Marine life
Exclusive
Climate crisis
The ‘underwater bushfire’ coming for Australia that can’t be stopped
Marine experts have asked the government for $40 million in urgent funding to help brace for a severe marine heatwave bearing down on the nation’s south-east.
- by Angus Dalton and Laura Chung
Latest
Like sculptures in the sea, artificial reef brings hope to threatened shoreline
Alien-like dome sculptures are helping preserve sea life and the marine environment at a beach in Victoria.
- by Benjamin Preiss
‘CityLink for penguins’: Pay-per-view plan proposed for St Kilda pier revamp
To help manage visitor numbers, Parks Victoria is looking into charging for tickets to see the penguins found along the St Kilda breakwater.
- by Cara Waters
Opinion
Opinion
It’s time for a vision for Penguin Island – before that’s only a name
Reading the passive and fatalistic attitudes of our biodiversity and conservation public servants strikes a chill into my heart. It’s time for decisive action.
- by Emma Young
Exclusive
Perth
Perth’s lost tourism opportunity: The report ignored until penguins paid the price
Documents WAtoday has obtained under freedom of information laws have revealed a litany of government indecision, money wastage and animal welfare failures.
- by Emma Young and Holly Thompson
Updated
Police
Man dies after boat ‘collides with whale’ in Botany Bay
Reports suggest two men were flung into the water after a whale breached close to the vessel, police say.
- by Megan Gorrey and Georgina Mitchell
Humpback whales sighted near Sydney Opera House
Ferry passengers enjoyed a free whale watching experience as the inquisitive mammals swam near the Harbour Bridge before turning back towards the open ocean.
- by Ben Cubby
Dissolvable plastic touted as solution to huge environmental problem
As the plastics flooding into the world’s oceans threaten to outweigh the fish that live in them, Australian scientists could be on the cusp of a breakthrough.
- by Laura Chung
Explainer
Mining
‘A battery in a rock’: the ancient treasures kilometres under the sea
As scientists find wonders on the deepest seabeds, miners and governments are looking at other riches – metals used in green technologies. What’s at stake way down beneath the waves?
- by Sherryn Groch
Australia gains reprieve on threat to Great Barrier Reef World Heritage status
UNESCO says Australia’s upgraded climate and environmental commitments mean the Great Barrier Reef should retain its World Heritage status – at least for the next year.
- by Mike Foley
Return of El Nino spells trouble for Great Barrier Reef coral-bleaching risk
Fears of further damage to Australia’s living underwater wonder are rising due to looming weather conditions and the underlying trend of global warming.
- by Mike Foley