Obsessed diver, sea slug guru, unlucky fisherman (of mainly toadfish): meet marine biologist Dr David Harasti. He verifies many of the community sightings logged on Redmap in NSW. How did this landlubber from Canberra – who spent his youth fishing for carp in lakes – become a marine biologist and underwater photographer?
Check out this beautiful sighting of Pomacanthus semicirculatus (blue angelfish) spotted south of Perth, WA, by diver Alexandra Hoschke. The fish was found much further south than its usual home range.
Sea slug lover, octopus wrestler and shark-shield convert: Naomi Arrowsmith is one interesting diver! And she's recorded some amazing photos on Redmap.org.au
Year 10 student Georgia Poyner from Narooma, NSW, donned a lab coat and wet weather gear for an action-packed week of field and lab experience at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) in Hobart recently. She measured rock lobsters, cut out fish ears and discovered what whale poop looks like.
Say what? Let me translate: how well do scientists communicate their research to the public? Now you can let us know and vote for videos entered in the Australian Society for Fish Biology's Student Science Communication Awards, including three PhD students from IMAS!
PORT Macquarie families were involved in citizen science on Sunday as they participated in the 16th annual Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) whale census. About 165 whales were reportedly spotted at Tacking Point at Lighthouse Beach by residents and National Parks and Wildlife representatives. Read the full story in the Port Macquarie News.
A surprising 60-year boom in global octopus, squid and cuttlefish numbers points to long-term changes taking place in the world's oceans, scientists say. Read the full story at ABC News.
Next time you need an excuse to go fishing again, feel free to the Redmap excuse: "It's not fishing, it's research!"
Hugh Richardson is an avid diver, travelling up and down the coast in search of WA's best dive spots. He's also a Redmap member and has logged some unusual sightings online.
The summer of 2015-2016 was one of the hottest on record in Australia. But it has also been hot in the waters surrounding the nation: the hottest summer on record, in fact. Read the full article in the Conversation AU.
