A rapidly closing "window of opportunity" to protect the Great Barrier Reef needs to be addressed with urgent action, its governing authority says.
Government flags expansion of marine park for islands
A marine park in the Southern Ocean around the remote Heard and McDonald islands is set to be quadrupled in size.
Photo shows Massive Expansion, Marine Protection: A stormy beach with rock formations in the water and snow-capped bluffs.Has Video Duration: 2 minutes 2 seconds.Government flags massive expansion of Antarctic marine park for 'untouched' Heard and McDonald Islands
The marine park that includes the subantarctic Heard and McDonald Islands is set for a massive expansion, with the federal government planning to protect an extra 300,000 square kilometres of ocean.
Photo shows Four king penguins on a wide pebbly expanse in front of icy mountains. Two are standing, one is lying down and one is groomingThey're top-tier marine predators, so why are our endangered sea lions in a fight for survival?
A national research effort aimed at saving Australia's iconic sea lions will look at cat faeces, heavy metals, microplastics, and climate change as possible culprits for the species' continued decline.
Photo shows Gorgeous photo of sea lion pup resting on its mum, both asleep on a rock above the oceanThis new marine park has been compared to the Great Barrier Reef and Ningaloo. But will it bring tourists?
The West Australian government says its planned new marine park will be world-class. But among locals, opinion is split on whether it will deliver a promised tourism windfall.
Photo shows A rainbow on a beachABC 7PM news report on the Bermagui Whale Rider case, July 1995
The 'Whale Rider' court case was closely followed by media in Australia and overseas.
Has Video Duration: 1 minute 23 seconds.Bermagui's 'Whale Rider' faced imprisonment for standing on a Southern Right Whale
When 28-year-old fisherman Andrew 'Lobba' Curven jumped in the water to swim with a Southern Right Whale in 1994, what followed was a once-in-a-lifetime close encounter, a media circus and an unprecedented court case.
Has Video Duration: 7 minutes 3 seconds.'I can see why they made the law': Whale rider reflects on 'thrilling' moment that almost landed him in jail
The decision to jump into the water with a southern right whale 30 years ago made international headlines, but the "awesome" experience came at a cost.
Photo shows A middle-aged man standing on the edge of a beautiful oceanic hinterlandWA government says the South Coast Marine Park will rival the Great Barrier Reef
The West Australian government says its planned new marine park will be world-class. But among locals, opinion is split on whether it will deliver a promised tourism windfall.
Has Video Duration: 2 minutes .Humpback whale entangled in fishing rope off NSW coast as marine crews on standby for multiple rescues
Marine rescue authorities are searching waters near Port Macquarie for the whale, which is the fourth to have been entangled off the northern NSW coast this holiday weekend.
Photo shows A whale as seen from the air, swimming in the ocean, entangled with a long rope.World's largest living coral reef exhibit closed indefinitely
Australia's Reef Authority had $80 million to repair and refurbish its showpiece aquarium in Townsville, but scrapped the project for a grander design it knew it could not pay for.
Photo shows An aerial shot of Reef HQ aquarium in Townsville where a coral reef can be seen surrounded by buildings.Cheviot shipwreck discovery
Marine archaeologists have mapped out a virtual tour of the whaling ship Cheviot after uncovering its wreckage at Wilsons Promontory in south-eastern Victoria.
Has Video Duration: 51 seconds.WA shire president slams 'racist' online trolls on community Facebook pages
The Esperance shire president has taken aim at anonymous online trolls who he says are spreading racism throughout the local community.
Last three captive dolphins in NSW to remain in pools after sea pen plan scrapped
After failing to secure government funding, a wildlife tourist park and dolphin welfare groups have mutually walked away from a plan to build a sea pen.
Photo shows Three dolphins leaping up from bright blue water.Sighting of first orca calf at Ningaloo Reef in years gives hope to researchers
Having waited years for a new calf at Ningaloo Reef, researchers say the sight of a new baby killer whale is especially good news after several calves were lost on WA's northern coast.
Photo shows Two black and white orcas, one large and the other small, swim alongside one another in a blue open ocean.Swimming with baby hammerhead sharks should be a no-go, scientists say
Many Australians prefer to be as far from a shark as possible, but scientists are concerned that some people are getting too close to critically endangered species.
Photo shows A front-on view of a hammerhead sharkLeaders urged to call out racism, false claims in heated WA marine park debate
Debate around the proposed South Coast Marine Park has sparked a swell of negative attitudes towards Indigenous people, with local leaders urged to do more to call it out.
Photo shows She stands by a lake and looks concernedDespite increased surveillance of boat arrivals these men walked onto a northern Australian airstrip
Locals are alarmed that a group of Chinese men dropped on a remote beach were able to enter an Australian air base undetected, given the ramping up of surveillance along the crocodile-infested coastline.
Photo shows Aerial view of an airbase with a runway surrounded by trees.New 'virtually undetectable' drone set to track down illegal fishers raiding the Great Barrier Reef
A drone with beefed up surveillance that can fly higher, further and faster than previous models is deployed to help protect the reef from outlaw anglers.
'We're the sacrificial lambs': Angry Esperance protesters question fisheries minister on marine park
West Australian Fisheries Minister Don Punch acknowledges the South Coast Marine Park "does bring out some pretty passionate views", after climbing onto a brick wall to address hundreds of Esperance locals demanding answers.
Photo shows He stands on a brick wall and speaks to the crowd belowAs Australian sea lion populations plummet, a war of words about a solution never ends
Environmental groups are calling for the architects of a new West Australian marine park to expand protections for the country's most endangered seal species.
Photo shows A baby sea lion sits on a rock.