NSW Greens MP and healthy oceans spokesperson Cate Faehrmann is calling on the Minns government to abandon the use of shark nets in NSW after yesterday’s release of a shocking report into the numbers of animals caught in nets over the last summer.

Last week saw the immediate banning of the release of helium balloons in Tweed Shire for events on public land and at Council-owned facilities. 

Shocking pictures of marine life killed or injured by Queensland shark nets have been obtained under FOI and released this morning by Sea Shepherd Australia, showing dolphins, rays and turtles caught in nets.

Vital sanctuary zones in the Batemans Marine Park are set to be scrapped to accommodate for more recreational fishing.

'This is partly a climate change story and also partly a story of animal resilience,' Dr Gardner says of the sea leopard return to land.

The boosting effect of a warmer ocean on the growth rate of baby sea urchins is proving to be a silver lining of a much darker cloud by the time these spiky marine creatures reach adulthood.

Local activists have swum under the newly-installed shark nets at Lennox Head to draw attention to the apparent ‘futility’ of the devices. Dean Jeffreys led a small group of banner-bearing conservationists out to the nets, diving about 10 metres down to duck beneath them.

The national network of marine sanctuaries is under threat if draft plans by National Parks are adopted, according to the Save Our Marine Life alliance.

Taking to the airwaves, speaking at film festivals and appearing on TV are just some of the experiences that Arlian Ecker’s is having as he makes his film ‘Plastic Alarm’ that raises awareness of the dangers of plastic in the ocean.

Tweed Shire Council is being urged to address the growing issue of party balloons which are killing and injuring bird and marine life in the region.