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The whale was bellowing out for help - so Brenton Owens weighed up the risks, and acted. A few days later, he received an infringement notice.

In 2024, diver and environmental scientist Brenton Owens and a group of neighbours paddle-boarded out to rescue a humpback whale entangled in a shark net, risking legal action and fines of more than $30,000.

Moved by that experience, he recently kayaked more than 1,300 kilometres from the Gold Coast to Airlie Beach to document the impacts of Queensland's shark control program on wildlife. Joining him were two fellow outdoor adventurers: Australian Survivor 2025 star Kaelan Lockhart, and environment and climate scientist Pierick Martin.

In this episode, Word on the Reef host Tanya Murphy sits down with this inspiring trio to hear about their incredible adventure, the whale rescue that inspired it all, and how Queensland’s deadly shark control devices are impacting vulnerable wildlife.

Notice: It is illegal to approach within 20m of the Queensland and NSW governments' shark control devices. Approaching a distressed animal can lead to injury or death.

Thumbnail Image supplied by Brenton Owens.

This episode is now available in video format on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!

Donate to Kayak for Humane Shark Control

Follow The Lethal Line on instagram

Watch Envoy: Shark Cull on Netflix

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• SUPPORT THE SHOW: Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! 
• Got questions? Email [email protected]
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PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now!

• Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!
• Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement
• Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!
• Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!
• Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change
• Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!
• WWF Australia: Protect Nature
• Rising Ti...

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Tyá Dynevor has always felt a special connection with animals, which has led her to becoming an ethnozoologist - someone who studies the relationship between humans and animals. It's something Traditional Owners have known about for millennia. We sat down with Tyá for a powerful discussion about how Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western science can work together to keep Country and people healthy. We dig into reciprocity with nature, the spiritual side of Indigenous science, and practical ways to reconnect with Country through observation, community action, and food sovereignty. 

Plus we honour the memory of Steve Irwin on the 20th anniversary of his passing, and form an underwater superhero team!

Further Reading:

Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance

Gilibanga

Dark Emu

Braiding Sweetgrass

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• SUPPORT THE SHOW: Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! 
• Got questions? Email [email protected]
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PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now!

• Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!
• Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement
• Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!
• Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!
• Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change
• Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!
• WWF Australia: Protect Nature
• Rising Ti...

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Now available in video format on Spotify and Apple Podcasts! In this episode we sit down with Australian diving legend Ben Cropp AM to trace a life that swings from shark hunting fame to conservation, shipwreck discovery, and hard-won lessons from 70 years of diving on the Great Barrier Reef. He tells us what it really takes to stay alive underwater, think like a skipper, and keep chasing purpose into one's 90s.

Along the way we'll learn about the whale shark encounter that changed him from a hunter to a conservationist, close calls filming crocodiles at night, how he survived stinging himself with multiple box jellyfish, how he found more than 100 shipwrecks, what it's like to take Clint Eastwood fishing, what became of his legendary shipwreck museum, the hunt for pre-Cook European contact in Queensland, the impacts of water pollution observed over 70 years of diving, and advice on how to live a full life!

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• SUPPORT THE SHOW: Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! 
• Got questions? Email [email protected]
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram

PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now!

• Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!
• Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement
• Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!
• Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!
• Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change
• Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!
• WWF Australia: Protect Nature
• Rising Ti...

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A group of Magnetic Island residents believes the annual dumping of maintenance dredge spoil by the Port of Townsville may be creating sediment plumes that smother some of the island's pristine bays, coral reefs, and marine life.

And with the port now applying for a 10-year permit to continue the dumping at its current site, they're calling for community members to have their say. 

In this episode of Word on the Reef, we're joined by one of those residents, Gethin Morgan, president of the Magnetic Island Nature Care Association (MINCA), to understand why residents are concerned and what they believe can be done about this issue.

Thumbnail: A Satellite image from 13th July 2025 which MINCA believes shows dredge spoil drifting toward Magnetic Island from the placement area (Supplied: MINCA).

For more information, visit MINCA's website.

Email submissions to: [email protected] 
And copy to the Federal assessors of the application: [email protected] 

The Port of Townsville was also approached for comment. Their written response can be viewed here. You can also find more info at the Port's website: https://www.townsville-port.com.au/environment/dredging-management/application-for-10-year-sea-dumping-permit/

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• SUPPORT THE SHOW: Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! 
• Got questions? Email [email protected]
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram

PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now!

• Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!
• Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement
• Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!
• Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!
• Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change
• Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!
• WWF Australia: Protect Nature
• Rising Ti...

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Twenty years ago, the Belize Barrier Reef was in serious trouble, and nobody could quite figure out why. Then Professor Pete Mumby helped uncover the surprising role of an unlikely reef hero: the parrotfish. Today, we’re diving into the incredible world of these colourful fish and discovering how they can help protect coral reefs.

PLUS… if you only have limited time, people and resources to protect some of the Great Barrier Reef’s 3,000 individual reefs, which ones would you choose?

As ocean temperatures continue to rise, scientists are working to identify the reefs that are most important to protect - and the decisions aren’t easy. This week, we’re joined by Professor Pete Mumby from the University of Queensland’s Marine Spatial Ecology Lab to find out how scientists are tackling this enormous challenge.

More Info:

Professor Mumby's Presentation at the 2018 Coral Reef Futures Symposium

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• SUPPORT THE SHOW: Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! 
• Got questions? Email [email protected]
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram

PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now!

• Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!
• Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement
• Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!
• Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!
• Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change
• Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!
• WWF Australia: Protect Nature
• Rising Ti...

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They’ve claimed the lives of thousands of marine animals along Australia’s east coast, including turtles, whales, dolphins, rays and dugongs. No, we’re not talking about sharks. We’re talking about the shark nets and baited drum lines deployed by the Queensland and New South Wales governments.

But do these programs actually protect swimmers? Does the evidence support shark culling? And what alternatives could keep both people and marine life safe?

This week, hosts Tanya Murphy and Brett Goodban sink their teeth into these questions, and plenty more, with shark scientist Dr. Leonardo Guida from the Australian Marine Conservation Society. Together we explore the science behind shark behaviour, the threats facing Australia's incredible shark species, and why some long-held assumptions deserve a closer look. It's an episode with a real bite!

Episode Thumbnail Image: The scalloped hammerhead has been on earth for 28 million years and has no record of ever killing a human - but it's now critically endangered thanks to humans.

Further reading: Are there really more sharks?

Take Action with the Smarter Safer Beaches Coalition.

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• SUPPORT THE SHOW: Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! 
• Got questions? Email [email protected]
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram

PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now!

• Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!
• Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement
• Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!
• Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!
• Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change
• Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!
• WWF Australia: Protect Nature
• Rising Ti...

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Join us aboard the luxury liveaboard boat Mikumba Dua for a journey into one of the world's most incredible destinations! We'll explore local culture with our guide Filan, climb mountains, and enjoy some of the top rated scuba diving in the world. This episode includes an interview with local dive instructor Wili, and along the way we'll answer all your questions:

• How do I get to Komodo and what can I see there?
• Which are the best dive sites to visit?
• When's the best time to see manta rays?
• Can I visit if I'm not a diver?
• What marine life can I expect to see?
• What threats is this marine park facing and what are local communities doing to protect it?

This interview was recorded in October 2025.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION ON YOUTUBE

Watch the YouTube version to see the interview on the dive boat with Wili, plus lots of footage of the incredible marine life we encountered on the trip!

Tours Mentioned:

• https://filantravel.com
• https://www.instagram.com/mikumbadua

No sponsorships were received.

Support the show

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• SUPPORT THE SHOW: Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! 
• Got questions? Email [email protected]
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram

PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now!

• Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!
• Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement
• Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!
• Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!
• Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change
• Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!
• WWF Australia: Protect Nature
• Rising Ti...

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Sawfish, the extraordinary relatives of sharks and rays, once roamed tropical and subtropical waters around the globe. Today they've vanished from much of their former range, with Northern Australia remaining one of their last global strongholds. All five sawfish species are now listed as critically endangered, yet most Australians know surprisingly little about these remarkable animals.

So, what exactly ARE these crazy-looking critters? Are they really as scary as they look? What can we do to help ensure they continue to survive in our rivers, estuaries and coastal waters? And perhaps the most important question of all: who would win in a showdown between a sawfish and a crocodile?

Joining hosts Tanya Murphy and Brett Goodban to answer these questions is Dr Barbara Wueringer, founder, director and lead scientist at Sharks and Rays Australia.

Support the show

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• SUPPORT THE SHOW: Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! 
• Got questions? Email [email protected]
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram

PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now!

• Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!
• Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement
• Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!
• Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!
• Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change
• Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!
• WWF Australia: Protect Nature
• Rising Ti...

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Beyond the Great Barrier Reef lies one of the world's largest marine protected areas: the Coral Sea Marine Park. Home to spectacular reefs, abundant marine life and some of the planet's best dive sites, it's one of Australia's last great ocean wildernesses.

But is it getting the protection it deserves?

On today's show, hosts Tanya Murphy and Brett Goodban are joined by Dive Queensland Principal Terry Cummins and Save Our Marine Life Coral Sea Campaigner Steve Ryan to explore what makes the Coral Sea so extraordinary, why the Australian Government's review of marine parks is a rare opportunity to strengthen protection, and why that's good news for both ocean wildlife and recreational fishers.

Thumbnail Image: Diving in the Coral Sea, by Cathie Cummins

Support the show

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• SUPPORT THE SHOW: Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! 
• Got questions? Email [email protected]
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram

PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now!

• Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!
• Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement
• Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!
• Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!
• Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change
• Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!
• WWF Australia: Protect Nature
• Rising Ti...

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Reef and Rainforest tour guide Steven Gill is on a mission to bug you... in the best possible way. Armed with a camera, a handful of LEGO bricks and an infectious love for the tiny creatures we usually overlook, he's proving that the smallest critters often have the biggest personalities.

Along the way we'll meet Katy Perry, get business advice from a cleaner wrasse, and explore the surprising connection between the world's oldest surviving rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. We'll discover why eels don't have genitals, why a clean car windscreen is actually bad news, and why monocultures are a terrible idea.

• www.gonebuggo.com
• www.instagram.com/gone_buggo
• www.daintreetours.com
• www.calypsoreefcruises.com

Support the show

-------

• SUPPORT THE SHOW: Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! 
• Got questions? Email [email protected]
• Follow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on Instagram

PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now!

• Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!
• Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National Statement
• Australian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!
• Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!
• Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate Change
• Greenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!
• WWF Australia: Protect Nature
• Rising Ti...