Out of the Blue

We hate plastic pollution! But this week, we did something about it. Out of the Blue catches up wtih Heidi Taylor from Tangaroa Blue Foundation, about their Litter Source Reduction Plan workshops held in Victoria. Litter SRP workshops help local communities identify and tackle local problem litter items at the source.

Andrew delves into the world of urchin barrens in Port Phillip Bay, and the work underway to better understand these species and their impacts on Bay ecosystems. 

Join us this week as we catch up with Sue Mason from the Dolphin Research Institute.  She has just completed her PhD at Curtain University and has returned from her graduation in Perth to tell us all about the dolphins that call Port Phillip Bay home.

Andrew is joined in the studio by Cameron Makepeace from Deaking University to talk about the dangers of swimming in the marine environment, and how to keep safe.

Valentine's Day is next week, and while humans will be wooing a partner with flowers, chocolates and ridiculous teddy bears, how is countship done in the marine world??

Today we interview Rye resident, and local environmental campaigner, Mechelle Cheers, on the community response to Mornington Peninsula Shire Councils' proposal to redevelop the Rye Pier and boating ramps. 

Trump has announced that he hates sharks and thinks they should die.  The response by everyday people has been incredible.  Could this be the best thing for shark conservation since Ron and Valerie Taylor?  Listen in as we chat to Jason Caruso about his incredible career with sharks, from hand feeding Grey Nurses through to studying hybrid tropical species.

After attending Boomerang Alliance's Beyond Plastic Pollution Conference in Sydney this week, Heather recaps some of the interesting facts, figures and presentations from industry professionals, community groups, industry figures and non-for-profits whos passion and enthusiasm give us hope for a plastic free future...

Today we chat to Kade Mills from the Victorian National Parks Association about both the Great Victorian Fish Count, and resurecting shellfish reefs in Port Phillip Bay. 

In recent years, successive Australian governments have had drastically different views on the importance on ocean sustainability and marine protected areas (MPAs).  Kelsey Roberts from Monash University joins us to discuss her PhD research surrounding the total area and zoning of our current MPAs and what is means for the unique marine life that calls Australia home.

Today we're joined by Basha Stasak, Healthy Ecosystems Campaigner from the Australian Conservation Foundation to talk about the potential impacts of the Adani coal mine on the Great Barrier Reef. 

Exciting news this week!!!!  While Victoria lags behind in reducing plastic use, Queensland and New South Wales are both implementing plastic bag bans and cash for container schemes.  But is it all good news...

Fam and Heather interview Jacqui Younger from Operation Sponge after the conclusion of the project that saved over 2500 sponges in Blairgowrie.

Are you a scuba diver?  Remember learning about the bends when you were training, or hearing stories of people who have had to visit "The Chamber".  What is the chamber and how does it work?  Why are people so reluctant to seek help and get themselves to a hyperbaric chamber?  Is it the fear of the unknown?  Join us as Heather explains all after her visit to the hyperbaric chamber at The Alfred. ...

Fam interviews Dan and Gus who are about to finish their first Plastic Free July

So we all know you can train dogs, horses and dolphins to so some pretty amazing things.  But can you use the same strategies to train more diverse animals, such as sharks and rays?  Bri Lang joins us to talk about how she uses basic training strategies to enable better management of sharks and rays.

Matt and Gus interview Fam on her second day of Plastic Free July 2017

Aquaculture industry in Victoria