and cites a few examples of what we might find in Port Phillip Bay. John's outstanding level of experience and expertise really shine through in Part 1 of this interview; stay tuned for Part 2, which will be coming along in the not too distant future. Happy listening!
Erin and Heather are joined by Linh Ly from La Trobe University to discuss her research on jelly fish sleep. Listen as we delve into this fascinating topic, and explore the evolution of sleep in these simple yet surprising organisms. We definitely learnt a thing or two so listen in.
Simon Branigan, from The Nature Conservancy, shares with us the next steps for their Award-winning Shuck Don't Chuck oyster reef restoration program. The program aims to restore some of Port Phillip Bay's oyster reefs which were decimated post European settlement. More info here: http://www.natureaustralia.org.au/our-work/oceans/restoring-shellfish-reefs/port-phillip-bay/
Join Andrew and Caroline as they discuss local marine news and meteorological events around Melbourne.
Only a few days left of Plastic Free July, so Heather gives a breakdown of her plastic use, behaviour changes, observations when shopping and purchasing and what can be done in the future. She also explores the issues of plastic straws, which featured prominently in the latest episode of War on Waste, and whether plastic straws are really the big enemy they are made out to be...
The Port Phillip EcoCentre's Clean Bay Blueprint research has found that 828 million littered items reach Port Phillip Bay each year from the surface of our two urban rivers, the Yarra and the Maribyrnong. 74% of this is microplastics. Today we interview our very own Fam Charko, lead author of this research, and hear about the method, the findings, and the impacts.http://www.ecocentre.com/cleanbayblueprint
Andrew and Caroline talk to Christine Rockley about her career in natural history and scientific illustration.
Week one of Plastic Free July is done and dusted! How are you going so far? What have you pledged to avoid? Jump on our Facebook page to tell us where you are at and whether you are going solo, as a familiy, as a workplace, etc. We are a community working together to reduce plastic and help the environment. This week Heather and Erin discuss their respective PFJ journeys, including successes, failures and what they plan to do moving forward. They also touch on the proposal for a new baited drum line scheme in WA in response to potential shark attacks.
Did life evolve in isolation on Earth, or are we part of a larger cosmic ecosystem? Dive in with us and Professor Edward (Ted) Steele to learn about cosmic panspermia, and it's potenial to explain the origin of complex life on Earth.
Donna and Heather chat about this, that, and the other today, due to a couple of technical issues in the studio - who doesn't love live radio?! And...friendly reminder, Plastic Free July is only a week away..start prepping :)
Donna and Dr. Jacqui (OOTB alumni) ruling the airwaves, taking donations live-on-air, for 3CR 855AM annual Radiothon Show! ... and we chat about Jacqui's travels since leaving OOTB a few years ago.
Today we interview Dr. Olaf Meynecke from Humpbacks and Highrises, an independent not for profit research organisation dedicated to the research and protection of whales and dolphins in south-east Queensland, Australia.
Andrew chats with Dr. Kate Charlton-Robb about Port Phillip Bay's Burrunan dolphin (which, by the way, she discovered), boating, citizen science, and her Bin Not Bay marine litter project.
Heather and Erin give us a wrap-up of our annual Out of the Blue trivia night fundraiser held at Highlander Bar.
Ben is back! And this time, he's sharing with us the ancestry.com of ancient whales, and the evolution of toothed whales to baleen whales.
On today's show we chat about the new funding that has been announced for the Great Barrier Reef, some bits about sharks, and other news from the deep blue.
Heather and Erin chat with Cheryl Lacks on the good, the bad, the fun, the challenging, of volunteering overseas.
Donna and Fam chat about their Sea Slug Census experience and chat about the Sunscreen Project the EcoCentre is doing with RMIT.
Today Andrew shares a mixed bag of marine-themed facts, figures, and observations from around Port Philli Bay and beyond.
This week we announcement our 4th Annual Out of the Blue Fundraising Trivia night, which will raise funds for 3CR for Radiothon. Head to our Facebook page (Out of the Blue on 3CR) and follow the links to the ticket page. We even give away a few hints on questions and bonus point strategies. After the exciting of announcing trivia, we discuss volunteering with animals overseas and what you should look for when selecting an organisation.
Sea slugs, also known as nudibranchs (or nudies), are the stars of the show today. Kade Mills, ReefWatch Coodinator from the Victorian National Parks Association, is in the studio to tell us all about the upcoming Sea Slug Census on April 21 and 22, where volunteers are invited to snorkel their favourite spots and take photos of these colourful little critters, all in the name of citizen science.
Join Andrew as he goes through the ins and outs of the upcoming Sea Slug Census - the first time it's ever been undertaken in Victorian waters!
We hate plastic pollution! But this week, we did something about it.Out of the Blue catches up wtih Heidi Taylor from Tangaroa Blue Foundation, about their Litter Source Reduction Plan workshops held in Victoria. Litter SRP workshops help local communities identify and tackle local problem litter items at the source.
Andrew delves into the world of urchin barrens in Port Phillip Bay, and the work underway to better understand these species and their impacts on Bay ecosystems.
Join us this week as we catch up with Sue Mason from the Dolphin Research Institute. She has just completed her PhD at Curtain University and has returned from her graduation in Perth to tell us all about the dolphins that call Port Phillip Bay home.
Andrew is joined in the studio by Cameron Makepeace from Deaking University to talk about the dangers of swimming in the marine environment, and how to keep safe.
Valentine's Day is next week, and while humans will be wooing a partner with flowers, chocolates and ridiculous teddy bears, how is countship done in the marine world??
Today we interview Rye resident, and local environmental campaigner, Mechelle Cheers, on the community response to Mornington Peninsula Shire Councils' proposal to redevelop the Rye Pier and boating ramps.
Trump has announced that he hates sharks and thinks they should die. The response by everyday people has been incredible. Could this be the best thing for shark conservation since Ron and Valerie Taylor? Listen in as we chat to Jason Caruso about his incredible career with sharks, from hand feeding Grey Nurses through to studying hybrid tropical species.
After attending Boomerang Alliance's Beyond Plastic Pollution Conference in Sydney this week, Heather recaps some of the interesting facts, figures and presentations from industry professionals, community groups, industry figures and non-for-profits whos passion and enthusiasm give us hope for a plastic free future...
Today we chat to Kade Mills from the Victorian National Parks Association about both the Great Victorian Fish Count, and resurecting shellfish reefs in Port Phillip Bay.
In recent years, successive Australian governments have had drastically different views on the importance on ocean sustainability and marine protected areas (MPAs). Kelsey Roberts from Monash University joins us to discuss her PhD research surrounding the total area and zoning of our current MPAs and what is means for the unique marine life that calls Australia home.
Today we're joined by Basha Stasak, Healthy Ecosystems Campaigner from the Australian Conservation Foundation to talk about the potential impacts of the Adani coal mine on the Great Barrier Reef.
Exciting news this week!!!! While Victoria lags behind in reducing plastic use, Queensland and New South Wales are both implementing plastic bag bans and cash for container schemes. But is it all good news...
Fam and Heather interview Jacqui Younger from Operation Sponge after the conclusion of the project that saved over 2500 sponges in Blairgowrie.
Are you a scuba diver? Remember learning about the bends when you were training, or hearing stories of people who have had to visit "The Chamber". What is the chamber and how does it work? Why are people so reluctant to seek help and get themselves to a hyperbaric chamber? Is it the fear of the unknown? Join us as Heather explains all after her visit to the hyperbaric chamber at The Alfred. Don't work, it was strictly for education purposes. She is completely fine, kind of...
So we all know you can train dogs, horses and dolphins to so some pretty amazing things. But can you use the same strategies to train more diverse animals, such as sharks and rays? Bri Lang joins us to talk about how she uses basic training strategies to enable better management of sharks and rays.
On today's show we interviewed Blair Stafford. Blair is the newly appointed 5 Gyres Institute Ambassador for Australia.
Heather shares some Peter Benchley book reviews and chats to long time friend, and marine nomad, Chelsea about travels and diving adventures.
It's all women in the studio today, as we pay homage to the mothers of the sea. And there's a bit of marine news from CSIRO, plus a wrap up of our Radiothon Fundraiser Trivia Night!
Nicko Lunardi talks about his 3 month expedition on board Seashepherd's Steve Irwin during Operation Nemesis.
On today's show we interview Hirschfield & Sam Gummer, founders of Project Banjo Action Group which began following concern about the growing number of fiddler rays (banjo sharks) and smooth rays being killed in Port Phillip Bay.
Andrew Christie and Carolyn Espenshade from Point Cook Marine Care talk more about awesome stingrays.
Following on from the success of part one and two, Sex in the Sea III focuses on fish that change gender, based on a variety of factors and environmental cues. It makes humans look incredibly boring...
Donna and Matt delve into music about the ocean in this episode, with a little bit of news in the mix too!
Morgan chats to Heidi Taylor, Director of Tangaroa Blue Foundation about their recent Source Reduction Plan workshops around Port Phillip Bay. The plans will help reduce litter loads to the Bay through informed planning and great engagement. Also on the show, news on mangrove dieback.
Today we speak to Natalie Davey from the Pelican 1 and hear all about this summers' Two Bays program: environmental education aboard a catamaran!
What was Melbourne like thousands of years ago? What animals roamed the waters of Port Phillip Bay and the Victorian coastline? What can we discover about the past by looking at the fossils being discovered today? Join us as we chat to passionate paleontologist Ben Francischelli about all things fossil in Melbourne and beyond. You can learn a lot about the present by looking at the past.
In our first show of 2017, we interview Lucy Skelton, year 9 student from Melbourne Girls College and also recent graduate of Sealife Trusts' Ocean Youth program. Passionate about the deep blue and climate change, Lucy shares her experience of the progrtam with 3CR listeners. Also in the studio, Andrew Vance, Sustainability Coordinator at Melbourne Girls College, here to promote Pedal Power, part of the Sustainable Living Festival and to promote the Two Bays program where he is a marine educator.
8 year old Isaac is a Wildlife Warrior. He is passionate about conservation and spends most of his spare time out and about helping Melbourne's wildlife. On today's show, he tells us all about Edge Pledge, a program designed to challenge participants while raising much needed funds for conservation efforts around the country. Be inspired by this incredible. pint sized conservationist!
This week, in light of the recent US elections, we look at the positive things that are happening in the marine world, because you should always look on the bright side of life.
Fam and Matt are joined in the studio by Kade Mill from the Victorian National Parks Association to talk about the 2016 Great Victorian Fish Count.
Join Andrew Christie as he talks hydrocarbon pollution - oil spills and all the weeks' marine news.
A few months ago we touched on the strange and wonderful world of marine sex. But there was so much left unsaid. This show covers even more of the weird and woderful, from octopus handing over packs of sperm from their third right arm and complicated jelly breeding through to lobster courtship behaviour and penis fighting in flatworms. How could you resist learning about all of that and a whole lot more...
Andrew Christie takes us into the deep blue, the day after the 2016 AFL Grand Final, talking shark and human interactions.
Heather and Erin discuss recent holidays to breathtaking places to explore the marine environment just to make everyone jealous. On a serious note, they discuss Marine Protected Areas and President Obama's announcement to make the largest marine protected area in the world, the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, as well as his latest announcement for a similar protected area in the Atlantic. Learn about how sharks and rays are being given more recognition at the CITES conference in South Africa and how sharks have again made the media is Australia recently, this time at Bells Beach.
Morgan takes a step back in time, replaying Out of the Blue's first ever interview with Dr. Mark Norman during his time at Melbourne Museum. Also, hear about a brand new marine park in Hawaii.
The Port Phillip EcoCentre, MOOP Patrol and MC Guttermouth are running a Pozible campaign to raise funds to make a music video for their newst hit song "A Little Bit Of Litter". It's going to make MC Guttermouth world famous!Donate here: https://pozible.com/project/a-little-bit-of-litter
Morgan talks to Peter Crockett about the upcoming event Showcasing Victoria's Marine Science. Also: new marine sanctuary off Hawaii, reef sharks and a newly discovered reef near the Great Barrier Reef.
Join Morgan as she talks to Out of the Blue Creator David Speller about how the show originated.
Operation Sponge is the biggest know attempted spong transplant project in the world and it's happening right now at Blairgowrie Pier. We chat with the brains behind the project: AJ Morton from Dive2U.
Join Heather and Erin and they review Plastic Free July, including changes they made to their lifestyle, such as ordering pizza to avoid plastic packaging!Additionally, is your sex life needing a bit of excitement? Listen in to find how our fishy friends get down and dirty, and perhaps be inspired to add some new moves to your repertoire. Find out how an angler fish male clamps down and fuses onto a female. Discover how some male worms burrow into their counterparts head. Or perhaps just marvel at the enormity of a barnacle's penis. And its all in the name of science!!
Out of the Blue was joined by Nicko Lunardi from Scab Duty. Scab Duty is a volunteer group raising awareness about pollution in our environment, and rolling up their sleeves and helping to clean up litter. Nicko Joins us during Plastic Free July to talk about what we can do to help reduce our waste footprint. You can find out more about Scab Duty at https://www.facebook.com/scabduty or by emailing them at scabduty3015@gmail.com. You can find out more about Plastic Free July at http://www.plasticfreejuly.org/.
Andrew Christie and Caroline Esbenshade talk about the role of jellyfish in the world's oceans.
Heather and Erin discuss the election and the potential impacts on our marine systems, and policies while we are anxiously awaiting the results.
Join Pete for this weeks marine news, focussing on the latest research out of QLD regarding coral bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef, as well as salmon farming and sea surface temperatures.
Each year 3CR's holds their annual Radiothon where we invite our fabulous listeners to donate to keep independent, community-owned and community-controlled radio on the airwaves. 2016 is 3CR's 40th birthday and we hope you can dig deep to support the programs and volunteers that keep the station going.Show your support for Out of the Blue and 3CR by donating to our show at: www.3cr.org.au/donate
Andrew talks to Tim Curmi from Native Fish Australia. Native Fish Australia is a volunteer organisation that is open to anyone who cares about the well-being of Australia's native freshwater fish and the rivers, streams and other waterways that they inhabit. You can find out more by going to: www.nativefish.asn.au
This weeks' marine news, with a focus on animals in captivity in Australia and around the world.
Interview with Grattan Mullet, Chairperson of the Gunaikurnai Traditional Owner Land Management Board. Listen in to hear about traditional fishing practices and the fishing values of the Gurnaikurnai people. Also the latest maring news from Australia and around the world.