In February this year thousands of people gathered on a Sydney beach to protest the Western Australian shark cull, while a few hundred metres behind them our own dirty secret lurked in the ocean. With all the media attention recently on the WA cull, it’s easy to forget that here on the east coast we have had systems in place [...]

The azure waters and vivid reef failed to grab our attention. As we gazed into the crystal clear abyss, the mayhem slowly unfolded before our eyes. Perhaps a sensory overload? The grey reef sharks now serving as a shy backdrop to their bolder white-tipped friends. Hiding the stunning reef from our focus. Schools of bannerfish and pulsating anthias added the [...]

A recent move by the Western Australian Government to introduce a shark cull program has invoked public outcry globally. Under the program, the government has allocated more than $20 million over the next four years to “address public safety and help mitigate the risk sharks pose to water users.” The plan includes setting baited drum lines to catch large sharks [...]

As a dive instructor, I receive countless questions from my students. Over time, the same types of questions seem to reoccur. One of the most common recurring questions I get as a female instructor, relates to “that special time of the month”. Is it ok to go scuba diving on my period? These days, I can answer the question before [...]

Five commercially valuable shark species, manta rays & freshwater sawfish gain increased protection Bangkok, 14 March 2013. CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) plenary today accepted Committee recommendations to list five species of highly traded sharks, the oceanic whitetip, porbeagle and three species of hammerheads (great, smooth & scalloped hammerhead) under the CITES Appendix II. Both types of manta [...]

In a matter of days, officials from countries around the world will have an historic opportunity to protect a record number of sharks and rays – including oceanic whitetip sharks, hammerhead sharks and manta rays – from the unsustainable international trade that threatens their survival. International trade in wild plants and animals is worth billions of dollars a year and [...]

I am struggling to find a way to explain this trip, as my words do not do these remarkable creatures the justice they deserve, but I will try my best. Now back in Byron Bay, I am at my preferred local coffee shop getting the caffeine I need to start the day.  As it was only a week ago that [...]

Are you scared of sharks? An unreasonable fear of sharks has been planted into our consciousness by Hollywood hype, the media and “shark attack” reporting. Of all the animals on our planet, arguably, it is sharks more than any that seem to elicit strong, negative emotional effects on individuals. The truth is that sharks are misunderstood. If you have a [...]