For the first time in human history, the "high seas", the two-thirds of our ocean that lie beyond any national border, will have a legally binding set of rules. On January 17, 2026, the UN High Seas Treaty (officially known as the BBNJ Agreement ) officially enters into force, marking the most significant shift in maritime law in over forty years. Why This Matters Now Until this moment, the high seas were essentially a "no man's land." While they cover half the planet’s surf

As the world races to decarbonise its energy systems, one uncomfortable truth continues to slip through the cracks: even if we eliminated fossil fuel use entirely, our current food systems alone would still push global temperatures past the critical 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement. That’s the stark reality laid out in The Climate Movement’s Biggest Weakness , a recent and sobering piece by journalist Kenny Torrella, published by Vox October 2025. Drawing on the lat

The recently published Queensland SharkSmart drone trial report confirms what the science behind shark interaction mitigation has long asserted : non-lethal aerial surveillance (drones) are substantially more effective at spotting sharks than catch-and-kill equipment such as shark nets and drumlines. During the trial, conducted under the Queensland Government’s Shark Control Program (SCP), drones recorded 676 shark-sighting events, compared to just 284 sharks caught in adjac

Last week, the long-awaited EPBC Act reforms were finally passed in the Senate. Despite 165,000 signatures collected on our Change.org page , overwhelming community support, countless expert recommendations, and a clear opportunity to modernise outdated policies, the final bill did not include the removal of Section 43B. This archaic loophole that allows the QLD and NSW shark culling programs to kill unlimited amounts of protected wildlife without any formal environmental ass

The NSW Government’s 2025 Shark Meshing Program began in September, and hidden Government files obtained regarding the first month of operation have already exposed a troubling reality. Images obtained under the state’s Freedom of Information Act (GIPA) reveal that on the first fortnight of the shark nets being redeployed, a tiger shark, one of the DPI’s ‘target species , was caught and killed on the Central Coast’s Shelly Beach, and left to attract larger sharks to the area.

When we talk about animal suffering, our minds usually drift to farmed mammals like pigs or cows, maybe chickens if we’re thinking in numbers. But the biggest number of all? Shrimp. Yes, shrimp, the tiny crustaceans we mindlessly toss into paella, pad Thai, and party platters, may be enduring some of the worst and most overlooked suffering in the animal agriculture system. And not in small numbers. Each year, it’s estimated that more than 440 billion shrimp are killed on farm

A juvenile humpback whale has tragically drowned after becoming entangled in a shark net at Coledale Beach, NSW, marking yet another failure of the NSW Shark Meshing Program. The young whale, like thousands of others migrating along Australia’s east coast, was on its southerly journey back to Antarctica when it became ensnared. This whale never made it home. Despite the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) claiming to remove shark nets during the whale migration season,

In the age of ancestral diets, wellness influencers, and “clean girl” aesthetics, there’s a growing trend toward beauty products made from unexpected sources: cow fat, snail slime, and even salmon sperm. Promoted as “natural,” “non-toxic,” or “ancestral,” these animal-derived products are quickly gaining traction, often in response to public distrust of synthetic ingredients and concern over microplastics, parabens, and so-called “forever chemicals.” But behind the glossy cla

Imagine Sydney in 1937, before World War II, before modern technology, and before we understood marine ecosystems the way we do today. That year, Charlie Chaplin was captivating cinema audiences, the Hindenburg airship tragically exploded in New Jersey, and Sydney’s roads had only just started seeing traffic lights. It was also the year the New South Wales Shark Meshing Program (SMP) was introduced, a lethal strategy to reduce the number of sharks at popular beaches following

Queensland's Fisheries Minister, Tony Perrett, recently asserted that "Traditional [shark culling] methods, such as nets and drumlines, are scientifically proven to be the most effective tool in protecting swimmers." This statement stands in stark contrast to well established scientific evidence and expert consensus, casting doubt on the government's commitment to evidence-based policy.  In other words, it is blatant misinformation. Thermal imaging drone footage from Envoy Fo

Reducing meat consumption is widely recognised as a key strategy in tackling both environmental degradation and public health burdens. Yet despite growing awareness, meat remains deeply entrenched in daily diets across high-income countries. A new study published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems offers fresh insight into why, and how to change it. Authored by Chris MacDonald of the University of Cambridge, the paper explores the psychological barriers that keep consu

The Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries has been issuing near-identical letters to those who raise concerns about the recent...

Every year across New South Wales, a silent killer seeps through the bush: sodium fluoroacetate, more commonly known as 1080 poison....

A new national survey co-funded by the Envoy Foundation and conducted by the University of Sydney and YouGov has delivered a clear...

On Saturday 27th September, three more humpback whales were found entangled in Queensland shark nets, two at Rainbow Beach and one at...

On the afternoon of Wednesday, 17 September, a mother whale and her calf were found entangled in lethal shark nets off Noosa, Queensland....

The 2024/25 shark culling season in New South Wales has been characterised by uncertainty and controversy. Marked by ongoing scrutiny,...

With the recent announcement from the NSW Government to transition their lethal shark meshing program by removing of just three shark...

When it comes to the debate surrounding shark mitigation methods, two fundamentally different tools are often confused by the mainstream...

As Australia grapples with its deadliest year for drowning fatalities in recorded history, the uncomfortable truth becomes harder to...