Featured Articles
The Eastern Australian Current
by Sheree Marris
The East Australian Current (EAC) runs north to south from the top end of the Great Barrier Reef to the southern reaches of Tasmania. A staggering 100 kilometres wide and running over 500 metres into the dark depths of the ocean, the EAC spans the length of the east coast of Australia measuring around 4,000 kilometres.
Global Coral Reefs - Crisis Expedition Assessment
by Sheree Marris
Over half a billion people rely upon coral reefs for their for their livelihoods, food and culture. The health of entire economies and communities are built around coral reefs.
Read more: Global Coral Reefs - Crisis Expedition Assessment
Blue Carbon - Our planets largest carbon sink
by Alex Rose & Michael AW
The nature of the Blue Carbon Ecosystem has led to a rich, varied and cross-disciplinary research that spans biophysical sciences, conservation, economics, policy and law, leading to unprecedented levels of collaboration among contributors in different disciplines, institutions and governments geared toward conserving and restoring coastal ecosystems to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
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Antarctica is Melting
by Alex Rose & Michael AW
In this time of climate crisis, Antarctica is the big icy elephant in the room: often overlooked, but far too large to ignore. We are already seeing signs of trouble. Scientists have long known that the Antarctic ice sheet has physical tipping points, beyond which ice loss can accelerate out of control.
Surviving the Most Destructive Animal of our Planet
by Alex Rose & Michael AW
Sharks are one of the oldest biological life forms on our planet. They have played an essential role in the world’s oceans for more than 400 million years, surviving multiple mass extinctions. But sharks are poorly endowed to withstand the threat posed by the most destructive specie on our planet - humans.
The Great Barrier Reef is far from dead
Story & Photographs by Michael AW
Coral reefs are barometers for the well-being of our planet. They are at the frontline at the effect of rising ocean temperature. It is one of the first major ecosystems to suffer from the devastating effects of the climate crisis and an indicator of the health of not only our ocean but our planet.
by Sheree Marris (with photographs by Steven Walsh)
Do you ever find yourself questioning the form, function and design of nature? I do, and it never ceases to amaze me, especially those found sliming, swimming and jetting around in our blue backyard. When it comes to Blue-ringed octopuses it is as though a crazy scientist was let loose to design a creature of their wildest dreams.
Can coral spawning help save reefs?
Essay and photographs by Professor Peter Harrison - Director, Marine Ecology Research Centre, Southern Cross University
Coral reefs are the most extraordinarily beautiful and complex marine ecosystems on our blue planet, but they are increasingly threatened by human activities. Although these reefs occupy a very small area of the marine environment, they are home to an estimated million different species, and possibly one quarter of all marine species on Earth.
The future of coral reefs will depend on the success of global action on climate change and managing other human impacts while we develop large-scale restoration to rescue threatened coral communities.