One of the many casualties of climate change is the earth's coral reefs. In the span of ten years, we lost 14% of the coral worldwide due to rising sea surface temperatures. To put that in perspective, 14% of the world's coral is more than all of Australia's coral combined. Here...
With over 30,000 kms of stunning coastline circling our sun-soaked shores, it’s no wonder we are known for having some of the best beaches in the world – all 10,000 of them...
There are an estimated 4,000 species of fish in the marine environment around Australia, and that figure doesn't even include the molluscs or the mammals and birdlife that thrive on the coast. But how much are you doing to care for this delicate ecosystem? One way to get everyone involved...
You’ve probably heard the term “coral bleaching” thrown around a lot in the news and scientific circles in recent years. However, you may not know exactly what it means, the consequences of it and if it can be fixed...
These days, sustainability is the new sexy. From plastic bag bans and carbon neutral commitments, to eco-friendly packaging, businesses big and small are keen to get consumers on side and pledge their allegiance to environmental change. But with every step towards a cleaner, greener future, there are companies who want...
Australia is world renowned for its spectacular natural beauty. We boast picture perfect sunrises between towering limestone stacks along Victoria’s famous coastline, the Great Ocean Road, and stunning desert sunsets behind our sacred sandstone monolith, Uluru in the Northern Territory’s Red Centre. However, behind every picturesque landscape or tourist attraction is...
Learn everything you need to know about plastic, and how it can harm marine life. Let's save the ocean and the environment by saying no to plastic.
The ocean is one of Earth's most important natural resources that provide major oxygen and food sources to our planet. It helps regulate the Earth's climate and creates millions of jobs. We need to protect it the best way we can. On June 8, 2021, the world celebrates World Oceans Day....
Last Easter, Australia saw one of its biggest rush for ‘cheap seafood’ leading up to festivities. All the while the Netflix documentary Seaspiracy - revealing the impacts of commercial fishing - was trending on the platform as one of its Top 10 most watched programmes. If you haven’t watched it (or...
What can make a living structure so valuable that over $200 million dollars are spent (per year!) caring for and protecting it? What if that structure is a vast ecosystem, supporting life for over 2,000 different species? That ecosystem, known as the Great Barrier Reef, is a 130,000-mile natural...
Coral colony fluorescing under UV-light in the Philippines. (Photo credits: pictureboss.com) We humans have lost our natural barriers against harmful UV-rays...Fur, dust and mud use to be our sun-screens. Today, our skin's health depends on the use of protective clothing and creams. Corals on the other hand, had to come up...
In my lifetime, our planet has lost about half its coral reefs. From dynamite fishing to coastal pollution, predator invasions and lethal marine heat waves...these ecosystems are retreating everywhere after thriving for millions of years. Today, we know that the chemicals in our sunscreens are an additional source of...
This time last year in the Seychelles, the lethal heat wave associated to the 2015/6 El Niño was weakening after several months of deadly impacts on the reefs. P4O was in the field, monitoring coral-bleaching impacts on a restored reef engineered by the NGO Nature Seychelles. Juvenile damselfish taking shelter in a bleached...
Committing for a 2-months volunteering experience, we were determined to make the most of our time on “Cousin” as the locals call it. Nature Seychelles – the conservation NGO managing the island – was running a volunteer program at the time, offering training in island conservation. This tiny speck...
