Latest Reportcard Podcast Episodes
S5.E10 Dr Robert Walsh, Micro invertebrates in waterways
Reef And Rivers Podcast - December 05, 2023 01:00 - 21 minutesMicro invertebrates are tiny creatures that are invisible to the naked eye but form the basis of the food web in our waterways. Dr. Robert Walsh talks about the importance and diversity of microfauna for sustaining aquatic systems and reveals that their eggs can remain viable for up to 400-500 y...
S5.E9 Kim Hooper, Prawn Farming Near the Great Barrier Reef
Reef And Rivers Podcast - November 21, 2023 01:00 - 18 minutesAustralia loves its prawns so much that Queensland's aquaculture industry produces more than $200M of produce of each year, but is it sustainable? Kim Hooper, Executive Officer of the Australian Prawn Farmers Association, talks about the industry, how it works and how it minimises its impact on ...
S5.E8 Gareth Phillips, Tourism and Conservation on the Great Barrier Reef
Reef And Rivers Podcast - November 07, 2023 01:00 - 26 minutesMillions of tourists come to north Queensland each year to experience the natural wonder of the Great Barrier Reef. This influx of people from around the world represents an opportunity to educate and inform people about the complexity of the reef system and the threats that it faces. In...
S5.E7 Associate Professor Mike Rasheed and Paul Doyle, Seagrass
Reef And Rivers Podcast - October 24, 2023 01:00 - 25 minutesSeagrass 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 erosion, they suck up and filter nutrients coming down from rivers into the reef lagoon, they absorb carbon and also help buf...
S5.E6 Fiona Barron, Tracking Progress on Great Barrier Reef Water Quality
Reef And Rivers Podcast - October 10, 2023 01:00 - 12 minutesThe 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 projects are actually working? Fiona Barron is the coordinator of the Paddock to Reef Program in the ...
S5.E5 Mark Kennard, Bloomfield River Cod
Reef And Rivers Podcast - September 26, 2023 02:00 - 24 minutesProfessor 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 predators by living in an 11 kms stretch of the Bloomfield River between two waterfalls.
S5.E4 Dr Samantha Tol, Dugongs, Turtles and Seagrass
Reef And Rivers Podcast - September 12, 2023 19:00 - 20 minutesDid 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. Samantha Tol in this week’s Reef & Rivers podcast. Samantha is a researcher at JCU and well known in the marine science world f...
S5.E3 - Joe Marano, Cane Farming by the Great Barrier Reef
Reef And Rivers Podcast - August 29, 2023 23:00 - 26 minutesThe 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 jobs and supporting another 1800, it contributes over $630 million to our local rural economies. However, since the heal...
S5.E2 - Nathan Waltham, Restoring Coastal Wetlands
Reef And Rivers Podcast - August 15, 2023 21:52 - 18 minutesNathan 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 about the importance of different wetland habitats, the pressures from urban development and the future fo r...
S5. E1 Greg Vinall, Results of the 2023 Wet Tropics Waterway Health Report Card
Reef And Rivers Podcast - July 25, 2023 07:00 - 19 minutesThis 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 areas of the Wet Tropics in Far North Queensland. Independent Chair Dr Greg Vinall explains some of t...
S4.E10 The role of aquariums as educators
Reef And Rivers Podcast - December 20, 2022 23:31 - 10 minutesIf 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 in our world heritage-listed reef and rainforest underpins their entire philosophy. With over 100,00...
S4.E9 A blueprint for turbo-charging reef water quality progress
Reef And Rivers Podcast - December 13, 2022 12:09 - 14 minutesThe 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 reef water quality targets. The project had unprecedented engagement from the agricultural sector and ...
S4.E8 Bum breathers - the Johnstone River snapping turtle
Reef And Rivers Podcast - November 15, 2022 12:59 - 13 minutesDespite 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 Alistair Freeman, this ability for cloacal respiration is thought to enable bum breathers to stay under...
S4.E7 Using eDNA to find endangered frogs
Reef And Rivers Podcast - November 01, 2022 12:59 - 9 minutesHealthy waterways underpin the vibrant lifestyle, economy and environment of the Wet Tropics Region in Far North Queensland. They also underpin the health and well-being of Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef. We talk to people from around the region to learn more about our waterways, the critt...
S4.E6 Keeping tabs on mangroves
Reef And Rivers Podcast - October 19, 2022 02:13 - 8 minutesMangroves 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 fishing industries. They’re also among the most efficient ecosystems in the world at sequestering and st...
S4.E5 From pets to pests - ornamental fish gone rogue
Reef And Rivers Podcast - October 04, 2022 20:00 - 10 minutesThey 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 almost impossible, which means prevention is always better than cure. In this episode we’re joined by f...
S4.E4 The changing face of tropical cyclones
Reef And Rivers Podcast - September 20, 2022 22:00 - 16 minutesTropical 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 seagrass beds. We catch up with Professor Steve Turton to find out how anthropogenic climate change is ch...
S4.E3 Tracking bull sharks
Reef And Rivers Podcast - September 06, 2022 22:00 - 17 minutesEqual 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 inshore marine zone. Nicolas Lubitz is a Ph.D candidate at James Cook University, and tracks bull sha...
S4.E2 Pharmaceutical-filled waterways
Reef And Rivers Podcast - August 23, 2022 22:00 - 28 minutesWhen 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 and consumables that are literally passing through our bodies and into waterways. Ecotoxicologist Dr F...
S4.E1 Wet Tropics Waterway Health Report Card Results - 2022
Reef And Rivers Podcast - August 09, 2022 19:00 - 20 minutesThe 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 Vinall to break it down. Join us, to learn about the good news stories and the areas in which we could ...
Season 3 Episode 7: Report Card Results
Reef And Rivers Podcast - July 27, 2021 00:00 - 20 minutesThe 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 the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan. Join our Chair and Exec Officer to hear an overview of the res...
Season 3 Episode 6: Ports North - Environmental Responsibility in the Shipping Lane
Reef And Rivers Podcast - May 25, 2021 22:49 - 19 minutesPorts 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. Manager of Sustainability and External Policy, Paul Doyle, joins the podcast to talk about Ports Nort...
Season 3 Episode 5: Carole Sweatman from GreenCollar
Reef And Rivers Podcast - April 13, 2021 22:00 - 28 minutesHealthy waterways underpin the vibrant lifestyle, economy and environment of the Wet Tropics Region in Far North Queensland. They also underpin the health and well-being of Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef. We talk to people from around the region to learn more about our waterways, the critt...
Season 3 Episode 4: Cathy Retter from Kuranda Envirocare
Reef And Rivers Podcast - April 06, 2021 21:00 - 15 minutesHealthy waterways underpin the vibrant lifestyle, economy and environment of the Wet Tropics Region in Far North Queensland. They also underpin the health and well-being of Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef. We talk to people from around the region to learn more about our waterways, the critt...
Season 3 Episode 3: Dr Lynne Powell from Cairns Regional Council
Reef And Rivers Podcast - March 31, 2021 01:00 - 18 minutesHealthy waterways underpin the vibrant lifestyle, economy and environment of the Wet Tropics Region in Far North Queensland. They also underpin the health and well-being of Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef. We talk to people from around the region to learn more about our waterways, the critt...
Season 3 Episode 2: Aaron Davis on Working With Canegrowers on Project 25
Reef And Rivers Podcast - March 23, 2021 22:00 - 15 minutesHealthy waterways underpin the vibrant lifestyle, economy and environment of the Wet Tropics Region in Far North Queensland. They also underpin the health and well-being of Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef. We talk to people from around the region to learn more about our waterways, the critt...
Season 3 Episode 1: Gareth Phillips from Reef Teach & AMPTO
Reef And Rivers Podcast - March 10, 2021 00:51 - 19 minutesHealthy waterways underpin the vibrant lifestyle, economy and environment of the Wet Tropics Region in Far North Queensland. They also underpin the health and well-being of Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef. We talk to people from around the region to learn more about our waterways, the critt...
Season 2 Episode 14: Professor Steve Turton on the 2020 Results
Reef And Rivers Podcast - July 28, 2020 23:00 - 22 minutesHealthy waterways underpin the vibrant lifestyle, economy and environment of the Wet Tropics Region in Far North Queensland. They also underpin the health and well-being of Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef. We talk to people from around the region to learn more about our waterways, the critt...
Season 2 Episode 13: Travis Sydes on Aquatic Weeds
Reef And Rivers Podcast - July 14, 2020 23:00 - 17 minutesHealthy waterways underpin the vibrant lifestyle, economy and environment of the Wet Tropics Region in Far North Queensland. They also underpin the health and well-being of Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef. We talk to people from around the region to learn more about our waterways, the critt...
Season 2 Episode 12: Matt Brien on Crocodiles
Reef And Rivers Podcast - July 09, 2020 04:55 - 26 minutesHealthy waterways underpin the vibrant lifestyle, economy and environment of the Wet Tropics Region in Far North Queensland. They also underpin the health and well-being of Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef. We talk to people from around the region to learn more about our waterways, the critt...
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