Word on the Reef

Tanya Murphy
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Nature
  • Updated Weekly

Diving into marine science and conservation on the Great Barrier Reef and beyond!

  1. 1d ago

    S3 E29: Farming for a Healthier Reef with Frank & Dianne Sciacca

    Send us Fan Mail What do bananas have to do with protecting the Great Barrier Reef? More than you might think! In this episode of Word on the Reef, we meet Frank and Dianne Sciacca from Pacific Coast Eco Bananas in Innisfail, who more than 25 years ago took a radical approach to banana farming. By ditching synthetic pesticides and fertilisers and working with nature instead, they’ve been showing that growing delicious bananas and protecting our waterways don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Find out how a different approach to farming could help reduce pollution flowing onto the Reef - and why these red-tipped bananas are making waves far beyond Far North Queensland. Thumbnail Image: Hosts Brett and Tanya enjoying some red-tip bananas at the Cairns FM studio. Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW: Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.comFollow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on InstagramPROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National StatementAustralian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate ChangeGreenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!WWF Australia: Protect NatureRising Ti...

    S3 E29: Farming for a Healthier Reef with Frank & Dianne Sciacca

  2. Sep 20

    S3 E28: Two-Headed Fish And The Hidden Cost Of Farm Chemicals with Professor Matt Landos

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode we sit down with fish vet Matt Landos to unpack the case that pushed him into becoming a vocal advocate for stronger pesticide regulation in Australia. What starts as an investigation into mysterious fish health problems quickly turns into a revelation of how chemical exposure can move through water, air, food webs, and even into our bodies. Thumbnail Image: Two headed bass embryo, by G. Gilson Recommended Resources: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/regional/twoheaded-fish-found-in-noosa/news-story/42accfe82a341094d69d5a7454d3cb0dhttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-01-28/task-force-to-investigate-two-headed-fish/275146https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-02-07/two-headed-fish-may-remain-a-mystery/286582https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/08/executive-at-australias-pesticides-authority-allegedly-urinated-on-staff-at-function-senate-hearshttps://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2026-09-09/senate-to-scrutinise-apvma-paraquat-decision/107132358Parksinson's Australia: Ban Paraquat Campaign - Make a submission or sign the petition!International Pollutants Elimination Network: https://ipen.org/Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW: Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.comFollow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on InstagramPROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National StatementAustralian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate ChangeGreenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!WWF Australia: Protect NatureRising Ti...

    S3 E28: Two-Headed Fish And The Hidden Cost Of Farm Chemicals with Professor Matt Landos

  3. Sep 14 ·  Video

    S3 E27: Saving Wildlife from Deadly Shark Nets with Brenton Owens, Kaelan Lockhart and Pierick Martin

    Send us Fan Mail The whale was bellowing out for help - so Brenton Owens weighed up the risks, and acted. A few days later, he received an infringement notice. In 2024, diver and environmental scientist Brenton Owens and a group of neighbours paddle-boarded out to rescue a humpback whale entangled in a shark net, risking legal action and fines of more than $30,000. Moved by that experience, he recently kayaked more than 1,300 kilometres from the Gold Coast to Airlie Beach to document the impacts of Queensland's shark control program on wildlife. Joining him were two fellow outdoor adventurers: Australian Survivor 2025 star Kaelan Lockhart, and environment and climate scientist Pierick Martin. In this episode, Word on the Reef host Tanya Murphy sits down with this inspiring trio to hear about their incredible adventure, the whale rescue that inspired it all, and how Queensland’s deadly shark control devices are impacting vulnerable wildlife. Notice: It is illegal to approach within 20m of the Queensland and NSW governments' shark control devices. Approaching a distressed animal can lead to injury or death. Thumbnail Image supplied by Brenton Owens. This episode is now available in video format on Spotify and Apple Podcasts! Donate to Kayak for Humane Shark Control Follow The Lethal Line on instagram Watch Envoy: Shark Cull on Netflix Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW: Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.comFollow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on InstagramPROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National StatementAustralian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate ChangeGreenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!WWF Australia: Protect NatureRising Ti...

    S3 E27: Saving Wildlife from Deadly Shark Nets with Brenton Owens, Kaelan Lockhart and Pierick Martin

  4. Sep 8

    S3 E26: The Human-Nature Connection with Tyá Dynevor

    Send us Fan Mail Tyá Dynevor has always felt a special connection with animals, which has led her to becoming an ethnozoologist - someone who studies the relationship between humans and animals. It's something Traditional Owners have known about for millennia. We sat down with Tyá for a powerful discussion about how Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western science can work together to keep Country and people healthy. We dig into reciprocity with nature, the spiritual side of Indigenous science, and practical ways to reconnect with Country through observation, community action, and food sovereignty.  Plus we honour the memory of Steve Irwin on the 20th anniversary of his passing, and form an underwater superhero team! Further Reading: Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance Gilibanga Dark Emu Braiding Sweetgrass Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW: Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.comFollow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on InstagramPROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National StatementAustralian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate ChangeGreenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!WWF Australia: Protect NatureRising Ti...

    S3 E26: The Human-Nature Connection with Tyá Dynevor

  5. Sep 1 ·  Video

    Meet Legendary 90-Year-Old Shipwreck-Hunter Ben Cropp

    Send us Fan Mail Now available in video format on Spotify and Apple Podcasts! In this episode we sit down with Australian diving legend Ben Cropp AM to trace a life that swings from shark hunting fame to conservation, shipwreck discovery, and hard-won lessons from 70 years of diving on the Great Barrier Reef. He tells us what it really takes to stay alive underwater, think like a skipper, and keep chasing purpose into one's 90s. Along the way we'll learn about the whale shark encounter that changed him from a hunter to a conservationist, close calls filming crocodiles at night, how he survived stinging himself with multiple box jellyfish, how he found more than 100 shipwrecks, what it's like to take Clint Eastwood fishing, what became of his legendary shipwreck museum, the hunt for pre-Cook European contact in Queensland, the impacts of water pollution observed over 70 years of diving, and advice on how to live a full life! Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW: Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.comFollow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on InstagramPROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National StatementAustralian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate ChangeGreenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!WWF Australia: Protect NatureRising Ti...

    Meet Legendary 90-Year-Old Shipwreck-Hunter Ben Cropp

  6. Aug 19

    S3 E24: Magnetic Island Residents Fight Dredge Spoil Dumping

    Send us Fan Mail A group of Magnetic Island residents believes the annual dumping of maintenance dredge spoil by the Port of Townsville may be creating sediment plumes that smother some of the island's pristine bays, coral reefs, and marine life. And with the port now applying for a 10-year permit to continue the dumping at its current site, they're calling for community members to have their say.  In this episode of Word on the Reef, we're joined by one of those residents, Gethin Morgan, president of the Magnetic Island Nature Care Association (MINCA), to understand why residents are concerned and what they believe can be done about this issue. Thumbnail: A Satellite image from 13th July 2025 which MINCA believes shows dredge spoil drifting toward Magnetic Island from the placement area (Supplied: MINCA). For more information, visit MINCA's website. Email submissions to: dredging@townsvilleport.com.au  And copy to the Federal assessors of the application: seadumping@dcceew.gov.au  The Port of Townsville was also approached for comment. Their written response can be viewed here. You can also find more info at the Port's website: https://www.townsville-port.com.au/environment/dredging-management/application-for-10-year-sea-dumping-permit/ Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW: Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.comFollow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on InstagramPROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National StatementAustralian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate ChangeGreenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!WWF Australia: Protect NatureRising Ti...

    S3 E24: Magnetic Island Residents Fight Dredge Spoil Dumping

  7. Aug 15

    S3 E23: The Power of Parrotfish PLUS Priority Reefs with Professor Pete Mumby

    Send us Fan Mail Twenty years ago, the Belize Barrier Reef was in serious trouble, and nobody could quite figure out why. Then Professor Pete Mumby helped uncover the surprising role of an unlikely reef hero: the parrotfish. Today, we’re diving into the incredible world of these colourful fish and discovering how they can help protect coral reefs. PLUS… if you only have limited time, people and resources to protect some of the Great Barrier Reef’s 3,000 individual reefs, which ones would you choose? As ocean temperatures continue to rise, scientists are working to identify the reefs that are most important to protect - and the decisions aren’t easy. This week, we’re joined by Professor Pete Mumby from the University of Queensland’s Marine Spatial Ecology Lab to find out how scientists are tackling this enormous challenge. More Info: Professor Mumby's Presentation at the 2018 Coral Reef Futures Symposium Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW: Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.comFollow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on InstagramPROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National StatementAustralian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate ChangeGreenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!WWF Australia: Protect NatureRising Ti...

    S3 E23: The Power of Parrotfish PLUS Priority Reefs with Professor Pete Mumby

  8. Aug 5

    S3 E22: Fear vs Facts: Australia's Shark Culling Debate

    Send us Fan Mail They’ve claimed the lives of thousands of marine animals along Australia’s east coast, including turtles, whales, dolphins, rays and dugongs. No, we’re not talking about sharks. We’re talking about the shark nets and baited drum lines deployed by the Queensland and New South Wales governments. But do these programs actually protect swimmers? Does the evidence support shark culling? And what alternatives could keep both people and marine life safe? This week, hosts Tanya Murphy and Brett Goodban sink their teeth into these questions, and plenty more, with shark scientist Dr. Leonardo Guida from the Australian Marine Conservation Society. Together we explore the science behind shark behaviour, the threats facing Australia's incredible shark species, and why some long-held assumptions deserve a closer look. It's an episode with a real bite! Episode Thumbnail Image: The scalloped hammerhead has been on earth for 28 million years and has no record of ever killing a human - but it's now critically endangered thanks to humans. Further reading: Are there really more sharks? Take Action with the Smarter Safer Beaches Coalition. Support the show ------- SUPPORT THE SHOW: Become a supporter to connect with Tanya and Brett, get a shout-out on the show, ask us questions and suggest episode topics! Got questions? Email info@wordonthereef.comFollow @WordOnTheReefPodcast on InstagramPROTECT THE REEF - Sign these Petitions Now! Australian Marine Conservation Society: Australia, it's time to lead on Climate Action!Divers for Climate: Sign the 'I'm a Diver for Climate' National StatementAustralian Conservation Foundation: No New Coal and Gas!Queensland Conservation Council: Take Strong Climate Action and Build a Positive Renewable Future!Our Islands Our Home: Protect the Torres Strait Islands from Climate ChangeGreenpeace: Save the Great Barrier Reef!WWF Australia: Protect NatureRising Ti...

    S3 E22: Fear vs Facts: Australia's Shark Culling Debate
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Diving into marine science and conservation on the Great Barrier Reef and beyond!

Information

  • Creator
    Tanya Murphy
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    85
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Word on the Reef
  • Show Website
    Word on the Reef