Are we eating rubbish? The true magnitude of Australia’s litter problem with Dr. Matt Landos.
Release Date: 03/17/2023
Saving the Greynurse Shark
OzCast
In this episode of OzCast, marine scientist Dr David Harasti explains why the Greynurse Shark is one of Australia's most vulnerable ocean species, and how simple changes in the way we fish can have a serious impact on their survival. He also explains the role these sharks play in the ocean's ecosystem and how fishers, scientists and conservation groups can work together to protect these important predators. https://ozfish.org.au/ozcast/episode-15/
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A World Within: Unveiling the Secrets of Saltmarsh
OzCast
In this episode of OzCast, Troy Gaston dives beneath the surface of the often-overshadowed marine habitat of Saltmarsh. Being the unassuming heros of our coast, Troy explains that saltmarshes are in fact ecological powerhouses playing a pivotal role in coastal ecosystems. After spending over 25 years looking into their role, Troy uncovers his most pivotal research and findings in respect of saltmarshes impact on the food chain, their role in the reproduction of marine species and protecting coastal erosion. Saltmarshes, the unassuming heroes of our coasts, are more than just wetlands. They...
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Now You See Me: Why Small-Bodied Fish Are Vital To The Murray-Darling Basin
OzCast
Join us on this episode of OzCast as we look beneath the surface at the often-overlooked realm of small-bodied threatened fish species in Australian waterways with Dr. Nick Whiterod, a seasoned marine ecologist with over twenty years of dedicated research and conservation efforts. Dr. Nick Whiterod holds a PhD from Charles Sturt University, assessing the bioenergetic implications of large impoundments on Murray cod. His career has been marked by a profound commitment to the conservation of Australia’s freshwater ecosystems, particularly focusing on small-bodied fish and crayfish...
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Open The Floodgates: The Story Of The Hexham Swamp
OzCast
In this episode of OzCast, fisheries scientist Craig Boys dives beneath the surface of the Hexham Swamp, a Ramsar-listed wetland with ecological and cultural significance. Craig highlights the intricate relationship between aquatic ecosystems and human interventions, particularly focusing on the impact of floodgates installed for flood mitigation. Throughout the episode, we explore the consequential shifts in fish and prawn populations, the resurgence of native species, and the broader implications for fishery productivity. This episode is not only an educational journey...
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The Perfect Storm - What is causing Australia's fish kills?
OzCast
What's behind the horrifying phenomenon of fish kills in Australian inland waterways? Join us as we unearth the many fish kills that have taken place recently with Prof. Lee Baumgartner – the leading scientists who is involved in the government enquiry investigating the events. Throughout the episode, Lee sheds light on the environmental culprits behind these disasters, stressing the importance of responsible river management going forward. From dissecting blackwater events, hydrology, bacteria and algae, river infrastructure and flow, the ‘perfect storm’ that leads to a fish kill...
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The battle against Carp: will the virus work?
OzCast
On this episode of OzCast, Dr Martin Mallen-Cooper re-joins the show to look below the surface at one of the most topical questions circulating our inland fishing communities – should Australia release the Carp herpes virus (cyprinid herpesvirus 3)? Martin, who has spent decades looking into the health of our freshwater rivers in Australia, sets the record straight on how the carp virus would work if released and offers his expert opinion on which direction the Australian government should take. Dr Martin Mallen-Cooper is a highly respected river ecologist. He was born in...
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Sowing the seeds: South Australia’s quest to green the blue with seagrass.
OzCast
In this episode of OzCast, Jason Tanner dives beneath the surface of South Australian waters to unveil how he is working to “green the blue” by dropping sandbags in strategic areas to bring back the lost seagrass meadows of yesteryear. After spending over 25 years developing this technique from the ground up, he explains how his work went from an idea to a now industrial-level program that sees tens of thousands of bags being deployed every year. Jason has 30 years’ experience overall in marine ecology, working in tropical and temperate systems. He has published over 80 papers,...
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Power in numbers (PART 2): The trials and tribulations of seagrass restoration in Australia.
OzCast
PART 2: In this episode of OzCast, Professor Kendrick unveils the crucial role that seagrass plays in marine and terrestrial ecosystems, shedding light on its remarkable ability to support marine life and store blue carbon, even more effectively than tropical rainforests. With over 40 years of professional experience in the restoration of these marine ecosystems, Professor Kendrick dives beneath the surface on all the trials and tribulations of bringing these lost meadows back to their former glory – from small-scale projects, all the way to industry-leading community-led projects like...
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Power in numbers (PART 1): The trials and tribulations of seagrass restoration in Australia.
OzCast
In this episode of OzCast, Professor Kendrick unveils the crucial role that seagrass plays in marine and terrestrial ecosystems, shedding light on its remarkable ability to support marine life and store blue carbon, even more effectively than tropical rainforests. With over 40 years of professional experience in the restoration of these marine ecosystems, Professor Kendrick dives beneath the surface on all the trials and tribulations of bringing these lost meadows back to their former glory – from small-scale projects, all the way to industry-leading community-led projects like Seeds...
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What’s the go with flow? Why it’s needed for native fish to thrive in the Murray Darling Basin.
OzCast
In this episode of OzCast, we look below the surface of the flow of water in the Murray-Darling Basin as a critical factor that affects the health of the entire ecosystem and why it is fundamental for native fish. Iain Ellis, with 23 years in the management of fish production in the Murray Darling Basin, makes clear that flowing waters from the upper reaches to the lower stretches and mouths of rivers are critical for thriving fish populations. He outlines that for more than 150 years, these waterways have been impacted by dams, weirs, regulation, diversion and land clearing all...
info_outlineThis OzCast episode takes a look below the surface of our litter problem in Australia and chats to internationally recognised veterinary scientist Dr Matt Landos.
Contaminants, like plastic and other chemicals derived from human activities, enter waterways and impact ecosystems. The episode uncovers more to our litter problem than what meets the eye, as the conversation examines the lifecycle of these contaminants and how their properties affect behaviours and reproduction of both fish and humans.
Matt breaks down what effect different chemicals can have on living organisms and highlights the way they travel between waterways and across lands without us ever knowing. This is the episode every recreational fisher needs to listen to and it doesn’t take long to find out why.
Matt is an expert in aquatic contaminants, and how they enter and impact aquatic ecosystems. Matt’s veterinary career commenced in a mixed dairy cattle practice on the mid-north coast in 1995. He transitioned to a full-time focus on aquatic animals working for NSW Fisheries at Wollongbar Agriculture Institute undertaking field investigations, and research, reviewing laboratory submissions and providing biosecurity policy advice. In 2005, he became the founding director of Future Fisheries Veterinary Service Pty Ltd. His business has expanded to provide field, laboratory, research and technical aquatic animal health and production veterinary services to commercial aquaculture and wild fisheries throughout Australia and overseas.
Matt’s work started initially with managing the health and productivity of many aquaculture species including a variety of fish, prawns, and shellfish in hatcheries and grow-out farms. He continues to work across tank-based systems through to earthen ponds and sea cages. This perspective offered him a terrific understanding of how aquatic animals function and reproduce. Today, he is working more and more in the wild fishery, bringing an understanding for how to restore the health and lost productivity of wild and native fisheries.
Matt has also completed projects for the International Pollutant Elimination Network (IPEN) on fisheries and pollution and worked with the National Toxics Network to seek rational regulatory reform of the Agvet chemical regulatory system.
Matt is an affiliate at Sydney University, Faculty of Veterinary Science, School of Farm Animal Health and Charles Sturt University, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences where he has contributed to research and training undergraduate veterinarians. Future Fisheries Veterinary Service also contributes to research projects at Southern Cross University, Adelaide University, Queensland University and SARDI Aquatic Sciences. He is a former president of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists, Aquatic Animal Health Chapter.
Join us, as we take a look below the surface.