Macca's Meanderings

Hi  For a few months now we have been reporting Illegal Foreign Fishing Vessels (IFFVs) in our area. Some may have seen reports of Indigenous rangers in the Kimberley's, WA discovering IFFVs, often hiding in creeks and sometimes actually going ashore and camping. Concerningly, we have had the same issues around here. Apart from the illegal fishing aspect there is also a very real biosecurity risk. Indonesian has many diseases that we do not want in Australia - Foot and Mouth, Rabies etc. Last Monday we observed an IFFV in the area where we were conducting our marine research - but more about that later. Firstly, let's back up a little.  Last year we detected an IFFV near McClure Island - see the photo below. The crew were apprehended and the vessel destroyed. A couple of months ago we reported sightings of IFFVs around Croker Island and the adjacent mainland.  Around 3 weeks ago we discovered three IFFVs and one canoe hiding in the creek near where we subsequently setup o...

 Hi again Dolphins have also been a significant part of our marine research recently. One day last week when the wind was light we headed northeast from Cape Croker to the southern part of the Arafura Marine Park. This is the most northerly marine park in Australia. We observed several pods of dolphins. As you can see in the photo below, the sea state was very flat.  The map below shows to southern part of the Arafura Marine Park sitting to the northeast of Croker Island.  Sometimes if we stop the boat dolphins will come and play around the boat however these were on the move to somewhere.  The calm sea state produces great visibility in the water. PhD candidate Natalee is standing at the bow of the boat with the camera. She provided the three great photos below.  The researchers can identify dolphins by their dorsal fin as each has a different shape and different markings. This one has a few 'war wounds'.  Usually dolphins keep the eyes below the surface a...