Podcasts by Reef And Rivers Podcast

S5.E7 Associate Professor Mike Rasheed and Paul Doyle, Seagrass from 2023-10-24T01:00

Seagrass meadows play a critically important role in the reef ecosystem. They are nursery habitat for fish and prawns, they stabilise sediment and protect coastlines from erosi...

S5.E6 Fiona Barron, Tracking Progress on Great Barrier Reef Water Quality from 2023-10-10T01:00

The Great Barrier Reef is about the size of Japan or Italy and there are millions of dollars being invested in improving the runoff of water flowing off the land. How do we know if these reef pr...

S5.E5 Mark Kennard, Bloomfield River Cod from 2023-09-26T02:00

Professor Mark Kennard discovered the Bloomfield River Cod in the early 90's whilst undertaking fish surveys as a research assistant. It is the only tropical cod in the world that has avoided pr...

S5.E4 Dr Samantha Tol, Dugongs, Turtles and Seagrass from 2023-09-12T19:00

Did you know that seagrass is the only plant in the world that is capable of fruiting and flowering underwater? This is just one of many fascinating facts shared by Dr. Samanth...

S5.E3 - Joe Marano, Cane Farming by the Great Barrier Reef from 2023-08-29T23:00

The sugarcane industry is a highly visible part of the Wet Tropics landscape – if you drive between Ingham and the Daintree, you can’t miss it. Employing more than 4000 direct ...

S5.E2 - Nathan Waltham, Restoring Coastal Wetlands from 2023-08-15T21:52:11

Nathan Waltham, Senior Principal Researcher at James Cook University, is an expert in coastal landscape ecology and processes. 

In this episode of the Reef & Rivers podcast Nathan talks a...

S5. E1 Greg Vinall, Results of the 2023 Wet Tropics Waterway Health Report Card from 2023-07-25T07:00

This is the 8th annual Wet Tropics Waterway Health Report Card to be released by Wet Tropics Waterways to assess the health and condition of freshwater basins, estuaries, inshore and offshore ar...

S4.E10 The role of aquariums as educators from 2022-12-20T23:31:26

If you’ve visited the Cairns Aquarium you’ll know that biodiversity and conservation education are a driving force behind their business model. In fact, raising awareness about the biodiversity ...

S4.E9 A blueprint for turbo-charging reef water quality progress from 2022-12-13T12:09

The Wet Tropics Major Integrated Project was an ambitious 4-year social change and reef water quality project, and has been described as a blueprint to accelerating progress towards achieving re...

S4.E8 Bum breathers - the Johnstone River snapping turtle from 2022-11-15T12:59

Despite its name, the Johnstone River snapping turtle is no snappier than any other freshwater turtle – and is perhaps better known by its alias, the ‘bum breather’. According to turtle expert A...

S4.E7 Using eDNA to find endangered frogs from 2022-11-01T12:59

S4.E6 Keeping tabs on mangroves from 2022-10-19T02:13

Mangroves and saltmarsh are important coastal ecosystems that help purify water, buffer coastal communities from extreme weather and provide fish nurseries for our recreational and commercial fi...

S4.E5 From pets to pests - ornamental fish gone rogue from 2022-10-04T20:00:38

They might look pretty – or at least, pretty harmless, but Australia’s ornamental fish trade can pose a serious threat to our waterways. Once an invasive is established, it makes eradication alm...

S4.E4 The changing face of tropical cyclones from 2022-09-20T22:00:15

Tropical cyclones, though destructive, are part of the natural dynamics of the rainforest and reef. We often see their land-based impacts most vividly, but they also impact coral reefs and seagr...

S4.E3 Tracking bull sharks from 2022-09-06T22:00:50

Equal parts fearful and fascinating, bull sharks have a reputation as strong, aggressive sharks and are one of the most common species that anglers are likely to encounter in the estuaries and i...

S4.E2 Pharmaceutical-filled waterways from 2022-08-23T22:00:48

When we think about waterway pollution, things like paracetamol and caffeine probably aren’t the first things that come to mind – but they’re among the alarmingly long list of pharmaceuticals an...

S4.E1 Wet Tropics Waterway Health Report Card Results - 2022 from 2022-08-09T19:00:30

The 2022 Wet Tropics Waterway Health Report Card was released today. A lot of complex science goes on behind the report, and it can get a bit heavy, so we asked our Independent Chair Dr Greg Vin...

Season 3 Episode 7: Report Card Results from 2021-07-27T00:00

The science is in, and the results are out.

The 2021 Report Card grades the condition of the freshwater basins, estuaries and marine environments across the Wet Tropics as an action of th...

Season 3 Episode 6: Ports North - Environmental Responsibility in the Shipping Lane from 2021-05-25T22:49:24

Ports North is responsible for the development and management of the Ports of Cairns, Cape Flattery, Karumba, Mourilyan, Skardon River, Quintell Beach, Thursday Island, Burketown and Cooktown. Listen

Season 3 Episode 5: Carole Sweatman from GreenCollar from 2021-04-13T22:00

Season 3 Episode 4: Cathy Retter from Kuranda Envirocare from 2021-04-06T21:00

Season 3 Episode 3: Dr Lynne Powell from Cairns Regional Council from 2021-03-31T01:00

Season 3 Episode 2: Aaron Davis on Working With Canegrowers on Project 25 from 2021-03-23T22:00

Season 3 Episode 1: Gareth Phillips from Reef Teach&TO from 2021-03-10T00:51:46

Season 2 Episode 14: Professor Steve Turton on the 2020 Results from 2020-07-28T23:00

Season 2 Episode 13: Travis Sydes on Aquatic Weeds from 2020-07-14T23:00

Season 2 Episode 12: Matt Brien on Crocodiles from 2020-07-09T04:55:38

Season 2 Episode 11: Dr Michael Rasheed on Seagrass from 2020-06-30T23:00

Season 2 Episode 10: Leanne Carr on Farm Nutrient Planning from 2020-06-23T23:00

Season 2 Episode 9: Matt Moore Talks Fish Barriers from 2020-06-09T23:00

Season 2 Episode 8: The Evolution of Environmental Report Cards from 2020-06-02T23:30

Bill Dennison and Simon Costanza from the University of Maryland talk about the history and evolution of environmental report cards as a process for galvanising communities to improve environmen...

Season 2 Episode 7: Alicia Buckle on the MIP's Local Scale Monitoring Program from 2020-05-28T03:21:54

Water quality monitoring can be done on lots of different scales. Great Barrier Reef monitoring is done on a catchment scale with the results reflecting what's happening over a very large area. ...

Season 2 Episode 6: Ausmap Microplastics With Michelle Blewitt from 2020-05-19T23:00

Season 2 Episode 5: Suzette Argent on Constructed Wetlands from 2020-05-10T23:34:04

Season 2 Episode 4: David Moffatt on Fish Surveys from 2020-04-28T21:00

Season 2 Episode 3: Dr Ryan Turner on Pesticides from 2020-04-21T21:00

Season 2 Episode 2: Dr Karl Bowles on PFAS from 2020-04-14T21:00

Season 2 Episode 1: Michelle McKinlay from ABGC from 2020-04-07T21:00

Over 90% of Australia's bananas are grown in the Wet Tropics but with increasing pressure on our agricultural sectors to become more environmentally sustainable, the banana industry is making ch...

Steve Turton: 2019 Wet Tropics Report Card Results from 2019-10-31T04:44:01

In July 2019 the fourth Wet Tropics Waterway Health report card was launched, highlighting the condition of the basins, estuaries and marine zones from the Daintree in the north to Hinchinbrook ...

Episode 20: Steve Turton Talks Climate Change Implications For The Wet Tropics from 2019-05-15T03:50:42

Climate change forecasts indicate that the Wet Tropics can look forward to more rainfall, more severe cyclones and warmer temperatures, according to Professor Steve Turton.

This will have...

Episode 19: Suzette Argent explains bioreactors. from 2019-05-07T23:00

Bioreactors show a lot of promise for denitifying and "polishing" groundwater before it is expressed into waterways or direct to the Great Barrier Reef via wonky holes (undersea springs).

Episode 18: Understanding Paddock To Reef With Fiona Barron from 2019-04-22T23:28:48

Fiona Barron is the Wet Tropics Coordinator of the Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting program (P2R), a world leading scientific program funded by the Australian and Q...

Episode 17: Denis Walls From CAFNEC from 2019-04-16T23:00

Episode 16: David Hardwick Talks Soil Health And Wet Tropics Waterways from 2019-04-04T05:15:57

Agro-Ecologist David Hardwick has been working in the farming and food industry for over 20 years. As an expert on soils, agronomy and organics he has been working with many farmers throughout t...

Episode 15: Heidi Taylor from Tangaroa Blue talks about plastic waste from 2019-03-27T00:55:47

Tangaroa Blue is a not for profit organisation involved in the cleanup and cataloguing of plastic debris from our coastlines, as well as educational campaigns regarding plastic waste management ...

Episode 14: Biosecurity and pest fish threats to the wet tropics region from 2019-03-19T22:00

The introduction and spread of noxious aquatic fauna and flora can be particularly damaging to the health of our waterways. Once introduced, these invasive species o...

Episode 13: Woodleigh Station Land Management Project from 2019-03-12T22:00

Woodleigh Station is a working beef cattle business that embraced sustainable landuse and grazing best practice. Management of stocking levels, extensive fencing and provision of of stream water...

Episode 12: Tablelands Roundup With Mayor Joe Paronella from 2019-03-06T00:08:12

The Atherton Tablelands contains the headwaters for a number of significant Wet Tropics river systems, including the Herbert, Johnstone and Barron rivers.

The tablelands has a growing urb...

Episode 11: CAREFISH and Sustainable Fishing from 2019-02-26T23:55:35

Cairns Recreational Fishing Industry Stakeholders (CAREFISH) is the peak body representing the recreational fishing industry in the WEet Tropics region and is a partner of Wet Tropics Waterways....

Episode 10: Mossman Catchment Erosion Management With Vanessa Drysdale from 2019-02-19T22:00

Flooding in the Mossman Catchment during March 2018 resulted in substantial damage to river banks. Growers lost land and the river system and inshore reef areas were subjected to heavy sediment ...

Episode 9: Fiona George Describes Some Wet Tropics MIP Sub-Projects from 2019-02-12T22:00

Episode 8: Holloways Beach Environmental Education Centre from 2019-02-05T12:00

The Holloways Beach Environmental Education Centre is a Queensland Education Department facility nestled between the mangrove-lined banks of Thomatis Creek and the beautiful Holloways Beach, a f...

Episode 7: Jen McKenzie On Erosion in the Herbert and Johnstone Rivers from 2019-01-29T22:00

Jen Mackenzie is affectionately referred to around the wet tropics as "Dirt Girl" or "Gully Jen" for her passion and successes in sediment and erosion management. Jen is the Sediment Reduction P...

Episode 6: Lucy Friend On Airports And Mangroves from 2019-01-22T22:00

The Cairns Airport is nestled behind an extensive mangrove wetland to the south and bordered by the Barron River and Redden Island to the north. This system is home to multiple species of mangro...

Episode 5: The AMPTO Crown Of Thorns Starfish (COTS) Program from 2019-01-15T22:00

The Crown of Thorns Starfish (COTS) is a natural predator of coral on the Great Barrier Reef and is thought to have been present in low numbers for thousands of years. As a result of human induc...

Episode 4: Rod Marti, Barron River Sediment And Riparian Management from 2019-01-08T22:00

In Episode 4 Greg talks to Rod Marti from Barron Catchment Care about the influence of urbanisation on waterway health and the initiatives being implemented in the Upper Barron area to reduce se...

Mangrove Watch cairns With Bess Murphy from 2018-12-12T04:51:02

Greg talks to Bess about the importance of mangroves to our waterways and reef and what Magrove Watch does to monitor the health of mangrove communities.

Episode 2: Prof Steve Turton - 2018 Waterway Health Results from 2018-12-12T04:41:54

Episode 1: Reef And Rivers Podcast Series from 2018-11-28T02:42:19

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