Word on the Reef

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Word on the Reef

Tanya Murphy

56 episodes

1 week ago

Have you ever felt confused by conflicting media reports about the health of the Great Barrier Reef? If so, you're not alone. New research shows news coverage has often failed to clearly communicate the risks climate change poses to the reef, sometimes fuelling misinformation and climate denial. So what's really happening on the Great Barrier Reef? To help unpack this, our guest today is Dr. Gabi Mocatta, Senior Research Fellow in Climate Science Communication at the University of Tasmania. P...

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Have you ever felt confused by conflicting media reports about the health of the Great Barrier Reef? If so, you're not alone. New research shows news coverage has often failed to clearly communicate the risks climate change poses to the reef, sometimes fuelling misinformation and climate denial. So what's really happening on the Great Barrier Reef? To help unpack this, our guest today is Dr. Gabi Mocatta, Senior Research Fellow in Climate Science Communication at the University of Tasmania. P...

Show more...

Episodes (20/56)

Word on the Reef

S2 E39: Saving Sea Lions & Albatrosses PLUS Good News about Australia's Nature Laws!

What do the world's largest flying bird, with a wingspan of up to 3.5 metres, and the Australian Sea Lion have in common? Both are endangered due to their high risk of entanglement in fishing nets! Today's guest, Zoologist Alexia Wellbelove gives us a birds-eye view on how changes to fishing practices can help bring Albatrosses and Sea Lions back from the brink. We'll also unpack recent changes to Australia's nature laws which scientists hope will help slow the alarming rate of extinctions in...

1 week ago

41 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E38: Before the Flood: How Fossils Built the Great Barrier Reef (and the Pyramids!)

What do the Egyptian Pyramids, the Greek Parthenon, the Notre Dame Cathedral and Melbourne's Parliament House all have in common? They are all built out of fossilised reefs, aka limestone! Today we’re taking a journey through deep lime - I mean time - to answer some of those burning questions like: How old is the Great Barrier Reef? What ancient forces built this coral colossus? Why are there fossilised reefs hundreds of metres above sea level and kilometres inland? And perhaps most important...

2 weeks ago

56 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E37: Pig of a Problem: Saving Baby Sea Turtles from Porky Predators on the Great Barrier Reef

Pigs can't fly, nor can they dive in the ocean. But they are posing a serious threat to endangered sea turtles by pigging out on turtle eggs and hatchlings in Cape York. This is not the good kind of bacon and eggs combo. It's Ham-ageddon for our nesting sea turtles! Cape York Natural Resource Management representatives Dr Manuela Fischer and Scott Morrison (no relation to the former Australian PM) are working on a solution! Today they join us in the studio to explain how we can deal with this...

2 weeks ago

40 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E36: Disappearing Islands: The Race to Save Turtle Eggs from Rising Seas

As the planet warms, more than 3000 sea turtle eggs have been evacuated from low-lying Raine Island on the Great Barrier Reef to save them from rising sea levels. It's an emergency intervention never attempted before on the Great Barrier Reef. But can the eggs survive the relocation? And what does this egg-sistential crisis mean for the future of our sea turtles and other island-dwelling animals? Dr Mark Read from the Marine Park Authority explains all in this eye-opening episode. Learn more ...

3 weeks ago

44 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E35: Muddying the Waters: Deforestation and the Water Pollution Crisis on the Great Barrier Reef

Did you know Australia has one of the highest deforestation rates in the developed world? About 20% of Queensland's vegetation has been bulldozed since colonisation -- one million hectares in the last three years alone -- mainly for cattle farming. What impact is this having on the Great Barrier Reef, and what can we do to fix it? To find out, this week we're chatting with Dr Maximilian Hirschfeld, Water Quality Campaign Manager at the Australian Marine Conservation Society. Take Action: Sign...

1 month ago

42 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E34: Coral Spawning Research and Protecting Mangroves on the Great Barrier Reef

Spring has sprung and it’s baby-making season on the Great Barrier Reef! In this episode we talk coral spawning with marine scientist Dr Katie Chartrand, plus, we dive into the world of mangrove forests with CAFNEC's Shannon Bredeson. More information: JCU Tropwater Spawning SchoolCAFNEC's Mangrove Watch ProgramSupport the show Help Keep Word on the Reef Afloat! Please take 2 minutes to fill out our Word on the Reef Listener Survey to help us apply for funding for the show! PROTECT THE REEF...

1 month ago

44 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E33: Top 50 Dive Sites of Australia and the Great Barrier Reef: Part II

Marine biologist and scuba legend Steve Sinclair is back again this week to finish revealing the Top 50 Dive Sites in Australia. Steve has spent over five decades exploring every reef, wreck and cave from Tasmania to the Top End — and now he’s sharing his secret spots with us! From world-famous coral gardens on the Great Barrier Reef to secret, world-class dive spots you’ve never heard of, Steve shares insider stories and tips from a lifetime beneath the waves. Plus — find out how you could w...

2 months ago

40 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E32: Top 50 Dive Sites of Australia and the Great Barrier Reef

Think you know Australia’s best dive sites? Think again! Marine biologist and scuba legend Steve Sinclair has spent over five decades exploring every reef, wreck and cave from Tasmania to the Top End — and now he’s revealing the Top 50 Dive Sites in Australia. From world-famous coral gardens on the Great Barrier Reef to secret, world-class dive spots you’ve never heard of, Steve shares insider stories and tips from a lifetime beneath the waves. Plus — find out how you could win free dive trip...

2 months ago

44 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E31: Art Meets Ocean: How Creativity, Science & Community Are Protecting the Great Barrier Reef

What do underwater art museums, bomb tests, and citizen science have in common? They're all part of the story of the Great Barrier Reef’s past, present—and possible future. Our guest this week is Dr. Adam Smith—freediver, marine biologist, and founder of Reef Ecologic, a Townsville-based social enterprise leading innovative reef conservation through research, education, and community action. In this episode, we dive into how art, science, and storytelling are being used in powerful ways to p...

2 months ago

47 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E30: Seeing Green: Divers Investigate South Australia's Algal Bloom Disaster

Today we're traveling back to South Australia for an update on the devastating toxic algal bloom that's been unfolding there over the last seven months, and what it it's been like for the divers who know and love these waters. Marine Biologist and Divemaster Sarah Franke from Divers for Climate has just returned from a research trip to learn about how the disaster is impacting the South Australian community. She'll also take us inside the Senate Inquiry into the disaster, and let us know whic...

2 months ago

42 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E29: Caring for Yirrganydji Sea Country on the Great Barrier Reef with Gavin Singleton

First Nations people have been caring for land and sea along the Great Barrier Reef Coast for thousands of years. In this powerful interview, Traditional Owner Gavin Singleton explains the enduring connection First Nations people have with the Reef, what they're doing to help protect it, and how we can all foster a stronger connection with each other and the Reef. The didgeridoo recording at the end of this episode is from Gavin's 2018 TEDx Talk at JCU. More information: Dawul Wuru Aboriginal...

2 months ago

38 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E28: Corals' Last Stand: The Fight to Save Scott Reef

💸 WIN $100! Fill out our Word on the Reef Listener Survey before 30 September 2025 to go in the draw. 🪸 Scott Reef, Australia’s largest remote offshore reef, is a breathtaking sanctuary for corals, fish, rare sea snakes, nesting turtles, and pygmy blue whales. But this natural wonder is under threat from a mega gas drilling and carbon dumping proposal. Fossil fuel campaigner Louise Morris from the Australian Marine Conservation Society joins us to explain what’s at stake and how we can fight ...

3 months ago

42 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E27: Stronger Storms, Stronger Solutions: Saving Coral After Cyclones

Cyclones are part of life in the tropics, but climate change is making them stronger and more destructive. On the Great Barrier Reef, their force can pulverise thriving coral gardens into unstable rubble fields where baby corals struggle to grow. But there’s hope! In this week’s episode, we dive into an innovative solution that’s helping damaged reefs bounce back — and discover how you can play a role in bringing them back to life again! This week's guest: Freda Nicholson, marine biologist an...

3 months ago

41 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E26: Restoring Seagrass on the Great Barrier Reef with Dr Tim Smith

💸 WIN $100! Fill out our Word on the Reef Listener Survey before 30 September 2025 to go in the draw. 🌱 Seagrass meadows are the unsung heroes of the Great Barrier Reef – nurseries for fish, food for turtles and dugongs, and a frontline defence against climate change. But after a massive die-off, Dr Tim Smith and the team at JCU TropWATER faced a huge challenge: how do you restore these fragile ecosystems while dealing with crocodiles, stingers, and waist-deep mud? The answer: helicopters, ho...

3 months ago

39 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E25: Just Say Yes: Why You Should Volunteer with Reef Check on the Great Barrier Reef

Ever dreamed of exploring the Great Barrier Reef for free—while making a real difference? With Reef Check Australia, volunteers can join survey dives and help clean up marine debris, all while experiencing the Reef up close. But what does it take to become a qualified reef surveyor? In this episode, Reef Check Australia’s General Manager, Jodi Salmond, shares how you can get involved and play a hands-on role in protecting this natural wonder. Sign the Petition: Support Cameras on Trawl Fishin...

4 months ago

43 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E24: Not Just a Pretty Shell: The Beautiful and Terrifying Molluscs of the Great Barrier Reef

What has no arms, no legs, and no brain, but can flash like a disco light, help control pests and kill you in minutes? Queensland Museum's mollusc expert Darryl Potter has spent three decades fearlessly tracking down these armoured beasts all along the Great Barrier Reef, and he's here to tell us why they're more than just an ornament for your bathroom. It's one shell of a show! Support the show PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, ...

4 months ago

40 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E23: Swimming Against the Current: Overcoming Fear, Failure, and Neurodivergence to Become a Global Shark Advocate

Growing up with ADHD and Dyslexia, Aliah Banchik never thought she could achieve calm focus, let alone become a successful scientist, artist and Netflix star. Then she discovered sharks. In this inspiring episode, Aliah shares her mission to reshape how we see both sharks and neurodivergence, revealing the beauty in misunderstood animals and people alike. We’ll also chat about her journey on Netflix’s All The Sharks—no spoilers, we promise! Support the show PROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petit...

4 months ago

43 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E22: Dammed if you Don't: Saving Fish from Migration Mayhem

Did you know some of our marine fish are living DOUBLE LIVES? That’s right, they want the best of both worlds, saltwater and freshwater. So one minute they’re living the dream on a beautiful coral reef, next minute they’ve decided they need a tree change, and they’re swimming up into our rivers. What are they doing there? And importantly – what happens when humans build dams, causeways and other watery traffic jams that block these fish from finishing their migration missions? This week's gue...

4 months ago

40 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E21: SPOTTED: The Great Barrier Reef's first known Whale Shark Aggregation Site

Whale sharks—harmless, majestic giants—have long been mystery visitors on the Great Barrier Reef, their movements shrouded in secrecy... until now. In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have identified the Reef’s first known whale shark aggregation site. Join us as we uncover where these elusive creatures have been hiding with Ingo Miller—marine biologist turned shark detective. On a mission to find and protect the world’s largest fish before it’s too late, Ingo followed the clues to thei...

5 months ago

40 minutes

Word on the Reef

S2 E20 Everything Kirsty Webeck Needs to Say About Sea Creatures

Australian comedian Kirsty Webeck loves sea creatures. She's learned a lot about them through her lifelong passion for snorkelling - and now she's here to share what the sperm whales don't want you to know. She is currently touring with her live standup show called Everything I Need to Say About Sea Creatures and it's a real hoot to have her joining us on Word on the Reef this week! We also chat with Dave George from the Cairns Nautilus Scuba Club, who shares why joining your local dive...

5 months ago

40 minutes